Dragon Boat Success Stories — DieselFish Medals in Long Beach

DieselFish rallied together and won big 

Photo credits: Peter Lee, Marynka Rojas

San Francisco Bay Area dragon boat team DieselFish heads south every summer to compete in the Long Beach Dragon Boat Festival. The team looks forward to this festival all year long because it’s always filled with intense races and fun hangouts. This year’s trip was particularly memorable because the team experienced a breakthrough that helped it win a medal.

“This year’s trip was fun,” said veteran paddler and team treasurer Marynka Rojas. “Away races offer a great opportunity for bonding and getting to know our team members better as individuals.” According to team captain Ellen Reichert, team members bonded by “playing board games” between races. “We also spooned on the beach!” she added.

This friendly atmosphere helped DieselFish win a silver medal. “The team’s strong camaraderie and desire to succeed together made a big difference,” said Reichert. Rojas agreed with Reichert. “We raced pretty solidly because we paddled for each other,” Rojas said. “I paddled harder during our last race because I didn’t want to let my teammates down.”

This year’s Long Beach Dragon Boat Festival was an important moment for DieselFish. The team won a medal at a prestigious race. But more importantly, the crew achieved this victory by rallying together, a skill that will be invaluable as the next race draws near.

Dragon boat racing with DieselFish is the ultimate team sport! We will help you become stronger and faster. Email us at dfcaptains@gmail.com now for details!