Saturday, April 28, 2018

Don’t Call It a Comeback…| DieselFish Dragon Boat Team


By Alex Ling

It’s a reunion

San Francisco Bay Area dragon boat team DieselFish offers free lessons in Redwood City
Akash first came to us a kid. Now he's back!


Nothing good gets away. Like Akash Singh, for example. He first came to DieselFish when he was a kid. Akash then took some time off to focus on school and work, but now he’s back. Almost by accident.

A chance encounter provided Akash the opportunity to reconnect with the team and the sport he loves. Now, Akash is back on the boat and better than ever. I spoke with him about his career in dragon boat and his thoughts about DieselFish.

DF: How did you get started in dragon boat?
AS: I was introduced to dragon boat racing by friends who were members of the Mountain View Dragon Boat team when I was in high school. I joined Mountain View Dragon Boat in 2008 and continued with them until early 2010

DF: Why did you start paddling with DieselFish?
AS: I graduated from high school and needed a new team. I started paddling with DieselFish because the scene was so young and most colleges were just in the phase of building a team, so I didn’t have an option for college. The adult teams seemed more interesting and competitive at the time.

DF: That’s when you initially joined DieselFish?
AS: Yes. I was one of the youngest people on the team.

San Francisco Bay Area dragon boat team DieselFish offers free lessons in Redwood City
Young Akash during his first stint with DieselFish


DF: You took some time off from paddling. What did you do during this period?
AS: During my time off, I focused on finishing my undergrad and wrapping up my graduate degree. I started my career shortly after graduating.

DF: How did you get back into paddling as an adult?
AS: It happened because of a coincidence…

I got back into paddling after finding out my friends Bryan and Conely were paddling with my old team. I was surprised and this gave me a reason to return. It’s great seeing them every week at practice.

San Francisco Bay Area dragon boat team DieselFish offers free lessons in Redwood City
Akash and his friends Bryan and Conely


DF: Is the experience of paddling on the dragon boat team different now that you are an adult?
AS: I find it’s just a change of pace due to experience. My time off from the sport gave me the chance to reflect. I missed paddling, and I began to think about what I would do if I returned to dragon boat.

DF: What do you like about the sport?
AS: I honestly enjoy the peaceful and relaxing atmosphere that comes from being a boat and paddling. Although the actual activity is physically demanding, just being on the water is a nice break from my normal schedule.

DF: What do you like about DieselFish?
AS: DieselFish for me has always been about enjoying the sport and the people you’re with. Races are a perfect example of this. People show up to compete but also enjoy their time together as a team.

DF: Thanks for sharing this! See you on the water!
AS: Sure!

You can begin your own dragon boat journey, too! You’ll get stronger, meet new friends and join a supportive community. Email me at dfcaptains@gmail.com for free dragon boat lessons in Redwood City!

San Francisco Bay Area dragon boat team DieselFish offers free lessons in Redwood City



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