DieselFish Blog

The Adventure Begins

2012-01-26T00:31:00.000-08:00

From: dieselfish captain
Date: Sat, Jan 21, 2012 at 11:40 PM
Subject: Shackleton
To: dieselfish-team

“…Shackleton…”

That’s the first thing that came to mind after I climbed into the boat this morning. The weather, after all, was treacherous. The wind was so intense, Coach Dennis couldn’t steer his chase OC with his foot pedals. The water was so cold, my hand went completely numb. And then it started raining on us. But we saw it through. We were given the option to disembark and do land training inside the boat house, and we refused. This act of bravery further reminded me of Ernest Shackleton, the famous Antarctic explorer from the early 20th century. Shackleton and his crew didn’t have GPS, radios or even GoreTex. All they had were adventurous spirits and the toughness to endure.

These traits will serve us well in the coming weeks. The Tempe race is just around the corner, so we need to continue to train hard. Today, we pushed ourselves to the limit, and it paid off. I was glad to hear Dennis tell us our timing was good (despite the heavy sheets of rain that fell on us) as was our surge (despite the bone-chilling temperature). If we train like this at every practice, we will accomplish great things this season.

I’m proud of you. When I was Head Captain, I always worried that we wouldn’t be able to scrounge up enough paddlers to move the boat. But today, the coaches had to scrounge up room in the boat to accommodate all the paddlers that showed up, despite the inclement weather. DieselFish’s milestone Season 15 will be an adventure, and I’m glad to share it with such a dedicated and tough crew.

I remain your Minister of Newbie Happiness

Hello Internet friends! Doesn’t dragon boat racing with DieselFish sound like fun? Go to http://dieselfish.org/ now to sign up for a free practice session!

Paddling to Eat - Red Crawfish

2011-12-22T23:59:00.000-08:00

Here’s a chant from the DieselFish songbook:

WHO ARE WE?
DIESELFISH!
WHY DO WE PADDLE?
TO EAT!
HOW MUCH DO WE EAT?
A LOT!

I'm not crazy about this old chestnut anymore, because it ignores all the gains we’ve made in fitness and competitiveness. But damn it, there’s an element of truth to it. DieselFish does eat a lot. The trick is to burn off the calories with a good workout. The team recently got together for a dinner outing at Red Crawfish, a Cajun/Asian fusion (?!) restaurant that recently opened in our neck of the woods.

We didn’t bother with anything from the Asian side of the menu. A group of us ordered a set meal that included boiled crawfish and shrimp, Cajun fries, fried calamari, gumbo and beignets. Everyone had a steamy, spicy and messy good time (even the guy with the life-threatening shellfish allergy!), but the conversation lulled slightly after we began the delicate task of extracting meat from the crawfish.

You’d think restaurant outings like this would be the bane of our existence, but I think they're beneficial. On one level, the act of sharing food with your teammates creates a bond, and that bond is especially important for a sport like dragon boat paddling which is based on synchronization. On a more basic level, hanging out with your buddies is fun. Next time, I’m going to get one of my teammates to shell my crawfish – all in the name of team harmony and morale.

-The Minister of Newbie Happiness

Hello Internet friends! Doesn’t dragon boat racing with DieselFish sound like fun? Go to http://dieselfish.org/ now to sign up for a free practice session!

DieselFish Season 14 By the Numbers

2011-12-10T00:42:00.000-08:00

Dear Gentle Reader:

DieselFish Dragon Boat Team is proud to present its latest performance report. Season 14 was one of the most exciting periods in the team’s history. Our energy, fitness and headcount exploded, resulting in breakthroughs in speed and power. DieselFish racked up an impressive series of wins across the country, and our momentum accelerated with each victory.

Key Strengths
Energy: A couple of years ago, we had to cancel some practices due to lack of interest. But everything changed! These days, the coaches complain about finding room for everyone that shows for offseason practices. Morale reached a fever pitch during Season 14, due to the continued success of our veteran “Salty Fish” members and the enthusiasm of our beginner “Fresh Fish” members. Soon, everyone was working out harder and longer, volunteering to help with administrative tasks and bringing their friends and family to practices. It was as if somebody dropped a live wire into the water.

Fitness: Is that a bulging bicep under your uniform, or are you just glad to race me? The team focused on improving its fitness level in Season 14, and it really showed. Uniforms became tighter in all the right places, waistlines shrank away and cardio levels went through the roof. One guy lost 15 pounds! The secret? We worked out together in a fun and challenging environment. The boat has never been faster and more powerful!

Headcount: DieselFish experienced a recruiting boom during Season 14 that doubled the team’s size! Our newest generation of paddlers was probably the best we’ve had in ages, because they were excited about the sport and eager for a challenge. Some old friends rejoined the team as well, and it was if they had never left. We’re going to need a bigger boat!

Thank you for your interest in DieselFish. The team will return in 2012 for its 15th season of fun, fitness and competition. We look forward to paddling with you during this milestone in DieselFish’s long and storied history.

With thanks,

The Minister of Newbie Happiness

Season 14 by the Numbers
*Competitions: 6
*Farthest distance traveled: 2,695 miles from Redwood City to Boston
*Members of Team USA: 3 (4 if you count past members)
*Paddles broken: 3
*New Paddler Days: 3
*New members added: 28
*Returning long-lost veterans: 3
*Families paddling together: 4
*Media appearances
-TV: 2
-Online media: 4
*Official DieselFish Blog posts: 31
*Cakes with spinning motorized parts: 1
*Official social events: 6
*Karaoke outings: 2
*Perfectly good songs destroyed during karaoke outings: N/A
*Marriages: 1
*Your lucky numbers: 6, (power) 10, 25, 30, 31

Hello Internet friends! Doesn’t dragon boat racing with DieselFish sound like fun? Go to http://dieselfish.org/ now to sign up for a free practice session!

