DieselFish Dragon Boat | Redwood City, San Francisco Bay Area: July 2011

An article about DieselFish was published today on Patch.com, an AOL-affiliated news site.

http://redwoodcity.patch.com/articles/ancient-sport-of-dragon-boat-racing-rejects-prima-donnas

Ancient Sport of Dragon Boat Racing Rejects Prima Donnas

The DieselFish dragon boat racing team carries on an ancient tradition.

By Audrey Arthur

For those of us who were picked last for lunchtime baseball, thanks to our short legs, our fear of the ball, or our scrawny infant-like biceps, sports became more of a platform for childhood humiliation rather than healthy fun. Most never experienced the mammoth muscles of the burly high school football captain so loved by the student body or the fame that goes with it.

But for the dragon boat paddlers of DieselFish, every teammate is an integral part of the culturally enriched sport that has been practiced for thousands of years in China.

“What’s nice about this sport is you don’t have to be really big or anything to be good at it,” said Birk Lee, head coach of DieselFish.

DieselFish, established in 1998, is an open team that now has more than 40 members on their adult team and 20 members on the high school team.

Only 5'4" and 130 lbs.? Not to worry. Row #2 should suit your strength and body type.

The dragon boats are comprised of 10 rows, each a different size from the next needing different sized teammates, Lee said. Each of those team members has a specific strength that must cooperate with others.

“It takes a lot of team work,” he said. “You definitely have to be a team member, you can’t be a prima donna.”

The three sections of the boat work together in an effort to create a smooth glide of the elongated and often brightly decorated boat.

The first three rows are deemed the timing box. This includes the lead stroke who sits in seat one and directs the operation, Lee said.

“When their hand goes up, everyone’s hand should go up,” he said.

This section is often for smaller teammates.

The next section, the engine room, is meant for larger paddlers with endurance strength.

Finally, the boat concludes with the terminators who keep pressure on the fast passing water.

Dragon boating is for all ages, sizes, ethnicities and genders, he said.

There is sometimes a requirement that a dragon boat team must have 40 percent women on board, Lee said.

“Men’s boats are notorious for having bad timing. Just a bunch of testosterone going as fast as they can,” Lee said. “But women’s boats, they are always in time and looking very graceful.”

Paddling on a dragon boat requires more of a team effort than individual speed, a lesson often learned quickly by new comers.

“They’re all clanking and they’re not really going anywhere,” Lee said. “But it’s nice to see new paddlers improve.”

The history of dragon boat racing has several different versions but began nearly 2,000 years ago in China. When ancient poet and politician, Qu Yuan, found himself banished from his home state of Chu by a corrupt and unjust government he became gravely saddened. After he learned of his homes invasion by warring neighbors he threw himself into the Miluo River.

The people of Chu rushed to save him, using paddles to scare off fish that would eat his body. The desperate rescuers also threw rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves, called tzung-tze, into the river in order to distract the fish.

Each year, in commemoration of Qu Yuan’s suicide, a race is held on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar.

“I think it’s a great way to stay in touch with your culture,” said Faith Lin, 25.

Lin began paddling on dragon boats while living in Taiwan and now is the lead stroke.

“I am never off time,” she laughed.

Lin said she loves the sport for the active competition and camaraderie of her teammates.

“The adrenaline is pumping while you’re paddling but you also hang out after,” she said.

Lin and Lee agreed that the Bay Area has major competition in dragon boat racing, but it is also increasing in popularity across the globe.

“It’s definitely rising on an international level,” Lin said. “But there’s definitely a good level of competition in the Bay Area.”

The team practices Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings at the Bair Island Aquatic Center. If any person would like to join in, Lee Said, the first three practices are free to test out the waters.

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!