>> So, let's really
get out there
and rip a good race off.
Okay... Go!
>> It's race day, and
Team Arashi has worked too hard
to lose their focus now.
>> When race day gets here,
it's, you know, everything
that's out here,
gradually start to bring it
all in, and it's the focus.
You know the blinders
get put on.
I don't chat in the boat.
It's focused.
Very focused.
>> I like the moment
of intensity.
I mean, I really,
I like that part of it
because there's this rush that
you get when you're out there,
you're giving it your all.
>> This is no casual canoe ride.
This is dragon boat racing.
[starting horn blares]
>> Most people still say,
"Dragon boat? What's that?"
And you have to explain,
you know, it's a 43-foot,
roughly a 43-foot canoe.
It seats 20 people,
a drummer, and a steersman.
>> Individually, you have to do
your best.
But you have to be one
together with all 20.
Everybody has to be in synch,
has to be together.
Like we were saying,
it's a giant dance.
Twenty people dancing together.
I call it two minutes of hell,
I tell everybody.
It's all out.
I mean, pretty much all out
for 500 meters.
>> Two minutes of hell would be
a very good explanation.
>> I tell new paddlers
that if you can talk
after you just get done
with paddling for two minutes,
you didn't paddle hard enough,
because you should be gasping
for air.
>> Dragon boat racing
started in China,
more than 2000 years ago,
as part of local religious
ceremonies.
The original races
were unforgiving.
Those that fell in the river
were left to drown as a
sacrifice to the Dragon Deity.
But as a modern sport,
the rules are a little simpler.
Twenty paddlers to a boat,
along with a drummer
and a steersman,
and you're competing
for a medal, not your life.
>> Wow, who would've thought?!
>> While they're not competing
for their lives,
Janine and Curt Chiaverotti
are still pretty passionate
about the modern version
of this ancient Chinese sport.
The Chiaverotti's Union Grove
home is filled with memorabilia.
Banners, paddles, trophies,
medals, photos, and stickers.
All show how their new hobby
turned into a major obsession
and has now become a lifestyle.
[cheering]
It's a lifestyle that began
by chance.
In 2007, Racine hosted
the Great Midwest
Dragon Boat Festival.
[staring horn blares]
Curt and Janine's daughter
Cortnie was competing
on a team of newcomers
raising money for charity
when they needed paddlers.
>> I didn't really,
really want to do it,
but kinda got roped into it and
said, okay I'll fill in for you
and I kinda got hooked.
[laughs]
>> It didn't take long.
>> Soon, Janine was hooked,
as well.
And within a few years,
Curt was Captain
of Team Arashi
and Janine was the manager.
>> Chicago.
>> Oshkosh.
>> They've traveled the U.S.,
Canada, and even China.
for dragon boat vacations.
>> Hong Kong.
>> Bringing home
a sack full of medals.
>> They're heavy.
>> I've never really had them
all in my hand at once.
There's 19 other paddlers
and a steersman and a drummer
in every boat.
They also have...
>> These medals.
>> So it's a team thing,
you know.
It's a team sport.
>> Practice runs year round.
In the winter, they head to
the gym to use
these homemade paddling seats
in the pool.
>> It's rather boring,
to say the least.
>> And when the weather allows,
they practice once a week
on the Root River in Racine.
>> There's times where,
you know, you go to practice and
you say, oh, you know, all right
we gotta go to practice,
I just don't feel like it
today.
But you get on the boat,
you start paddling,
you start working hard,
and all of a sudden,
it's like this--
It comes over you, and I don't
know if it's the endorphins,
or what it is,
but it comes over you,
and all of a sudden you're like
"Okay, here we go!"
The team is great, because
we work hard on the water
and we like to have fun
off the water.
>> The relationships
and hard work
pay off on race day.
>> Attention! Go!
[all clap in unison]
Come on, come on, come on...
Attention! Go!
[all clap in unison]
That's it!
Let's go!
>> On this day, Team Arashi has
already posted the best time.
But in the finals,
it's all about
crossing the finish line first.
[starting horn blares]
>> Let's go!
[cheering]
>> Come on, guys!
Right here, right now!
Now, now!
Dig!
>> Way to go, guys!
>> The race is so close,
neither team knows who won
until they paddle
back to the dock.
>> And for the winner
in this final race...
[cheering]
>> Whoo!
>> Team Arashi!
[cheering]
>> It's such a team sport.
I mean, there's, you have
20 different personalities,
20 different egos.
But when it comes down,
everybody together, it's just
a phenomenal experience.
>> Once again,
give it up for Arashi.