Lake Yosemite’s usual traffic of sail boats and jet skis will be pausing on Aug. 24 to make room for a new event: the Merced Lao Boat Racing Festival.
Competition was intense as boats raced to reach the finish line.
U.S. Representative John Duarte and challenger Adam Gray showed some friendly rivalry during the races.
Children watched in awe as the narrow boats raced across Lake Yosemite.
Lake Yosemite filled with teams and spectators from far and wide.
Many aspects of traditional Lao culture were on display.
The long, narrow, and ornate boats used were a sight to behold.
Racers worked to coordinate their rowing motions to the beat of a drum player at the front of each boat.
A team of racers head out onto the waters of Lake Yosemite and head to starting line of the Lao Boat Racing event on Saturday.
In addition to the boat racing, special performances throughout the event highlighted Lao culture
Two teams give it their all as they make their way in front of the crowd lining the beach near the finish line
The Lake Yosemite Sailing Association assisted the event by monitoring the finish line, as well as patrolling the water during the races.
Many teams played music as they proceeded toward the beach to commence a day of racing.
Oars and life jackets were organized on Lake Yosemite’s beach, ready for racers to quickly gear up.
Teams walked in a parade toward the beach area of Lake Yosemite before the first brackets of boats took off.
No one could resist taking photos of the excitement at Saturday’s Merced Lao Boat Racing Festival.
Teams held signs overhead to keep their teams together, as well as express their team spirit.
Boats raced three at a time.
Miss Lao San Diego 2024 Jessalyn Grace attended to show her support of Merced’s first Lao Boat Racing event.
Competition was intense as boats raced to reach the finish line.
Kelly Thomas of the Winton Junior Giants leads the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Lake Yosemite’s usual traffic of sail boats and jet skis will be pausing on Aug. 24 to make room for a new event: the Merced Lao Boat Racing Festival.
“Everybody’s welcome,” said Khamla Emanivong, one of the organizers for the event. “It’s more of us showing a showcase of our culture and our tradition, and sharing our culture and tradition for the community.”
Boat racing is a celebrated activity in Laos dating back centuries. Traditionally a means of celebrating the end of the rainy season in August and September, its popularity has increased throughout the United States in recent decades, with San Diego holding a large event annually. Now, this beloved celebration is coming to Merced.
The Merced Lao Boat Racing Festival is presented by the Vatthanatham Lao Foundation. They collaborated with the Lao Community Cultural Center of San Diego to help get the event off the ground, and a paddle team from San Diego will be participating in Saturday’s race.
While the primary intent behind the event is for fun, many of the racers will have their game faces fully in place for the big event. Four boats will be racing. Each boat has a team of 22 paddlers, and people from as far as Utah have traveled to Merced to take part in the race.
Saturday’s festival will feature a full day’s worth of activities at the lake from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The bulk of the action will take place between 10 a.m.