October 21, 2023, was one of the most important moments in
DieselFish’s history. On that day, we celebrated our 25th birthday. The
celebration was filled with long hugs, colorful stories, and mouthwatering
food. Oh yeah, we paddled, too.
We started the celebration with a practice session. Many
DieselFish alums (the “Salty Fishes”) dusted off their paddles and combined
with the team’s current lineup for a cruise around Bair Island. Not
surprisingly, the practice began late. Because most of the Salty Fishes hadn’t
seen each other in ages.
“IS THAT REALLY YOU?”
“You look the same…”
“I can’t believe we’re all here again…”
Time stood still as we hugged and joked around. We cut this
reunion short when it was finally time to get back into our boats.
Most of the alums hadn’t paddled since leaving the team. So
we took it easy. Gradually, the Salty Fishes remembered their techniques and the
boats gained speed and power. Soon, we were chugging along at a brisk clip. The
memories began flooding back:
“Remember when we medaled at TI?”
“Ken, I’m finally using the technique you taught me 20 YEARS
AGO!”
After we docked, we gathered at Sports Basement’s community
room for a joyous gala. There, we played games, gobbled catered food, and
created new memories. Occasionally, the store’s customers peeked into the room
to investigate the source of the boisterous laughter coming from inside.
The celebration was fun and meaningful. As we paddled,
partied, and chatted, we remembered that we’re part of something bigger than
ourselves. We’re part of a family that has been growing for a quarter of a
century. We may not see each other often, but we’ll always be connected.
→ The DieselFish family is still paddling long and strong in Redwood City. Contact Alex now at DFcaptains@gmail.com for a FREE lesson.
- Alex, the Minister of Newbie Happiness 🐲
CREDITS: Alex, Brian, Julie, Kyra. Thanks to Cruel Donuts in San
Mateo for the delicious desserts. Photos by Poky.
Copyright 2023 DieselFish Dragon Boat Team. All rights reserved.
#dieselfish #DFlegends #paddle #canoe #dragonboat #fitness
#sanfrancisco #visitrwc #redwoodcity #siliconvalley #sanjose
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