Three members of the Jax Fire Dragons dragon boat club have been selected to represent the United States in the World Nations Dragon Boat Championships to be held at Dianchi Lake, Kunming, China later this year. From 5:30 to 7 p.m. Aug. 28, they will host a wine tasting event at Table 1 in Ponte Vedra Beach to raise funds for their trip.
The Jax Fire Dragons team members that will be traveling to China are Geri Rohrbaugh, Drew Rogers and Karen Schindler.
Rohrbaugh, who is an Isle of Palms resident, is a founding member of the team and has participated in several events, including being selected as a team member for the Club Crew World Championships held in Italy. Rogers, a Neptune Beach resident, is president of the Jax Fire Dragons group and also serves his community as a major with the United States Air Force Auxiliary 383rd squadron based at Craig Field in Jacksonville. Schindler lives in Arlington and is also active in several other water sports, including outrigger canoe racing.
Dragon boating on the First Coast has been around for more than five years, though the sport—which originated in China—is more than 2,000 years old. Dragon boat festivals and races are held all over the world, and Jacksonville has a unique group of athletes who compete in this sport, several of whom have been selected by the United States Dragon Boat Association to participate in various events throughout the world.
Tickets for the wine tasting must be purchased in advance of the event, which will take place at 330 A1A North, Suite 208. For more information, call Geri Rohrbaugh at (904) 607-8550. For those who wish to see the sport in person, the Jacksonville Dragon Boat & Paddle Fest will be held Sept. 23 at the Metropolitan Park Marina. For more information about the upcoming race, visit http://www.jacksonvilledragonboatfestival.com.
