WHAT IS A DRAGON BOAT? | DieselFish Dragon Boat Racing Team | San Jose, Peninsula, San Francisco

Curious about dragon boat racing? Here’s some useful information. Read on to start YOUR dragon boat journey. [ONLY 5-second read]

Newbies always wonder, “WHAT is a dragon boat?” We have your answer:

A dragon boat is a massive racing canoe. During races, they’re adorned with dragon head and tail decorations.

Dragon boats seat a crew of 20 paddlers, a steersperson, and a drummer. There are also smaller boats that seat 10 paddlers. That’s a lot of people, right?

You see, the boats are large and heavy on purpose. Because the goal of dragon boat racing is synchronization. The paddlers need to stroke together in unison to propel the boat down the racecourse.

If everyone is paddling in time, this action feels effortless. The boat FLIES through the water…

…making you feel POWERFUL and ALIVE.

This feeling is amazing. You MUST try it.

→ DieselFish is the most welcoming dragon boat racing team in the San Francisco Bay Area. Got questions? Email me now at DFcaptains@gmail.com for answers and advice.

- Alex, the Minister of Newbie Happiness 🐲

Copyright 2025 DieselFish Dragon Boat Team. All rights reserved.

WELCOME ANNA C | DieselFish Dragon Boat Racing Team | San Jose, Peninsula, San Francisco

When Anna moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, she looked for a new dragon boat racing team. After extensive research, she joined DieselFish. Read on to learn why. [ONLY FIVE-SECOND READ]

We’re thrilled to welcome Anna to DieselFish!

Why did she join?

“I chose DieselFish because of the comradery, diversity, inclusivity, commitment and fun! I did extensive research on different dragon boat racing teams. DieselFish has a rich history in the Bay Area, a winning spirit, but most importantly they are inclusive and care for one another. That is hard to come by. Grateful to be a new member of the team!”

We’re grateful that you joined, Anna! We’re going to have lots of fun and adventures together.

→ Looking for fun, adventures, and new friends? Try a FREE dragon boat lesson in Redwood City with DieselFish. Email me NOW at DFcaptains@gmail.com to get started.

- Alex, the Minister of Newbie Happiness 🐲

Copyright 2025 DieselFish Dragon Boat Team. All rights reserved.

DRAGON BOAT RACING IN PUERTO RICO: ADVENTURE IN PARADISE | DieselFish Dragon Boat Racing Team | San Jose, Peninsula, San Francisco

DieselFish just returned from the Puerto Rico Dragon Boat Festival. The team experienced excitement, adventure and even a tear-jerking moment. Read on to learn more. [ONLY TEN-SECOND READ]

DieselFish recently traveled to San Juan to compete in the Puerto Rico Dragon Boat Festival. There, we raced our hearts out and experienced the island’s scenery, culture, and food—along with a touching moment that made us tear up. Our teammate Anna took some photos that captured the excitement of the trip. Here’s what she had to say about our Puerto Rico adventure:

What was the vibe of the race—how was the energy, the competition, and the atmosphere?
A combination of hectic, focused, and chill party vibes.

Hectic because many of our heats were nearly back-to-back, so there wasn’t a lot of downtime.

Focused because the venue was small and didn’t have a lot of spectating space, so it made you focus on your own races.

And party vibes from the great music and tropical atmosphere! Lots of spontaneous dancing.

What was your favorite moment of the race?
One of the local para teams we raced against invited a young girl in a wheelchair named Melanie to join them in the boat in the final heat so she could experience a dragon boat race.

At the end of the race, we all gathered around and chanted her name as the organizers presented her with her own medal!

It was a beautiful and touching moment to witness and be a part of.

After you finished racing, did you get to do any sightseeing? What was the highlight?
One of the highlights was visiting the Casa BACARDÍ Distillery. It was really fun to learn about the history of BACARDÍ and the rum-making process, and we got to taste a special reserve rum that is only available at the distillery.

Would you recommend traveling for dragon boat races? Why?
Yes! I really enjoy traveling for races because they give me an excuse to travel, and I get to spend a lot of time bonding with my teammates while exploring new places. We always come back with fun memories!

→ DieselFish will travel for more races this season. In the meantime, try a FREE dragon boat lesson with us in Redwood City. Email me NOW at DFcaptains@gmail.com to start YOUR adventure.

- Alex, the Minister of Newbie Happiness 🐲

Photos: Anna

Copyright 2025 DieselFish Dragon Boat Team. All rights reserved.