Energized by Nature's Beauty | DieselFish Dragon Boat Team

You see the most beautiful sights when you're paddling a dragon boat.

🌧 or ☀️, DieselFish always paddles.

Because it feels great to go outside and take in the natural world.

Today's practice was most rewarding. Because after a brief shower, we got to see this gorgeous 🌈!

➡️ Looking for outdoor sports adventures? Email me now at DFcaptains@gmail.com for free dragon boat lessons! You'll get stronger, meet new friends and share jaw-dropping moments of natural beauty.

-Alex, the Minister of Newbie Happiness 🐲

Copyright 2020 DieselFish Dragon Boat Team. All rights reserved.

How to Feel Alive and Energized on Saturdays | DieselFish Dragon Boat Team

Dragon boat workouts will make you feel great.

Hi Newbies:

When you watch this video from Saturday’s dragon boat lesson, what do you remember?

Did you feel powerful? Pulling the boat through the water takes a bit of brawn.

Do you remember how quickly your heart was beating during our race?

How about the rays of sunlight that warmed your neck?

What an experience! 

Wouldn’t you like to feel these sensations all the time?

Well, you CAN. Let me explain…

DieselFish offers three free lessons to newcomers. We meet on Saturdays from 10:00-noon in Redwood City.

We encourage you to attend as many lessons as you can. Dragon boat workouts will energize you and make you feel alive.

Contact me now at DFcaptains@gmail.com for more free lessons!

-Alex, the Minister of Newbie Happiness

Gutting it Out at the Finish Line | DieselFish Dragon Boat Team

This is what a dragon boat race looks like up close

In this picture, the crew is fighting for its life as it approaches the finish line.

Every stroke felt heavy. Each gasp of air wasn’t enough….

But we stayed calm and focused. We crossed the finish line with open water between us and the competition.

Dragon boat racing is the greatest challenge you’ll ever love.

➡️ DieselFish is passionate about dragon boat racing, so we’d like to share it with you. On Saturday 10/26, we’re going to offer a free lesson to the community. You’ll feel strong and fast as you fly through the water.

Please register now at https://bit.ly/2MJQO0W

-Alex, the Minister of Newbie Happiness 🐲

Growing Up and Delivering on Race Day | DieselFish Dragon Boat Day

The team's experience led to impressive results

This year’s Northern California International Dragon Boat Festival was shocking.

Because DieselFish finished two divisions higher than last year!

How did we make this breakthrough?

• Maintaining the rate set by our pace setters
• Keeping calm and focused in the boat
• Paddling stronger and longer

This festival was an important moment for us. Our results demonstrate that we’ve grown as paddlers. Now, more than ever, we’re working together as a team.

We’re going to cherish this experience and build on it next season. Let’s see how far we can go.

GO DIESEL!

➡️ Email me now at DFcaptains@gmail.com for free dragon boat lessons. You’ll get stronger, meet friendly people and take on a new challenge.

-Alex, the Minister of Newbie Happiness 🐲

What a Race! | DieselFish Dragon Boat Team

DieselFish worked together and scored an impressive victory at the Northern California International Dragon Boat Festival.

By my reckoning, this was the best heat DieselFish has raced in years.

The starter’s horn blasted.

And then, everything fell into place:

We reached, rotated and buried.

We stayed in in time with our leads.

We added extra power at just the right moments. 

And the results were fantastic!

We crossed the finish with open water between us and the competition.

We can achieve great things when we work together as a team.

Good job, Fishies. Onward to more racing tomorrow.

➡ Email me now at DFcaptains@gmail.com for free dragon boat lessons. You’ll get stronger, meet new people and take on a new challenge.

-Alex, the Minister of Newbie Happiness 🐲

We Got This, Fishies | DieselFish Dragon Boat Team

KIller workouts lead to better races

DieselFish is preparing for this year’s Northern California International Dragon Boat Festival.

That means lots of race drills at practice.

It’s exhausting to do back-to-back races, but exciting, too.

The drills help us figure out what we can do to improve our race program.

Is our start working? How many strokes per minute? What’s the best lineup?

We can’t wait for race day!

➡️ Email me now at DFcaptains@gmail.com for free dragon boat lessons. You’ll get stronger, take on new challenges and join our adventures.

-Alex, the Minister of Newbie Happiness 🐲

Masters Do it Better... | DieselFish Dragon Boat Team

…Because we’ve been around and learned a few tricks.

At long last, our medals finally arrived!

We won this hardware back in May at the California Dragon Boat Association’s Regional Regatta. The Regatta included a masters race. Masters races are for paddlers aged forty and up. No young whippersnappers allowed!

You might wonder what it’s like to race with a middle-aged boat…

Does the crew smell like Icy Hot?

Does AARP sponsor the race?

Are there ambulances on standby?

Actually, masters races are just as intense and exciting as standard dragon boat races. But there’s a difference!

Most of the masters have paddled for a long time. So there’s lots of experience in the boat.

On race day, we felt this difference as soon as our boat jumped out from the starting line.

Our powerful strokes yanked us through the water at a furious pace that generated a bubbly wake. That’s because every paddler was reaching and rotating like a pro.

Timing in the boat was spot on. Everyone in the boat knew how to stay in time.

As we neared the finish line, we found ourselves neck and neck with our enemies.

That’s when we got stubborn and applied even more power.

After a fierce battle, we ended up winning the bronze.