DieselFish Appears on "Easy Chinese: San Francisco" Part II

2011-11-30T00:16:00.000-08:00

DieselFish's appearance on Cooking Channel's "Easy Chinese: San Francisco" was a hit!

We're glad to have promoted our sport on the national level, and hope our appearance inspires more people to try dragon boat paddling!

The star of the show, Ching-He Huang, was kind enough to mention our appearance and post a picture of us on her personal blog:

http://www.chinghehuang.com/page/blog.php?id=28

Local news site Patch.com published an article about our appearance, too:

http://paloalto.patch.com/articles/cooking-channel-films-episode-of-chinese-food-made-easy-at-ryan-park

I'm happy for all this attention, but I'm worried it will turn the crew into a bunch of divas....

How to Get (and Stay) on Camera
1) Jockey for a spot next to the star
2) Smile incessantly – even if the situation doesn’t call for it
3) Exaggerate your facial expressions and body language
4) Steal your cast mates' lines by memorizing their dialog and mouthing it silently into the camera

THIS IS SHOW BUSINESS, NOT SHOW FRIENDS!

Hello Internet friends! Doesn’t dragon boat racing with DieselFish sound like fun? Go to http://dieselfish.org/ now to sign up for a free practice session!

DieselFish Appears on "Easy Chinese: San Francisco"

2011-11-08T22:20:00.000-08:00

Set your DVRs! DieselFish Dragon Boat Team will appear on Cooking Channel’s "Easy Chinese: San Francisco" on Saturday, November 12 at 10 AM! Encores will be broadcast on November 26, 2011 at 5:30 PM and 9:30 AM. Watch it with someone you love…and then join us for a free practice session! For recipes and more information go to:
http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/easy-chinese-san-francisco/shellfish-and-seafood/index.html

“They want us pass by the gazebo again. We’re going to be on TV guys, make this look good! PADDLES UP!”

The dragon boat cut a delicate arc in the morning water as it began its u-turn. The boat’s pace was slow and deliberate, because it wasn’t competing in a race. It was being filmed for a TV show. In June, DieselFish had its five minutes of fame (which, through the magic of television, gets stretched out to 22 minutes if you fast forward through the commercials) after it filmed an episode of "Easy Chinese: San Francisco."

"Easy Chinese: San Francisco" is a new addition to Cooking Channel’s roster of culinary how-to programming. The series, hosted by the effervescent Ching-He Huang, is part cooking show and part travel show. Every episode, Ching travels to different spots around the Bay Area and cooks Chinese dishes using fresh and local ingredients. When it came time to film an episode about seafood, the producers gave DieselFish a call. The casting seemed natural given the aquatic nature of our sport and name.

Filming began bright and early on a Friday afternoon at Foster City’s Leo J. Ryan Park. After completing all the required disclosure agreements, a camera man climbed into the boat with us, and began shooting footage of the team in action.

We then headed back to the shore, where we conveniently bumped into Ching! It was as if the meeting was carefully timed and scripted. Our very own Joyce Lee then got off the boat to co-host the episode and help Ching cook. The rest of the crew wasn’t so lucky – we had to stay in the boat to shoot long distance shots.

There is nothing more unbearable than paddling around the smell of food. After what seemed like an eternity, we paddled back to the dock for a lunch break. We didn’t get to eat the chef’s special, though – it was still being prepared and shot from multiple angles! We made do with deli sandwiches.

Finally, the food was ready, and we were given the green light to chow down. Ching and Joyce cooked mussels with black bean sauce and a cocktail made with Chinese beer. The mussel dish was flavorful and authentic, and the cocktail was cool and refreshing.

Ching then got into the boat, and we took her for her for a spin around the lagoon. Like most beginners, she had a fun, albeit damp, time. The director then called a wrap, and our adventure came to an end. As we headed back to our normal, non-televised lives, we reflected on the day's events and considered hiring a talent manager.

CREDITS
Host: Ching-He Huang

Host: Joyce Lee

DieselFish: Al, Birk, Chris, Colin, Dan, Darren, David, Lin, Marynka, Mika, O’Sum, Steve, Tiffany, Vivien

Sloppy Eater #3 (looked terrible in HD): Alex

Hello Internet friends! Doesn’t dragon boat racing with DieselFish sound like fun? Go to http://dieselfish.org/ now to sign up for a free practice session!

DieselFish Breaks the Waves at Treasure Island!

2011-10-25T23:52:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, it’s hard for me to believe that one of the dragon boat world’s most prestigious events takes place in my own backyard, because the water in the Bay is notoriously frigid and choppy. The feds put Alcatraz, once the world’s most secure prison, here for a reason. Somehow, despite these less than hospitable conditions, the San Francisco International Dragon Boat Festival (SFIDBF) has become the largest dragon boat festival in the country. Every year, the toughest teams from the around the world – the ones mad enough to deal with San Francisco’s hostile waters – travel to Treasure Island for two days of hardcore racing. As usual, DieselFish entered the fray. But this year’s SFIDBF was anything but ordinary. We went head-to-head with some of the most competitive teams from around the world and held our own. In fact, we delivered some of our best performances in years!

We owe our success to a thoughtful training plan and an explosion of energy. This year, we started our preparations earlier and tried new methods. The crew may not have realized it, but every race prior to the battle in the Bay was a dress rehearsal. Our coaches took the lessons we learned throughout the year, and applied them to our training regimen. At the same time, DieselFish’s recruitment boom continued to bring new blood to the team. These rookies came to us excited about the sport and eager for a challenge. These developments made us faster, stronger and hungrier. By the time the SFIDBF rolled around, the team was ready to show the world what it could do.

