After an eternity, the team paddled out into the San Francisco Bay again--safely.
The past eight months of quarantine life haven’t been fun. DieselFish hasn’t been able to paddle dragon boats because of social distancing rules. The benches in the boats are spaced too close together. Lucky for us, Coach Marynka is a genius.
She figured out a way to get us back on the water. “I realized that we could paddle safely if practiced social distancing while on the water. Also, we came up with a safety plan.”
Marynka’s plan came to fruition on October 18. On that unseasonably warm morning, many members of the team and their family members gathered at Bair Island Aquatic Center (BIAC) for the first time in what seemed like an eternity. But before they could paddle, they needed to pass a rigorous health screening.
“We followed the latest safety precautions,” said Coach Marynka. “Everyone had to check their temperatures on the day of the event. Anyone with a fever or other symptoms would’ve been asked to cancel. We also made sure that the attendees hadn’t been exposed to anyone COVID positive. In addition, I required the attendees to wear masks at all times and maintain social distancing. Finally, we made sure to disinfect the equipment when done.”
This safety plan put the attendees at ease. “I felt absolutely safe,” said DieselFish member Chris Stevenson. “Everyone was masked (on land) and socially distanced and the equipment was clean and was cleaned again after we used it.”
Once the safety checks were completed, the team rented stand-up paddle boards and kayaks and then hit the water with a vengeance.
DieselFish team manager Brian "Wolverine" Le noted that paddling with the team in separate water craft was “different but fun”. “I’m used to paddling in the same boat with my teammates,” he added.
Everyone had fun at the event. According to Stevenson, “It's always great to get out on the water, but this event had the extra benefits of being socially distanced and accessible to my entire family. Plus, we saw some seals!”
Le said he enjoyed the event because it allowed him to “see my friends.” He also got to introduce a friend to paddling. “Spending time with friends and showing them something they’ve never done made for some fun memories.”
Looking back on the event, Coach Marynka was pleased with the results. “It felt so good to be back on the water again. I really missed the exercise and being back at BIAC. But more importantly, I missed hanging out with my friends and teammates. It’s been too long since we’ve seen each other in person,” she said.
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| Brian takes a big stroke |
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| Chris had a fun time with his family |
➡ DieselFish is currently on hiatus. We’ll resume free lessons in Redwood City when health officials determine it’s safe. In the meantime, you can email me your questions at DFcaptains@gmail.com. Stay safe!
- Alex, the Minister of Newbie Happiness 🐲
Copyright 2020 DieselFish Dragon Boat Team. All rights reserved.