Not bad for a bunch of geezers. We do it better because we’ve been around the block and know what we’re doing.

Would you like to race with our masters crew? Email me now at DFcaptains@gmail.com for free dragon boat lessons in Redwood City.

- Alex, the Minister of Newbie Happiness

How Do You Make Paddling Breakthroughs? | DieselFish Dragon Boat Team

Everyone has room to improve. Tiny tweaks can lead to major breakthroughs.

“Alex, I want you to use your knees more,” said Akash.

“My knees?” I replied.

“Yeah. That’ll increase your power and reduce your excess body movements.”

“OK, here goes nothing,” I said. And you know what?

IT WORKED.

My strokes got stronger as soon as I engaged my knees.

This tiny change increased the power of my leg drive and prevented me from wriggling around.

WOW.

This breakthrough was the result of personalized coaching.

The best way to iron out the kinks in your technique is to have your coach watch you and provide a thoughtful analysis.

You just need to find a coach that will work with you one on one.

➡️ Email me now at DFcaptains@gmail.com for free lessons in Redwood City. We’ll give you the time, feedback and patience you need to become a powerful paddler.

-Alex, the Minister of Newbie Happiness 🐲

Regatta 2019: Fun and Thrills in San Francisco | DieselFish Dragon Boat

Our first race of the year was an important one

READY? GO!

DieselFishDragon Boat Team had a blast at this year’s CDBA Regatta.

Our two newest members, Lily and Bev, raced for first time. “It was really exciting,” said Bev. “Pure adrenaline.” Coach Marynka was pleased with our rookies. “Bev and Lily did great. They remembered everything we taught them and didn’t give up,” she said.

Our masters paddlers won the bronze. Masters races are for paddlers aged 40 and up. The teams in the final race were so evenly matched, the difference between silver and bronze was a mere fraction of a second. “Every stroke counted! Good thing everyone in our boat was experienced. They stayed calm and delivered power and timing,” said Coach Marynka.

After the race, we went to Banana Island. To celebrate our wins, the team feasted on Thai, Malaysian and Singaporean dishes including fiery rending beef, fluffy roti crepes and a whole fish steamed with ginger. “I booked this place because it’s one of my favorite restaurants,” said D-Jae as he powered through another helping of coconut fried race.

The regatta was an important race for us. The team broke in some new paddlers and received a healthy boost of confidence after our masters race victory. We also had fun times hanging out under the tent and at the restaurant. We can’t wait for our next race in Vancouver!

You can join our race adventures, too! Email me now at DFcaptains@gmail.com for free dragon boat lessons on Redwood City. You’ll feel thrills, laughs and the occasional burn of a chili pepper.

-Alex, the Minister of Newbie Happiness

DieselFish 2019

Good friends Angeline and Kathy joke around

Fun times under the tent

Our masters crew won a bronze

Chow down, Fishies!

Even Better Than a Medal | DieselFish Dragon Boat Team

 I shared one of the most important moments in my life with my team

“Coach, we’re going to have to cancel practice on that date.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m getting married on that day, and I’m inviting the team.”

On a cloudy day in March, the rain stopped just long enough for my now wife and I to get married at a serene outdoor ceremony in San Jose.

The warm sun peeked through the clouds. The rolling hills were covered with a lush carpet of grass. A piano gently tinkled in the background. Everything was fresh, vibrant and beautiful.

The ceremony was made even more special by the company of our friends and family. For me, this meant my team.

I’ve been paddling with DieselFish since 2008. Over the years, the team has provided me with an outlet to meet and befriend a group of kind and friendly people.

These people, the Fishies, are a major part of my life both on and off the water. We don’t just race and train—we also socialize and take trips together.

The Fishies mean the world to me, so I was thrilled to share this important moment with them.

Here’s to you, Fishies! I hope you had a fun time. Let’s make more happy memories.

(Thanks to my wife for letting me to pick the cake topper.)

-Alex, the Minister of Newbie Happiness

Photos: Linneth De La Rocha Photography

© DieselFish Dragon Boat Team 2019. All rights reserved.

Dim Sum Gorge-A-Palooza 2019

DieselFish Dragon Boat Team kicked off the season with a big meal (and some paddling, too).

At this week’s practice, Coach Marynka taught us the secret for getting a good pull on our paddles. She knows a counterintuitive way to generate more power. The technique launches the boat through the water, but the catch is that it’s tiring.

Practice left us exhausted. Some of us had to sit down for a while to regain composure. It’s a good thing we had a big meal planned.

After practice, the team went to Yum Cha Palace in Menlo Park for its annual dim sum lunch.

Yes, there’s a dim sum restaurant in Menlo Park. But I swear it’s excellent. The steamed shrimp dumplings have translucent wrappers. The BBQ pork buns are made with honey. The pan-fried daikon cakes are slightly crusty. Not many restaurants in Silicon Valley do dim sum this well.

We booked two tables, and for the next two hours, we had the time of our lives chatting and nibbling away. DieselFish went on hiatus for much of the winter, so this was the first time in a while that the whole team was able to gather together and catch up.

The delicious food and friendly atmosphere perked us up. What a fun and tiring way to start the season!

➡ You can join our food and fitness adventures, too! Email me at DFcaptains@gmail.com now for free dragon boat lessons in Redwood City.

-Alex, the Minister of Newbie Happiness 🐲

© 2019 DieselFish Dragon Boat Team. All Rights Reserved