At the festival, the team’s “Fresh Fish” rookies maintained their focus and paddled hard, just as their coaches taught them. The fresh fish should be proud of their effort – they earned a spot in Division B, an amazing feat when you consider just how wet behind the ears most of them are. A few of the Fresh Fish had never raced before!

DieselFish’s “Salty Fish” veterans had their work cut out for them. They had to face a gauntlet filled with some of the dragon boat world’s most fearsome competitors. The Salty Fish, however, were well prepared thanks to the breakthroughs they made in fitness and technique throughout the season. They pulled water like nobody’s business, and exceeded last season’s performance by breaking into Division A, the highest level of competition!

This year’s SFIDBF was a grueling, yet rewarding experience. DieselFish faced fierce competition, but rose to the challenge. We walked away from Treasure Island with a feeling of accomplishment, because we delivered strong performances that exceed last year’s results. It’s gratifying to know that all the hard work and energy we put in throughout the season paid off!

Hello Internet friends! Doesn’t dragon boat racing with DieselFish sound like fun? Go to http://dieselfish.org/ now to sign up for a free practice session!

The Love Boat

2011-10-02T23:31:00.000-07:00

Last night, DieselFishies Allen and Ann got married! I got to know the lovely couple through our adventures together with the team, so I can honestly say this pairing is perfect. The bride and groom share the same gentle warmth and intelligence, and I’m sure they will keep each other happy for years to come.

DieselFish was well represented at the ceremony and the banquet. After the newly minted couple exchanged their vows, they kindly asked the photographer to take some photos with us. What a nice gesture!

Allen and Ann even reserved two tables for us at the restaurant. We were treated to a traditional and luxurious Chinese banquet, followed by music and dancing. Everyone had a great time, but I’m worried that we didn’t burn off enough calories on the dance floor – we’ve got a race coming up soon!

I’d like to thank Allen and Ann for sharing their big day with us. They have been a big part of the team for ages, and I’m ecstatic that they are about to begin a new and exciting part of their lives together.

CONGRATULATIONS! AND REMEMBER - "ALEX" IS A LOVELY NAME FOR A BABY BOY OR A GIRL!

Hello Internet friends! Doesn’t dragon boat racing with DieselFish sound like fun? Go to http://dieselfish.org/ now to sign up for a free practice session!

Vote for Avy @ BabyAvy.com

2011-09-27T23:05:00.000-07:00

This is Avy, isn’t she cute? Avy is the daughter of Leon Cheng, one of the founders of DieselFish’s sister team, the fearsome Los Angeles Racing Dragons. Avy, unfortunately, suffered an in-utero stroke. She is hearing and vision impaired, and diagnosed with cerebral palsy. You can make a difference in Avy’s life! Please click on this link to access Avy’s profile on the upromisetodream site, a charity sponsored by financial services firm SallieMae, If Avy gets enough votes, she will receive funding that will make a difference in her life. Hurry, voting ends on September 29th!

Go to BabyAvy.com today!

DieselFish Year Two

2011-08-26T00:07:00.000-07:00

You have to start somewhere. Everyone on the team started out as a rookie. But, with time and practice, you get better. Here’s a conversation I had with Leo and Christie, the recipients of last season’s Rookie of the Year awards. The two looked back at their first season with DieselFish, and talked candidly about their journey and what the team means to them today.

-The Minister of Newbie Happiness

M: How did you find out about DieselFish?

L: My friend Tiffany from work invited me to try it out.

C: My friend was a friend of a friend of Head Coach Birk’s. I had always wanted to try it, so I got connected to Birk who connected me to the team. I signed up with DieselFish, and then, at my first race I realized that there were multiple teams in my area, Oakland. Birk never mentioned that there was a team so close to me. [MINISTER’S NOTE: Christie drives from OAKLAND to practice with us in REDWOOD CITY. She must really enjoy paddling with DieselFish!]

M: What do you remember about your first couple of practices with the team?

L: I remember getting burned by the sun. I was a lot paler before, I hardly had any tan.

C: I remember thinking how great the team was. They were so friendly and inclusive, and made sure that I had a good time. I paddled with the DieselFish Youth for the first several practices, so and I remember being coached by Al (who was steering the DieselFish Youth boat). I remember that I was sore for a couple of days after the practice. And then, I remember coming back from my first practice, and thinking that the people were super nice, but that I wasn’t physically cut out for the sport.

M: What things made the practices easier?

L: SUNSCREEN. At this point, I can’t get any darker...

C: I kept coming out, and each time it got a little better. I was a little less sore after each practice.

M: Why did you become a member?

L: I like chilling on the water, what could be more fun? [MINISTER’S NOTE: I think Leo’s trying sound cool and laid back here. You don’t get the Rookie of the Year award by taking it easy on the boat!] And it keeps me active rather than sleeping all day, which I do miss sometimes.

C: I tried paddling so that I could get an extra workout on the weekend. I became a DieselFish member because the team was incredibly good at recruiting.

M: Why did you come back for a second season?

L: I just wanted to keep paddling, and the practice site is conveniently located in Redwood City, close to my work and home.

C: I had to. I got voted in as the Team Manager.

M: What has changed since your first season?

L: The team’s energy increased exponentially! There are more people on the team, and everybody is on top of their game!

C: I think that the team has really developed both performance wise and as a cohesive group. We’ve got a lot of great energy amongst the paddlers, and we’ve grown our team by a lot. People are really excited about paddling, and about DieselFish, and it’s great to see that.

