Paddling to Eat - Red Crawfish

Here’s a chant from the DieselFish songbook:

WHO ARE WE?
DIESELFISH!
WHY DO WE PADDLE?
TO EAT!
HOW MUCH DO WE EAT?
A LOT!

I'm not crazy about this old chestnut anymore, because it ignores all the gains we’ve made in fitness and competitiveness. But damn it, there’s an element of truth to it. DieselFish does eat a lot. The trick is to burn off the calories with a good workout. The team recently got together for a dinner outing at Red Crawfish, a Cajun/Asian fusion (?!) restaurant that recently opened in our neck of the woods.

We didn’t bother with anything from the Asian side of the menu. A group of us ordered a set meal that included boiled crawfish and shrimp, Cajun fries, fried calamari, gumbo and beignets. Everyone had a steamy, spicy and messy good time (even the guy with the life-threatening shellfish allergy!), but the conversation lulled slightly after we began the delicate task of extracting meat from the crawfish.

You’d think restaurant outings like this would be the bane of our existence, but I think they're beneficial. On one level, the act of sharing food with your teammates creates a bond, and that bond is especially important for a sport like dragon boat paddling which is based on synchronization. On a more basic level, hanging out with your buddies is fun. Next time, I’m going to get one of my teammates to shell my crawfish – all in the name of team harmony and morale.

-The Minister of Newbie Happiness

Hello Internet friends! Doesn’t dragon boat racing with DieselFish sound like fun? Go to http://dieselfish.org/ now to sign up for a free practice session!

DieselFish Season 14 By the Numbers

Dear Gentle Reader:

DieselFish Dragon Boat Team is proud to present its latest performance report. Season 14 was one of the most exciting periods in the team’s history. Our energy, fitness and headcount exploded, resulting in breakthroughs in speed and power. DieselFish racked up an impressive series of wins across the country, and our momentum accelerated with each victory.

Key Strengths
Energy: A couple of years ago, we had to cancel some practices due to lack of interest. But everything changed! These days, the coaches complain about finding room for everyone that shows for offseason practices. Morale reached a fever pitch during Season 14, due to the continued success of our veteran “Salty Fish” members and the enthusiasm of our beginner “Fresh Fish” members. Soon, everyone was working out harder and longer, volunteering to help with administrative tasks and bringing their friends and family to practices. It was as if somebody dropped a live wire into the water.

Fitness: Is that a bulging bicep under your uniform, or are you just glad to race me? The team focused on improving its fitness level in Season 14, and it really showed. Uniforms became tighter in all the right places, waistlines shrank away and cardio levels went through the roof. One guy lost 15 pounds! The secret? We worked out together in a fun and challenging environment. The boat has never been faster and more powerful!

Headcount: DieselFish experienced a recruiting boom during Season 14 that doubled the team’s size! Our newest generation of paddlers was probably the best we’ve had in ages, because they were excited about the sport and eager for a challenge. Some old friends rejoined the team as well, and it was if they had never left. We’re going to need a bigger boat!

Thank you for your interest in DieselFish. The team will return in 2012 for its 15th season of fun, fitness and competition. We look forward to paddling with you during this milestone in DieselFish’s long and storied history.

With thanks,

The Minister of Newbie Happiness

Season 14 by the Numbers
*Competitions: 6
*Farthest distance traveled: 2,695 miles from Redwood City to Boston
*Members of Team USA: 3 (4 if you count past members)
*Paddles broken: 3
*New Paddler Days: 3
*New members added: 28
*Returning long-lost veterans: 3
*Families paddling together: 4
*Media appearances
-TV: 2
-Online media: 4
*Official DieselFish Blog posts: 31
*Cakes with spinning motorized parts: 1
*Official social events: 6
*Karaoke outings: 2
*Perfectly good songs destroyed during karaoke outings: N/A
*Marriages: 1
*Your lucky numbers: 6, (power) 10, 25, 30, 31

Hello Internet friends! Doesn’t dragon boat racing with DieselFish sound like fun? Go to http://dieselfish.org/ now to sign up for a free practice session!

DieselFish Appears on "Easy Chinese: San Francisco" Part II

DieselFish's appearance on Cooking Channel's "Easy Chinese: San Francisco" was a hit!

We're glad to have promoted our sport on the national level, and hope our appearance inspires more people to try dragon boat paddling!

The star of the show, Ching-He Huang, was kind enough to mention our appearance and post a picture of us on her personal blog:

http://www.chinghehuang.com/page/blog.php?id=28

Local news site Patch.com published an article about our appearance, too:

http://paloalto.patch.com/articles/cooking-channel-films-episode-of-chinese-food-made-easy-at-ryan-park

I'm happy for all this attention, but I'm worried it will turn the crew into a bunch of divas....

How to Get (and Stay) on Camera
1) Jockey for a spot next to the star
2) Smile incessantly – even if the situation doesn’t call for it
3) Exaggerate your facial expressions and body language
4) Steal your cast mates' lines by memorizing their dialog and mouthing it silently into the camera

THIS IS SHOW BUSINESS, NOT SHOW FRIENDS!

