The best way to get in boat racing

This is what we need to participate in Vientiane boat racing festival.

• A tall strong solid straight tree.
In this case the tree has to be straight and the tree has to be 33 meters (36 yards) tall; it is easier for a man to carve the tree, to build the boat, and it also reduces the damage of the boat while the man is carving the tree. It does not have a lot of problems when transforming the tree into the boat.
They have certain kinds of trees to make the boat: if you pick the wrong kind of wood, the boat may suck in the water and it makes the boat go slow. The Mai Ta Kain wood is the general public’s favorite wood to build the boat because it is strong solid wood and it flows better in the water. It helps the boat go faster.

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This is half of the boats (image courtesy of Lily Pountavong)

Since we have a tree now, we need to make the boat:

• Choose the best lead designer.
It is very important to choose the best lead designer, because it is complicated to design and carve the boat. They need to have patience to carve it, and it is a long process. It is about a 30-45 day process to carve one boat; they need to make it the right thickness and the right proportion size.

• Find people to race with and grab a paddle:
Most of the paddlers are farmers from their own village, or we can hire the paddlers from other villages.
Almost every village has their team. Make your pick.

• Qualifications for boat racing:
The modern boat must be more than 33 meters long and 54 men paddling. Modern boats are the most popular boat because they are faster, pretty, and fun to watch. Almost every village likes to race.
The head shape is no longer than 4 meters.
The tail shape is no longer than 3 meters.

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(Image courtesy of Lily Pountavong)

• Competition.
The starting line is between 1000-1200 meters long in width.
The two boats heads have to be lined up before racing. They have a race to the finish line.
It takes the boat men between 2 – 2 1/2 minutes to the finish line.

 

 

 

Works Cited:

“BOAT RACING FESTIVAL.” Tourism Laos. www.tourismlaos.org/show.php?Cont_ID=444

Khounasane, Bounty. Personal interview. 15 Oct.2018.

Pountavong, Lily, Instruction Images. 05 Oct.2018.

Taipanyavong, Thounphoun, personal interview. 17 Oct.2018

“Vientiane Boat Racing Festival.” Laos Guide 999. 2014. www.laos-guide-999.com/vientiane-boat-racing-festival.html.

 

Posted on Oct 29, 2018