M: What do you like the most about paddling with DieselFish?

L: Everybody is showing a positive attitude to improve, both for the team and individually.

C: The people are what keep me coming back.

M: Way to go, Leo and Christie! You've both come a long way since your rookie days!

Hello Internet friends! Doesn’t dragon boat racing with DieselFish sound like fun? Go to http://dieselfish.org/ now to sign up for a free practice session!

Special Training with Coach Dom

2011-08-16T00:51:00.000-07:00

DieselFish members Birk, Jarmar, Lin and my own bad self recently completed an enlightening 7.5 hour training session with Dominic Shew, a professional dragon boat coach from Vancouver.

In the days leading up the session, I worried that I wouldn’t be able to handle an entire day of drills and paddling. Now that the event is over, however, my body isn’t terribly sore, but my mind is blown! Dominic got me to think about my body mechanics in completely different way. Let’s see how much of this information I can incorporate into regular DieselFish practices.

- The Minister of Newbie Happiness

Coach Dom and Coach Birk

Jarmar takes a well-deserved break - paddling all day is hard work!

Hello Internet friends! Doesn’t dragon boat racing with DieselFish sound like fun? Go to http://dieselfish.org/ now to sign up for a free practice session!

IDBF - Thoughts From the Last Day

2011-08-11T22:05:00.000-07:00

[Minister's note: DieselFish members Joyce Lee, Dennis Chen and Colin Morneau recently returned from the International Dragon Boat Federation World Championships with silver medals hanging from their necks. Joyce served as the manager for Team USA’s Under 23 (u23) Squad. On the last day of the race, she collected her thoughts and posted them to Facebook. Here is her first-hand account of this life-changing experience.]

IDBF - thoughts from the last day
by Joyce Lee on Sunday, August 7, 2011 at 7:42am

Today marks the last day of the International Dragon Boat Federation World Championships and the experience has been fulfilling, affirming as well as humbling.

The ‘dream’ of a USA u23 squad started when then USDBF President visited the San Francisco International Dragon Boat Festival almost one year ago. As one of the board members who help organize this event, I had the pleasure of meeting Ginny and introducing her to the large contingent of active high school and college crews in the SF-Bay Area. This was when she said the u23 team has not been formed and would like the west coast to take a stab at this project, and select from those with the desire and ability to represent from across the country.

This experience was fulfilling because despite a rough and disorganized start, we did gather a committed u23 squad to race in Tampa. We would not have fulfilled this without a group of people who genuinely cared, as well as a lot of forgiveness from paddlers and their families – and for that, I thank every single one of you.

This experience has been affirming because many things I know from club dragon boating still speak true. The importance of working as a team, both on and off water, is even more vital with the extra pressures of being away, five straight days of racing and the increased level of competition.

To be perfectly frank the Worlds is like going to a really, really big away festival. Except a zillion times bigger.

Off the water, there are race officials to keep happy, rules to abide by and be gracious enough to not get tied up in the cattiness that happens when you get a group of hyper-competitive people together. We overcame this by working as a team.

On the water, it is hard to not get carried away. I had the chance to meet a number of very experienced coaches during my time here and each has different techniques to bring out the strength of paddlers from all backgrounds. The mantra of ‘race your own race’ still applies and for that, I feel affirmed.

This has been a humbling experience because there was indeed very much we didn’t know. Having now experienced this event first hand, I know what to do better next time. I recognize our team’s results have been mixed, but can assure you everyone on the team – on and off water - tried to do what they felt was right. Humbling yes, but the truth is we wrote a new chapter in history and many in history didn’t get it right the first time either. We can and will only get better if we go out and re-write history once again.

But before we do that, let’s leave it on the water for our last showing in this regatta. Let’s go out with a bang – go USA U23!!!

Watch the World Dragon Boat Championships

2011-08-03T19:09:00.000-07:00

You can watch DieselFish members Colin and Dennis race at the World Dragon Boat Championships live at:

http://www.livestream.com/idbfdragon

GO DIESELFISH! GO TEAM USA!

Hello Internet friends! Doesn’t dragon boat racing with DieselFish sound like fun? Go to http://dieselfish.org/ now to sign up for a free practice session!

DieselFish in the News: Ancient Sport of Dragon Boat Racing Rejects Prima Donnas

2011-07-21T20:18:00.000-07:00

An article about DieselFish was published today on Patch.com, an AOL-affiliated news site.

http://redwoodcity.patch.com/articles/ancient-sport-of-dragon-boat-racing-rejects-prima-donnas

Ancient Sport of Dragon Boat Racing Rejects Prima Donnas

The DieselFish dragon boat racing team carries on an ancient tradition.

By Audrey Arthur

For those of us who were picked last for lunchtime baseball, thanks to our short legs, our fear of the ball, or our scrawny infant-like biceps, sports became more of a platform for childhood humiliation rather than healthy fun. Most never experienced the mammoth muscles of the burly high school football captain so loved by the student body or the fame that goes with it.

But for the dragon boat paddlers of DieselFish, every teammate is an integral part of the culturally enriched sport that has been practiced for thousands of years in China.

“What’s nice about this sport is you don’t have to be really big or anything to be good at it,” said Birk Lee, head coach of DieselFish.

DieselFish, established in 1998, is an open team that now has more than 40 members on their adult team and 20 members on the high school team.

Only 5'4" and 130 lbs.? Not to worry. Row #2 should suit your strength and body type.

The dragon boats are comprised of 10 rows, each a different size from the next needing different sized teammates, Lee said. Each of those team members has a specific strength that must cooperate with others.

