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