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!