“It takes a lot of team work,” he said. “You definitely have to be a team member, you can’t be a prima donna.”

The three sections of the boat work together in an effort to create a smooth glide of the elongated and often brightly decorated boat.

The first three rows are deemed the timing box. This includes the lead stroke who sits in seat one and directs the operation, Lee said.

“When their hand goes up, everyone’s hand should go up,” he said.

This section is often for smaller teammates.

The next section, the engine room, is meant for larger paddlers with endurance strength.

Finally, the boat concludes with the terminators who keep pressure on the fast passing water.

Dragon boating is for all ages, sizes, ethnicities and genders, he said.

There is sometimes a requirement that a dragon boat team must have 40 percent women on board, Lee said.

“Men’s boats are notorious for having bad timing. Just a bunch of testosterone going as fast as they can,” Lee said. “But women’s boats, they are always in time and looking very graceful.”

Paddling on a dragon boat requires more of a team effort than individual speed, a lesson often learned quickly by new comers.

“They’re all clanking and they’re not really going anywhere,” Lee said. “But it’s nice to see new paddlers improve.”

The history of dragon boat racing has several different versions but began nearly 2,000 years ago in China. When ancient poet and politician, Qu Yuan, found himself banished from his home state of Chu by a corrupt and unjust government he became gravely saddened. After he learned of his homes invasion by warring neighbors he threw himself into the Miluo River.

The people of Chu rushed to save him, using paddles to scare off fish that would eat his body. The desperate rescuers also threw rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves, called tzung-tze, into the river in order to distract the fish.

Each year, in commemoration of Qu Yuan’s suicide, a race is held on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar.

“I think it’s a great way to stay in touch with your culture,” said Faith Lin, 25.

Lin began paddling on dragon boats while living in Taiwan and now is the lead stroke.

“I am never off time,” she laughed.

Lin said she loves the sport for the active competition and camaraderie of her teammates.

“The adrenaline is pumping while you’re paddling but you also hang out after,” she said.

Lin and Lee agreed that the Bay Area has major competition in dragon boat racing, but it is also increasing in popularity across the globe.

“It’s definitely rising on an international level,” Lin said. “But there’s definitely a good level of competition in the Bay Area.”

The team practices Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings at the Bair Island Aquatic Center. If any person would like to join in, Lee Said, the first three practices are free to test out the waters.

Hello Internet friends! Doesn’t dragon boat racing with DieselFish sound like fun? Go to http://dieselfish.org/ now to sign up for a free practice session!

Happy Birthday

2011-07-21T20:11:00.000-07:00

Look what the team did for my birthday:

I was really touched by this gesture, but I'm glad I missed practice that day. At my age, a birthday dunking could lead to pneumonia!

THANKS DIESEL!

- Your loving and slowly decaying Minister of Newbie Happiness

Hello Internet friends! Doesn’t dragon boat racing with DieselFish sound like fun? Go to http://dieselfish.org/ now to sign up for a free practice session!

DieselFish Rocks Fremont Sprints

2011-07-15T21:27:00.000-07:00

CONGRATS DIESELFISH BLUE AND GREEN!
DF Blue: Silver in Comp B Division!
DF Green: Bronze in Rec A Division!

The streak continues! Long Beach is next!

Hello Internet friends! Doesn’t dragon boat racing with DieselFish sound like fun? Go to http://dieselfish.org/ now to sign up for a free practice session!

The Queen of Dragon Boat Racing Redux

2011-06-30T01:06:00.000-07:00

Her highness, Princess Kate Middleton, must have read my blog post about her involvement with dragon boat racing.

According to People, her highness will once again pick up the steering oar, and race against her husband, Prince What’s-His-Name, in an upcoming dragon boat competition in Canada. My money’s on the queen of my heart!

I’m glad that Princess Kate decided to race again, even if her reintroduction to the sport is part of a publicity stunt. Cameras follow her wherever she goes, so this event will raise the public’s awareness of our sport.

GO DRAGON BOAT PRINCESS!

Hello Internet friends! Doesn’t dragon boat racing with DieselFish sound like fun? Go to http://dieselfish.org/ now to sign up for a free practice session!

DieselFish Rocks Boston Dragon Boat Festival - Team's Manifiest Destiny Achieved!

2011-06-28T01:02:00.000-07:00

[AT A DIESELFISH COACH'S MEETING]

Coach Tiffany (CT): Racing your way in the Bay today takes everything you got. Taking a break from all your worries sure would help a lot.

Coach Birk (CB): Yes! We raced well at Lake Merced, but now, we’re exhausted!

CT: Wouldn’t you like to get away?

CB: Actually, a vacation would be lovely.

CT: Sometimes you want to go where nobody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came.

CB: Exactly! A trip to a distant city filled with anonymous hedonism and maybe some racing during the day! But where?

CT: You want to be where you can see our troubles are all the same. You want to be where nobody knows your name.

CB: Look, I already told you, there’s no race in Tijuana.

CT: Let’s go to the Boston Dragon Boat Festival!

CB: OK. Cheers!

DieselFish has become very bold. The team is racing more often, and in competitions farther from home. This season, DieselFish entered uncharted territory after it signed up for the Boston Dragon Boat Festival for the first time. The trip was well worth it. The team returned home reenergized after a weekend of hard-fought victories and wild nights on the town.

Most of the team arrived in Bean Town on Friday morning. Without missing a beat, we took a tour of the Sam Adams Brewery, where we learned about the beer-making process and sampled some of the company’s brews. The crew then headed off to the Pierce Boathouse on M.I.T.’s campus for a productive practice session. The day ended with a trip to the Sunset Grill & Tap for some much-needed fun.

