SEVEN GONGS FOR SEVEN FISHES | DieselFish Dragon Boat Team | Serving San Francisco, Peninsula, San Jose

DieselFish has a silly and painful tradition to welcome new members. Read on to find out more!

Every team has its own personality, quirks, and traditions. It’s with great pleasure that share with you, my dear Internet friends, one of DieselFish’s most important rituals: the striking of the New Member Gong.

Whenever the team gains a new member, I lug the New Member Gong out of our storage unit…and whack the hell out of it.

Here I go. Wait. How many people joined up so far? Wow, seven? That’s a lot of new members so early in the season. I better limber up first. [STRETCH] Oh, that feels better.

OK, NOW here I go!

[GONG] WELCOME, SHRUTI!

[GONG] WELCOME, LEAN!

[GONG] WELCOME, GRACE!

[GONG] WELCOME, JASON!

[GONG] WELCOME, SONIA!

[GONG] WELCOME, SHIPRA!

[GONG] WELCOME, POKY!

Look! The gong is reverberating. I can feel its vibrations through the fillings in my teeth!

How did this odd, noisy, and slightly painful tradition come to be?

DieselFish is a welcoming community. To drive this point home, we started striking the New Member Gong as way to celebrate when people join the team. The ear-splitting crash of the gong announces to the world that we have new members. The shockwaves from the impact symbolize the powerful energy the new members will bring to the team.

We realize the ritual is silly. But this silliness is also part of the DieselFish experience. Because having fun is essential if you want to be successful.

→ Our next FREE lesson will be on Saturday, 5/28 in Redwood City. Email me now at DFcaptains@gmail.com to save your spot on the boat! Fitness, fun and possible hearing loss await you!

- Alex, the Minister of Newbie Happiness 🐲

Copyright 2022 DieselFish Dragon Boat Team. All rights reserved.

FOOD ADVENTURES: Marufuku Ramen Redwood City | DieselFish Dragon Boat Team | Serving San Jose, Peninsula, San Francisco

 Is it possible to make tasty chicken breast ramen? We went to Marufuku to find out.

Chicken breasts are a vital part of athletes’ diets. This cut of meat is an excellent source of inexpensive and low-fat protein. But that doesn’t mean we always enjoy eating the stuff. Too often, chicken breasts are dry, tasteless, and mealy. That’s why some of us were apprehensive about dining at Marufuku Ramen, a Downtown Redwood City restaurant that specializes in chicken-based ramen.

Most of us ordered the Chicken Paitan. We were shocked by how much we enjoyed this dish. One of us said that the milky white broth was probably the best chicken soup she ever had. We also enjoyed the whole chicken breasts that were served with this dish. Somehow, they were juicy and tender. We had mixed reactions, however, about the thin, springy noodles. Some of us prefer thicker noodles.

The real treat of the day, however, was the Chicken Paitan DX meal set that our manager Brian ordered. This special meal, limited to only 15 servings per day, is identical to the Chicken Paitan noodles, except it comes with a grilled chicken leg. Our jaws dropped when the server brought the DX meal to our table. The grilled leg sizzled and popped as it released its mouthwatering aroma. It took the combined efforts of Brian and another teammate to finish off the massive leg, which was marinated in a sweet soy sauce.

Marufuku’s chicken-based ramen defied our expectations and left us wanting more. We’ll definitely go back for more of its shockingly tender and flavorful chicken dishes soon.

→ Our next FREE lesson for beginners will be on Saturday 5/14 in Redwood City. Email me now at DFcaptains@gmail.com to save your spot on the boat! Fitness, fun and food await you!

- Alex, the Minister of Newbie Happiness 🐲

Copyright 2022 DieselFish Dragon Boat Team. All rights reserved.

COMING BACK FOR MORE| DieselFish Dragon Boat Team | Serving San Jose, Peninsula, San Francisco

The newcomers came back for more fitness, fun, and food with the team.

Remember all the newcomers that showed up for our free dragon boat lessons? Last Saturday, THEY CAME BACK FOR MORE.

More core-busting, heart-pumping workouts.

More new friends.

More fun times at lunch.

Everyone had a great time, on and off the water. And you know what?

This upcoming weekend, we’re going to do it AGAIN.

→ Our next FREE lesson for beginners will be on Saturday 5/7 in Redwood City. Email me now at DFcaptains@gmail.com to save your spot on the boat! Fitness, fun and food await you!

- Alex, the Minister of Newbie Happiness 🐲

Photos: @ankosquared and @pokywu

Copyright 2022 DieselFish Dragon Boat Team. All rights reserved.