Hello Internet friends! Doesn’t dragon boat racing with DieselFish sound like fun? Go to http://dieselfish.org/ now to sign up for a free practice session!

DieselFish Appears on "Easy Chinese: San Francisco"

Set your DVRs! DieselFish Dragon Boat Team will appear on Cooking Channel’s "Easy Chinese: San Francisco" on Saturday, November 12 at 10 AM! Encores will be broadcast on November 26, 2011 at 5:30 PM and 9:30 AM. Watch it with someone you love…and then join us for a free practice session! For recipes and more information go to:
http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/easy-chinese-san-francisco/shellfish-and-seafood/index.html

“They want us pass by the gazebo again. We’re going to be on TV guys, make this look good! PADDLES UP!”

The dragon boat cut a delicate arc in the morning water as it began its u-turn. The boat’s pace was slow and deliberate, because it wasn’t competing in a race. It was being filmed for a TV show. In June, DieselFish had its five minutes of fame (which, through the magic of television, gets stretched out to 22 minutes if you fast forward through the commercials) after it filmed an episode of "Easy Chinese: San Francisco."

"Easy Chinese: San Francisco" is a new addition to Cooking Channel’s roster of culinary how-to programming. The series, hosted by the effervescent Ching-He Huang, is part cooking show and part travel show. Every episode, Ching travels to different spots around the Bay Area and cooks Chinese dishes using fresh and local ingredients. When it came time to film an episode about seafood, the producers gave DieselFish a call. The casting seemed natural given the aquatic nature of our sport and name.

Filming began bright and early on a Friday afternoon at Foster City’s Leo J. Ryan Park. After completing all the required disclosure agreements, a camera man climbed into the boat with us, and began shooting footage of the team in action.

We then headed back to the shore, where we conveniently bumped into Ching! It was as if the meeting was carefully timed and scripted. Our very own Joyce Lee then got off the boat to co-host the episode and help Ching cook. The rest of the crew wasn’t so lucky – we had to stay in the boat to shoot long distance shots.

There is nothing more unbearable than paddling around the smell of food. After what seemed like an eternity, we paddled back to the dock for a lunch break. We didn’t get to eat the chef’s special, though – it was still being prepared and shot from multiple angles! We made do with deli sandwiches.

Finally, the food was ready, and we were given the green light to chow down. Ching and Joyce cooked mussels with black bean sauce and a cocktail made with Chinese beer. The mussel dish was flavorful and authentic, and the cocktail was cool and refreshing.

Ching then got into the boat, and we took her for her for a spin around the lagoon. Like most beginners, she had a fun, albeit damp, time. The director then called a wrap, and our adventure came to an end. As we headed back to our normal, non-televised lives, we reflected on the day's events and considered hiring a talent manager.

CREDITS
Host: Ching-He Huang

Host: Joyce Lee

DieselFish: Al, Birk, Chris, Colin, Dan, Darren, David, Lin, Marynka, Mika, O’Sum, Steve, Tiffany, Vivien

Sloppy Eater #3 (looked terrible in HD): Alex

Hello Internet friends! Doesn’t dragon boat racing with DieselFish sound like fun? Go to http://dieselfish.org/ now to sign up for a free practice session!

DieselFish Breaks the Waves at Treasure Island!

Sometimes, it’s hard for me to believe that one of the dragon boat world’s most prestigious events takes place in my own backyard, because the water in the Bay is notoriously frigid and choppy. The feds put Alcatraz, once the world’s most secure prison, here for a reason. Somehow, despite these less than hospitable conditions, the San Francisco International Dragon Boat Festival (SFIDBF) has become the largest dragon boat festival in the country. Every year, the toughest teams from the around the world – the ones mad enough to deal with San Francisco’s hostile waters – travel to Treasure Island for two days of hardcore racing. As usual, DieselFish entered the fray. But this year’s SFIDBF was anything but ordinary. We went head-to-head with some of the most competitive teams from around the world and held our own. In fact, we delivered some of our best performances in years!

We owe our success to a thoughtful training plan and an explosion of energy. This year, we started our preparations earlier and tried new methods. The crew may not have realized it, but every race prior to the battle in the Bay was a dress rehearsal. Our coaches took the lessons we learned throughout the year, and applied them to our training regimen. At the same time, DieselFish’s recruitment boom continued to bring new blood to the team. These rookies came to us excited about the sport and eager for a challenge. These developments made us faster, stronger and hungrier. By the time the SFIDBF rolled around, the team was ready to show the world what it could do.

At the festival, the team’s “Fresh Fish” rookies maintained their focus and paddled hard, just as their coaches taught them. The fresh fish should be proud of their effort – they earned a spot in Division B, an amazing feat when you consider just how wet behind the ears most of them are. A few of the Fresh Fish had never raced before!

DieselFish’s “Salty Fish” veterans had their work cut out for them. They had to face a gauntlet filled with some of the dragon boat world’s most fearsome competitors. The Salty Fish, however, were well prepared thanks to the breakthroughs they made in fitness and technique throughout the season. They pulled water like nobody’s business, and exceeded last season’s performance by breaking into Division A, the highest level of competition!