On Saturday, DieselFish competed in the time trials portion of the festival. That morning, the sky opened up, and began drizzling. Despite reduced visibility and choppy water conditions, the team ran two back-to-back races fast enough to qualify for the highest level of competition. To celebrate, we headed to the Yankee Lobster Fish Market for chowder and lobster rolls. We ended the night in Chinatown, where our new friends, DBCB, generously hosted us to a traditional Chinese banquet.

The second day of the festival was even colder and wetter than the first. The Charles River is usually a picturesque sight, but when you’re getting hit by sheets of rain, it loses much of its charm. This less-than-ideal weather, however, seemed to inspire the crew, comprised mostly of sun-worshipping Californians. DieselFish grit its teeth, and paddled longer and stronger than ever. We ran some of the most exciting races in recent history that day. In fact, the last 100 meters of our championship race contained a finish so intense, the fabric of time and space seemed to distort. Every gasp of air, every stroke, every inch counted. We ultimately claimed the silver in Division A Minor, by the closest of margins - a mere tenth of a second! A victory so hard fought deserved a celebration just as epic, so the team went out for Italian food and drinks.

DieselFish’s first expedition to Boston succeeded on many levels. Our exhilarating but excruciating victory showed us that we have the grit and talent to compete well in any environment, and our uplifting nights out on town recharged our batteries. DieselFish rocked Boston – onwards to Fremont!

Hello Internet friends! Doesn’t dragon boat racing with DieselFish sound like fun? Go to http://dieselfish.org/ now to sign up for a free practice session!

DieselFish X Skullbunnies

2011-06-21T01:14:00.000-07:00

This is Ben, one of my buddies from the team. In addition to being a powerful paddler, he is also a talented artist and entrepreneur. Ben recently released a limited-edition art toy based on his original Skullbunny character.

Isn’t it cute? The Skullbunny has received a lot of love from both the public and the industry. These little guys fly off the table whenever Ben sets up shop at comic conventions. Ben's peers in the toy design community noticed this success, and nominated the Skullbunny for a Designer Toy Award!

Ben’s not only talented, he’s also generous. Two of our teammates, Colin and Dennis, were recently selected to join the U.S. Dragon Boat Team’s Under 23 Squad. However, the cost of getting to this year’s Dragon Boat World Championships in Tampa, Florida is sky high. Ben donated the proceeds from Skullbunny sales to help pay for his teammates’ travel expenses.

Hello Internet friends! Doesn’t dragon boat racing with DieselFish sound like fun? Go to http://dieselfish.org/ now to sign up for a free practice session!

DieselFish Launches Surprise Attack at Lake Merced

2011-06-01T21:26:00.000-07:00

To be honest, I wasn’t sure what DieselFish’s chances would be like at this season’s opening race at Lake Merced. The organizers changed the date, and this mishap forced many of the team’s experienced paddlers out of the competition. To complicate matters further, this season’s crew is very new. But somehow, everything clicked on race day – the remaining veterans leapfrogged into a higher division, and the rookies paddled away with their first win. It was good day for the team!

DieselFish’s veteran “Salty Fishes” made the most of their unfortunate situation. In the weeks leading up to the race, Head Coach Birk recrafted his lineup to take the losses into account, and created a number of innovative training methods the team had never seen before. As a result, the Salty Fishes were well prepared, and paddled with strength and confidence. Ultimately, they exceeded last season’s performance by fighting their way into a higher level of competition.

The team’s rookie paddlers had their work cut out for them as well. DieselFish recently experienced a recruitment boom that yielded almost an entire boat’s worth of rookie “Fresh Fish.” Going into the race, many of them only had, at most, a couple of months worth of experience. Despite this rawness, the Fresh Fishes remembered their training, and paddled long and strong. They ended up placing in their championship race, a feat worthy of applause and high fives.

The Lake Merced race should have been, at best, a warm up for the Salty Fishes and a learning experience for the Fresh ones. The team’s planning, training, and desire prevailed, however, and the race instead became a sobering warning to everyone at the lake that day – DieselFish is faster than ever before!

The Fresh Fish and the Proudest Minister of Newbie Happiness

Hello Internet friends! Doesn’t dragon boat racing with DieselFish sound like fun? Go to http://dieselfish.org/ now to sign up for a free practice session!

Games DieselFishies Play: The Psychology of Human Relationships

2011-05-30T17:32:00.000-07:00

Dragon boat is all about cooperation and synchronization, right? So why is game night such a popular event with the team? On May 18, DieselFish once again gathered at Head Coach Birk’s private game parlor to lie, cheat, and steal from each other – all in the name of fun.

We played: Dixit (a pretty storytelling game), Munchkin (it’s like Dungeons & Dragons, but cute), 7 Wonders (an insanely complicated construction game), and our favorite, Bang! (the wild west-themed strategy game that’s been a DieselFish staple for ages).

The night wasn’t entirely focused on fun and games. We also had a potluck, complete with beer floats and three different kinds of wings. The night’s fantastic smorgasbord gave us something to focus on when we weren’t coming up with strategies to cut each others’ throats. (Birk’s so smart, he can jam an entire bucket of chicken in his mouth and wipe out an entire table of opponents at the same time.)

Some of us won, some of us lost, and many more of us walked away hungry for another shot at victory. I can't wait to screw over my teammates at the next DieselFish Game Night!

Hello Internet friends! Doesn’t dragon boat racing with DieselFish sound like fun? Go to http://dieselfish.org/ now to sign up for a free practice session!

DieselFish Goes to the Dragon Boat World Championships!

