>>> Curious about dragon boat racing? Here’s
some useful information. Read on to start YOUR dragon boat journey. [ONLY 30-second
read] <<<
Dragon boat races are fun, exciting, and challenging. They can also be intimidating and confusing for newcomers. Don’t worry. We got you covered. Here are the top questions we get from newbies before their first race.
Q: Why do I have to arrive so early?
A: YAAAWN. Dragon boat races start in the early hours of the morning. There’s a good reason for this tortu—I mean practice. Your team needs to set up its campsite and take care of administrative tasks before its first race heat.
A: YAAAWN. Dragon boat races start in the early hours of the morning. There’s a good reason for this tortu—I mean practice. Your team needs to set up its campsite and take care of administrative tasks before its first race heat.
Q: Do I need to bring my own paddle and PFD to the race?
A: No, the race organizers will provide paddles and PFDs. Find a paddle that’s in good shape. Years ago, a DieselFish member accidentally grabbed a broken loaner paddle. It had a loose grip that swiveled and hurt his race performance.
A: No, the race organizers will provide paddles and PFDs. Find a paddle that’s in good shape. Years ago, a DieselFish member accidentally grabbed a broken loaner paddle. It had a loose grip that swiveled and hurt his race performance.
Q: How do I know when to race?
A: The race director will provide your coach and captain with a race grid. The grid indicates which race heats you’ll compete in and an approximate time for the heat. They’ll tell you when to move to the marshalling area.
A: The race director will provide your coach and captain with a race grid. The grid indicates which race heats you’ll compete in and an approximate time for the heat. They’ll tell you when to move to the marshalling area.
Q: What’s
the marshalling
area?
A: The marshalling area is a staging site near the start line. It contains loaner PFDs and paddles as well as queues to load onto the boats.
A: The marshalling area is a staging site near the start line. It contains loaner PFDs and paddles as well as queues to load onto the boats.
Q: What if I get tired during the race?
A: DON’T STOP PADDLING. KEEP GOING. DON’T STOP PADDLING.
A: DON’T STOP PADDLING. KEEP GOING. DON’T STOP PADDLING.
Q: What do I do when I’m not racing?
A: There’s a surprising amount of downtime. You’ll spend most of your time at your campsite. Some people pace around and make plans for the next race heat. Others sit around and chat, read, and snack. Whatever you do, have fun.
A: There’s a surprising amount of downtime. You’ll spend most of your time at your campsite. Some people pace around and make plans for the next race heat. Others sit around and chat, read, and snack. Whatever you do, have fun.
Q: What should I eat?
A: Eat something light that won’t slow you down. Aim for foods high in protein that’ll fuel performance and sustain energy. On race day, we snack on sandwich meats, jerky, hard-boiled eggs, and hummus. Stay away from greasy and heavy food truck fare. Also, make sure you drink lots of water to rehydrate.
A: Eat something light that won’t slow you down. Aim for foods high in protein that’ll fuel performance and sustain energy. On race day, we snack on sandwich meats, jerky, hard-boiled eggs, and hummus. Stay away from greasy and heavy food truck fare. Also, make sure you drink lots of water to rehydrate.
We hope these answers bring you clarity, confidence, and
calm. Now go crush it—race day is yours!
→ 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.