This year’s SFIDBF was a grueling, yet rewarding experience. DieselFish faced fierce competition, but rose to the challenge. We walked away from Treasure Island with a feeling of accomplishment, because we delivered strong performances that exceed last year’s results. It’s gratifying to know that all the hard work and energy we put in throughout the season paid off!

Hello Internet friends! Doesn’t dragon boat racing with DieselFish sound like fun? Go to http://dieselfish.org/ now to sign up for a free practice session!

The Love Boat

Last night, DieselFishies Allen and Ann got married! I got to know the lovely couple through our adventures together with the team, so I can honestly say this pairing is perfect. The bride and groom share the same gentle warmth and intelligence, and I’m sure they will keep each other happy for years to come.

DieselFish was well represented at the ceremony and the banquet. After the newly minted couple exchanged their vows, they kindly asked the photographer to take some photos with us. What a nice gesture!

Allen and Ann even reserved two tables for us at the restaurant. We were treated to a traditional and luxurious Chinese banquet, followed by music and dancing. Everyone had a great time, but I’m worried that we didn’t burn off enough calories on the dance floor – we’ve got a race coming up soon!

I’d like to thank Allen and Ann for sharing their big day with us. They have been a big part of the team for ages, and I’m ecstatic that they are about to begin a new and exciting part of their lives together.

CONGRATULATIONS! AND REMEMBER - "ALEX" IS A LOVELY NAME FOR A BABY BOY OR A GIRL!

Hello Internet friends! Doesn’t dragon boat racing with DieselFish sound like fun? Go to http://dieselfish.org/ now to sign up for a free practice session!

Vote for Avy @ BabyAvy.com

This is Avy, isn’t she cute? Avy is the daughter of Leon Cheng, one of the founders of DieselFish’s sister team, the fearsome Los Angeles Racing Dragons. Avy, unfortunately, suffered an in-utero stroke. She is hearing and vision impaired, and diagnosed with cerebral palsy. You can make a difference in Avy’s life! Please click on this link to access Avy’s profile on the upromisetodream site, a charity sponsored by financial services firm SallieMae, If Avy gets enough votes, she will receive funding that will make a difference in her life. Hurry, voting ends on September 29th!

Go to BabyAvy.com today!

DieselFish Year Two

You have to start somewhere. Everyone on the team started out as a rookie. But, with time and practice, you get better. Here’s a conversation I had with Leo and Christie, the recipients of last season’s Rookie of the Year awards. The two looked back at their first season with DieselFish, and talked candidly about their journey and what the team means to them today.

-The Minister of Newbie Happiness

M: How did you find out about DieselFish?

L: My friend Tiffany from work invited me to try it out.

C: My friend was a friend of a friend of Head Coach Birk’s. I had always wanted to try it, so I got connected to Birk who connected me to the team. I signed up with DieselFish, and then, at my first race I realized that there were multiple teams in my area, Oakland. Birk never mentioned that there was a team so close to me. [MINISTER’S NOTE: Christie drives from OAKLAND to practice with us in REDWOOD CITY. She must really enjoy paddling with DieselFish!]

M: What do you remember about your first couple of practices with the team?

L: I remember getting burned by the sun. I was a lot paler before, I hardly had any tan.

C: I remember thinking how great the team was. They were so friendly and inclusive, and made sure that I had a good time. I paddled with the DieselFish Youth for the first several practices, so and I remember being coached by Al (who was steering the DieselFish Youth boat). I remember that I was sore for a couple of days after the practice. And then, I remember coming back from my first practice, and thinking that the people were super nice, but that I wasn’t physically cut out for the sport.

M: What things made the practices easier?

L: SUNSCREEN. At this point, I can’t get any darker...

C: I kept coming out, and each time it got a little better. I was a little less sore after each practice.

M: Why did you become a member?

L: I like chilling on the water, what could be more fun? [MINISTER’S NOTE: I think Leo’s trying sound cool and laid back here. You don’t get the Rookie of the Year award by taking it easy on the boat!] And it keeps me active rather than sleeping all day, which I do miss sometimes.

C: I tried paddling so that I could get an extra workout on the weekend. I became a DieselFish member because the team was incredibly good at recruiting.

M: Why did you come back for a second season?

L: I just wanted to keep paddling, and the practice site is conveniently located in Redwood City, close to my work and home.

C: I had to. I got voted in as the Team Manager.

M: What has changed since your first season?

L: The team’s energy increased exponentially! There are more people on the team, and everybody is on top of their game!

C: I think that the team has really developed both performance wise and as a cohesive group. We’ve got a lot of great energy amongst the paddlers, and we’ve grown our team by a lot. People are really excited about paddling, and about DieselFish, and it’s great to see that.

M: What do you like the most about paddling with DieselFish?

L: Everybody is showing a positive attitude to improve, both for the team and individually.

C: The people are what keep me coming back.

M: Way to go, Leo and Christie! You've both come a long way since your rookie days!











Hello Internet friends! Doesn’t dragon boat racing with DieselFish sound like fun? Go to http://dieselfish.org/ now to sign up for a free practice session!