It was a strange sight -- a long, narrow boat with a dragon's head at the front, a person perched at the bow beating on a drum and another at the stern, yelling at the 20 paddlers in between.

It was dragon boating, one of the fastest-growing sports in the world.

The Steel City Dragons have been based at Fox Chapel Yacht Club marina for the past year and hosted an open house Saturday. "We want people to see that anyone can do this," said Lynne Franks-Meinert, president of the organization. "We want to get people on the river and help them learn a new sport."

Dragon boating has been around for centuries, according to Franks-Meinert and other members of the Steel City Dragons. The sport was invented in China in memory of a fisherman who committed suicide in apparent disgust with the government more than 2,000 years ago. It continued over the years and now is catching on worldwide. "It is the fourth fastest-growing sport in the world," said Franks-Meinert as she rode at the front of the boat.

The local organization started three years ago. Franks-Meinert became involved early on. "I was a single mom back then, so I wanted a sport that wasn't expensive, was on the water and that I could do," she explained. "This is it."

Her 5-year-old twins are still too young to paddle -- 11 is the minimum age to participate in the organization. "But they have gone for rides," she said.

The group decided to become a nonprofit last year so it would be eligible for funding and be more attractive to organizations that may wish to donate or lend equipment and other forms of support.

"The Urban Development League gave us the boat and we have the [docking] slip for free," she said. "It benefits everyone because it is too small for other boats to use and we eat and drink in the restaurant here after practice."

Dragon boats, usually about 40 feet long with dragon heads at the bows and tails at the sterns, are raced by 18 to 20 people who paddle in unison, plus a person in back who steers and a person in front who beats a drum to provide the dramatic "heartbeat of the dragon" that keeps everybody in sync.

After a quick lesson at dockside, the group took off with some experienced boaters and some just trying the sport for the first time. Franks-Meinert alternated boaters so amateurs could pattern their strokes after the more experienced members.

One of the real beauties of the sport, said Franks-Meinert, is that anyone older than 11 can participate. "As you can see from our members, they are all ages, all sizes, male and female," she said. "Some members are involved in other sports and some aren't."

There are about 60 members of the Steel City Dragons.

Trying the sport for the first time was Cate Vockley, of Fox Chapel, and her son Aaron, 14. "We came with some members of our parish," she said.

Her other son, 11-year-old Ben, had tried the sport before at a summer camp and was happy to be at it again.

The family canoes and kayaks but decided to give dragon boating a try as well. "It is a different stroke but not too hard to learn," Aaron said.

He may give the sport another try, particularly after being invited by Tori Konopasek to join a youth competition team for paddlers ages 11 to 17. Konopasek, 14, boats with her family and is trying to organize a team to compete this season.

"I love it and want to get others in it," she said.

First-time paddler Betty Kremer, 62, of Hampton, decided she was definitely coming back. "This was a blast. My son used to ride long boats and this interested me. Who knows? Maybe I will even compete."

In addition to a youth group, a team of breast cancer survivors is also forming. Anyone interested in recreational paddling is invited to attend sessions at 8:30 a.m. Saturdays. Those interested in more intense training and competition meet at 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

For more information about the Steel City Dragons, visit www.steelcitydragons.org or call 412-377-3063.