TRYING SOMETHING NEW | DieselFish Dragon Boat Team | San Jose, Peninsula, San Francisco Bay Area

>>> Our teammate Anna discovered a new kind of dragon boat challenge. Read on to learn more. [ONLY 5-second read] <<<

Our teammate Anna has taken on a new challenge: steering. Lately, she’s been getting serious about it. After practice, I talked with her about this experience.

DF: Why did you decide to try steering?
A: I want to make sure the team always has a steer on duty.

DF: So, out of a sense of responsibility?
A: Yeah.

DF: What do you like about steering?
A: It’s FUN.

DF: Do you have any advice for people that want to try steering?
A: It’s a little scary trying to balance when you first start. But 

you’ll get the hang of it. Then it gets fun.

→ DieselFish encourages you to break your routine and try something new—like Anna did. Don’t miss out on the challenge, excitement, and fun of dragon boat racing with DieselFish. Email me now at DFcaptains@gmail.com to get started.

- Alex, the Minister of Newbie Happiness 🐲

Copyright 2025 DieselFish Dragon Boat Team. All rights reserved.

PADDLES DOWN, PARTY UP | DieselFish Dragon Boat Team | San Jose, Peninsula, San Francisco

>>> After practice, we threw a holiday party that got us excited for our adventures ahead. Read on to learn more. [ONLY 30-second read] <<<

Holiday cheer

Games and grins

Gift exchange game gone wild

We don’t just dragon boat race—we party!

At our most recent Thanksgiving bash, we enjoyed mouthwatering food, exciting games, and non-stop laughs. We also eagerly chatted about the fun, thrills, and adventures we’re going to experience together next season.

We always have fun—off AND on the water.

→ Email me now at DFcaptains@gmail.com to learn how you can join next season’s dragon boat adventures (and parties).

- Alex, the Minister of Newbie Happiness 🐲

📷: Alex, Julie, Tommy

Copyright 2025 DieselFish Dragon Boat Team. All rights reserved.

WHAT TO EXPECT AT YOUR FIRST DRAGON BOAT RACE | DieselFish Dragon Boat Team | San Jose, Peninsula, San Francisco Bay Area

>>> Curious about dragon boat racing? Here’s some useful information. Read on to start YOUR dragon boat journey. [ONLY 30-second read] <<<

Dragon boat races are fun, exciting, and challenging. They can also be intimidating and confusing for newcomers. Don’t worry. We got you covered. Here are the top questions we get from newbies before their first race.

Q: Why do I have to arrive so early?
A: YAAAWN. Dragon boat races start in the early hours of the morning. There’s a good reason for this tortu—I mean practice. Your team needs to set up its campsite and take care of administrative tasks before its first race heat.

Q: Do I need to bring my own paddle and PFD to the race?
A: No, the race organizers will provide paddles and PFDs. Find a paddle that’s in good shape. Years ago, a DieselFish member accidentally grabbed a broken loaner paddle. It had a loose grip that swiveled and hurt his race performance.

Q: How do I know when to race?
A: The race director will provide your coach and captain with a race grid. The grid indicates which race heats you’ll compete in and an approximate time for the heat. They’ll tell you when to move to the marshalling area.

Q: What’s the marshalling area?
A: The marshalling area is a staging site near the start line. It contains loaner PFDs and paddles as well as queues to load onto the boats.

Q: What if I get tired during the race?
A: DON’T STOP PADDLING. KEEP GOING. DON’T STOP PADDLING.

Q: What do I do when I’m not racing?
A: There’s a surprising amount of downtime. You’ll spend most of your time at your campsite. Some people pace around and make plans for the next race heat. Others sit around and chat, read, and snack. Whatever you do, have fun.

Q: What should I eat?
A: Eat something light that won’t slow you down. Aim for foods high in protein that’ll fuel performance and sustain energy. On race day, we snack on sandwich meats, jerky, hard-boiled eggs, and hummus. Stay away from greasy and heavy food truck fare. Also, make sure you drink lots of water to rehydrate.

We hope these answers bring you clarity, confidence, and calm. Now go crush it—race day is yours!

→ DieselFish is the most welcoming dragon boat racing team in the San Francisco Bay Area. Got questions? Email me now at DFcaptains@gmail.com for answers and advice.

- Alex, the Minister of Newbie Happiness 🐲

Copyright 2025 DieselFish Dragon Boat Team. All rights reserved.

ROCK ‘N’ ROLL DRAGON BOAT | DieselFish Dragon Boat Racing Team | San Jose, Peninsula, San Francisco Bay Area

 

Last Saturday, someone started blasting HEAVY METAL in the distance. The music felt like a soundtrack. It provided us with POWER and ENERGY as we surged through the water.

→ What kind of music do you listen to while exercising?

→ DM or email me now at DFcaptains@gmail.com to learn how you can try dragon boat racing for free in Redwood City.

- Alex, YOUR Minister of Newbie Happiness 🐲 🎸

Copyright 2025 DieselFish Dragon Boat Team. All rights reserved.

WELCOME TO SECOND SUMMER | DieselFish Dragon Boat Racing Team | San Jose, Peninsula, San Francisco Bay Area

The weather is still PERFECT for dragon boat racing. Read on to learn more. [ONLY 5-second read]

Labor Day has come and gone, but here in the Bay Area, summer isn’t really over. We’re in Second Summer, a stretch of sunny days that keeps the season alive just a little longer.

The air is warm, the days are long, and the winds are calm. It’s the ideal time to be outside and on the water.

That means there’s still time to enjoy outdoor activities like dragon boat racing with DieselFish. But not for long.

Because Second Summer won’t last forever. Cooler weather is just around the corner.

→ Don’t let Second Summer slip away. Jump in the boat with us while the weather’s still perfect! Contact me now at DFcaptains@gmail.com to learn how you can try dragon boat racing for free in Redwood City.

 - Alex, YOUR Minister of Newbie Happiness 🐲

Copyright 2025 DieselFish Dragon Boat Team. All rights reserved.

WHEN AND WHERE CAN YOU DRAGON BOAT RACE? | DieselFish Dragon Boat Racing Team | San Jose, Peninsula, San Francisco

Ever wonder WHEN and WHERE you can dragon boat race? Here’s your quick and useful guide. [ONLY 5-second read]

In ancient China, dragon boat races were held as part of the Duanwu Festival, which occurs in late May or early June. But dragon boat racing has become a modern sport and gone global. These days, there’s a dragon boat race every weekend somewhere in the world.

From Hong Kong to San Francisco, you’ll find dragon boats surging down racecourses during the spring, summer, and fall months.

This is the dragon boat racing season. Expect warm weather, long days, and an exciting atmosphere.

So, if you want to try dragon boat racing or simply watch the competitions, now you know. You don’t have to wait for Duanwu for the action.

→ DieselFish is the San Francisco Bay Area’s most welcoming dragon boat team. Got questions? Email me now at DFcaptains@gmail.com. I’ll help you learn more.

- Alex, YOUR Minister of Newbie Happiness 🐲

Photo: Mitchell

Copyright 2025 DieselFish Dragon Boat Team. All rights reserved.

DRAGON BOAT SUCCESS STORIES: MEGAN’S FIRST RACE | DieselFish Dragon Boat Team | San Jose, Peninsula, San Francisco Bay Area

>>> Megan recently competed in her first dragon boat race with DieselFish at the California Dragon Boat Associations’ 2025 Sprint Race in Foster City. Read on to learn what it’s like to race for the first time. [ONLY 5 SECOND READ] <<<

DF: Congratulations, Megan! You just completed a major dragon boat rite of passage: your first race. What was it like?

M: It was fun! I thought I would be more nervous. During practice it’s just one boat, so it was cool to see other dragon boat teams on the water with us.

DF: What do you like about dragon boat racing?

M: The camaraderie and how we’re trying to push forward as a team. I’m not a very competitive person, but racing against other teams motivates me to keep practicing my technique, form, and endurance.

DF: Why did you join DieselFish?

M: I’ve always wanted to try out dragon boat racing. A current member of the team invited me to come out and it was fun! It's also a great way to exercise. Personally, I enjoy being around water and taking in the views as I paddle.

DF: Congratulations, Megan! We can’t wait to see what comes next for you in your dragon boat journey.

→ If Megan can do it, so can YOU. DieselFish offers FREE dragon boat lessons in Redwood City. Email me now at DFcaptains@gmail.com to get started.

- Alex, the Minister of Newbie Happiness 🐲

Copyright 2025 DieselFish Dragon Boat Team. All rights reserved.