2011-05-28T01:40:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to DieselFish Colin Morneau and Dennis Chen, and honorary DieselFish Josh Biol for being selected for Team USA’s Under 23 Squad! They will compete in the Dragon Boat World Championships in Tampa this year!

DIESEL! DIESEL! DIESEL!

Paddling to Eat: DieselFish Restaurant Reviews

2011-05-04T21:14:00.000-07:00

New Mongolian BBQ
304 Castro Street
Mountain View, CA

Rating: A-

The only reason DieselFish ate at New Mongolian BBQ was to piss off our dear teammate, Leo. For what seemed like an eternity, Leo nagged us about going to this place for dinner after practice. But we didn’t want to go. After all, the restaurant is located far away from our practice site and their food is not actually Mongolian nor barbecue. The “Mongolian barbecue” form of dining, in which you pick out a selection of meats, vegetables and sauces and then hand them to a cook to sear on a griddle, actually originated in Taiwan. The team had a change of heart after Leo decided to ditch a practice session to swill chardonnay in Napa. We decided to go without him to teach him a lesson, and we were pleasantly surprised!

From Dennis’ Facebook wall:
Dennis: Haha Leo! — at New Mongolian Bar-B-Q
April 9 at 6:34pm via Android • Like/Unlike

Leo: Bastards!!!
April 9 at 11:29pm • Like/Unlike

Highlights
*It is satisfying to eat a bowl of meat after a hard practice session.
*The price is reasonable (all-you-can-eat for around $11/person).
*It is fun to create your own customized combination of meats, vegetables, and sauces. (I like to fill my bowl with chicken, beef, noodles, lettuce strips, vegetable oil and the house sauce.)
*The staff is efficient and friendly.
*They have enough room to accommodate our large number comfortably.

Disappointments
*The restaurant is located far from our practice site.
*You must get there before 6:00 on Saturday night.
*Leo likes it.

We liked New Mongolian BBQ so much, we went back a couple of weeks later (and allowed Leo to tag along). On both occasions, everyone both enjoyed creating and eating their own food. If this place wasn’t so far away, we’d probably make it one of our regular hang out spots. I’m willing to endure the long drive.

Hello Internet friends! Doesn’t dragon boat racing with DieselFish sound like fun? Go to http://dieselfish.org/ now to sign up for a free practice session!

The Queen of Dragon Boat Racing

2011-04-28T12:54:00.000-07:00

Dear Kate Middleton:

I’m not a monarchist, but I’d like to offer my best wishes for your upcoming wedding. We are worlds apart, separated not only by an ocean, but also by class and culture. We have, however, one thing in common: we both enjoy dragon boat racing.

I paddle with DieselFish, one of the most respected teams in Northern California. Over the years, we have paddled away with the gold at prestigious races including the Kaiser Permanente San Francisco International Dragon Boat Festival. I enjoy paddling with DieselFish because I enjoy the physical activity, camaraderie, and adventure the team provides. At first, I only showed up to the Saturday morning practices. But I enjoyed the experience so much, I started showing up to the Tuesday and Thursday night sessions as well. Then, I became a part of the team’s upper management. What started out as a hobby gradually became an alternative lifestyle!

Did you enjoy training with your team? What did you like about it? It looks like you learned how to steer. That’s a hard job – the last time I tried to work the tiller, the boat kept hurtling towards the shore at dangerous speeds. I heard your team tried to cross the English Channel in a dragon boat. How did that go?

If you and the Prince ever travel to Redwood City (it’s the Paris of Northern California! Really!), please look me up. My dragon boat team, DieselFish, will roll out the electric green carpet for you, and take you out for a spin on the boat. I’ll even loan you my carbon fiber – err, pardon me, “fibre” — paddle.

It’s hard to believe I have something in common with a member of royalty. I’m not one of your subjects, but I feel I can relate to you in a small (and non-threatening) way because we share an uncommon hobby. That makes you THE QUEEN OF MY HEART.

(Please don’t sic your security detail on me.)

Sincerely,

Alex
Minister of Newbie Happiness/Creative Officer
DieselFish Dragon Boat Club

Hello Internet friends! Doesn’t dragon boat racing with DieselFish sound like fun? Go to http://dieselfish.org/ now to sign up for a free practice session!

DieselFishieLeaks

2011-03-31T23:11:00.000-07:00

Recently, Team Manager Christie read a ridiculous business book that preaches the need for transparency when making leadership decisions. Her Majesty’s first step in the long march towards “openness and accountability” (whatever) was ordering me to disclose all of the questions people have recently asked me about DieselFish’s day-to-day operations. But I don’t have time for this new age, “I’m OK, you’re OK” nonsense. It would take an eternity just to type everything out. So in the interest of time and my sanity, I’ve provided just the answers. Here you go, my dear:

1) Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6-8pm and Saturday mornings from 10am-noon at 1450 Maple Street in Redwood City.
2) Yes they are. We get a lot of compliments about them.
3) Not a whole lot ever since he was deported. All my chat sessions with him start the same way: “YR NOT A COP R U? COS IF U R, U HAVE TO TELL ME, EH?”
4) The CDBA ones work just fine. Trust me.
5) Surprisingly, many of us can’t. But shame on you if you never learned how. I’m surprised you’re still alive.
6) It’s pronounced, “diesel fish,” not “die selfish.”
7) Sorry, she’s long gone. But every now and then, when the planets are aligned just right and the bloom is on the sage, she returns. I hope you get to meet her – she’ll change your life.
8) We're going to Long Beach and Boston. I'm still salty that the Leadership Committee nixed my suggestion for Tijuana again.
9) Head Coach Birk and George Steinbrenner.
10) Yes, even when it rains. It’s a brisk, life-affirming experience.
11) Sometimes you get the race, sometimes the race gets you. And sometimes, during the race, you fall off the front, get run over by the boat, and then get smacked on the head by ten rows of paddles.
12) Yes! They are great paddlers and even greater people. It’s obvious why we did it. I still can’t figure out why they did.
13) If I knew the answer to that question, I wouldn’t be at home writing this dragon boat blog entry, would I? I’d be at a dance club or one of those “fusion” lounges. Maybe it’s me. Maybe it’s the population we pull from. Maybe they’re just not into us.
14) Almost four years now.
15) You’ll have to prove you can count to ten. If you fail, off to the engine room you go!
16) You need to train and get sponsored. Then, you have to pass both a classroom and a practical exam.
17) Bite your tongue, drybag. My recipe is delicious, and you’re not being fair. If Ferran Adrià or Grant Achatz did it, you’d call it a whimsical gastronomic trompe l’oeil. But when I do it, it’s considered childish and disgusting. No respect…
15) By now, they’re okay with it. It has become amusing, and they appreciate all the business the rest of the team gives them.
16) You find a really big balloon and then tell the new guy it’s his turn to take one for the team.
17) It doesn’t make us any faster, but it leads to more interesting conversations.
18) BOO! PICK A SIDE.
19) That was one of our many brushes with celebrity. We hope it works out. We should have hired a stylist and a makeup artist to improve our image. I know for sure that the crew didn’t practice all the cute facial expressions and gestures that I taught them.
20) People on the team also enjoy basketball, running, skiing, snowboarding, swimming, and bar trivia. Our bar trivia team is actually getting to be very good.

CONTEST: Try to guess the questions! The winner gets a DieselFish prize. Email your entries to dieselfishcaptain at gmail by 4/15/11.

Hello Internet friends! Doesn’t dragon boat racing with DieselFish sound like fun? Go to http://dieselfish.org/ now to sign up for a free practice session!

Paddling to Eat: DieselFish Restaurant Reviews

2011-03-31T22:32:00.000-07:00

Jonathan’s Fish and Chips
840 Willow Rd
Menlo Park, CA 94025

Rating: C

It’s always better to regret something that you did rather than something you didn’t do. DieselFish went to Jonathan’s Fish and Chips for the first time after the Tuesday 3/29 practice session, and opinions were mixed. The restaurant’s name led me to expect English pub fare - fish and chips sprinkled with vinegar and rolled up in newspaper, bangers and mash, and shepherd’s pie. But Jonathan’s Fish and Chips actually serves seafood in the style of the American South. Everything that landed on our plates was coated in cornmeal batter and deep-fried. We ordered fish and chips (catfish, snapper, sole), hush puppies, and oyster sandwiches. A couple of us made cannibalism jokes (DieselFishies eating fried fish. Get it?).

Highlights
*The cornmeal crust kept the food from getting oily and heavy. That’s hard to do!
*The variety of fish you can order is large.
*They serve big portions.

Disappointments
*The cornmeal crust on my sole had a rough and scratchy texture.
*A few people complained their food was “dry.” But others said their fish was moist. Maybe it depends on the kind of fish you order.
*They take cash only!
*The seating was cramped and split up.
*The owner told us he was closing up shop, and then instructed us not to open the door FOR ANYONE because he was afraid of getting ROBBED. (Really? In Menlo Park?)

I doubt we’ll head back to Jonathan’s Fish and Chips for dinner again, because the quality of the food isn’t consistent and mindblowingly delicious enough to overcome the many inconveniences that we would have to deal with. Although some of us had decent meals, just as many did not. This small restaurant isn’t large enough to handle groups of our size comfortably. The threat of getting robbed doesn’t exactly stimulate the appetite either.

Hello Internet friends! Doesn’t dragon boat racing with DieselFish sound like fun? Go to http://dieselfish.org/ now to sign up for a free practice session!

Last Night a Dragon Boat Practice Saved My Life

2011-03-27T16:55:00.000-07:00

Now that the days are longer, DieselFish has begun practicing on Tuesdays from 6-8pm again. Paddling after work may seem odd, but it’s actually a great way to unclench after a grueling day spent indoors chained to a cubicle.

I’m glad that I attended this week’s Tuesday practice session, because the exercise made all the anxieties about upcoming deadlines that were malingering in my head disappear. All I had to worry about was staying in time with the rest of the crew. My mood got even better after practice when a post-workout endorphin rush kicked in, and flooded my brain with feel good chemicals. I tell people that the best time to break bad news to me is after I get out of the boat, because at that moment, all is right with the world.

If you can’t make it to DieselFish’s Saturday morning practices, please join us on Tuesday evenings. Your evenings will become more healthful and fun.

Hello Internet friends! Doesn’t dragon boat racing with DieselFish sound like fun? Go to http://dieselfish.org/ now to sign up for a free practice session!

The Little Pink Man is Jumping for Joy Out of His Seat!

2011-03-02T23:42:00.000-08:00

I’ve forgotten most of the Mandarin that I learned in college, so I don’t watch Chinese movies very often. But I really want to see “Breaking the Waves,” a movie about dragon boat racing.

The trailer gets good around the 35-second mark. Schlock like that makes me take back what I wrote earlier about the movie’s subject matter. It looks like “Breaking the Waves” is about dragon boat racing the same way “Deliverance” is about canoeing.

Oh well. Even "Rocky" had a love story in it. At least the training scenes look exciting, don’t they? Such determination! Such strength! Such horrible technique! The race scene is just as ridiculous. Not only does the boat flip over, it snaps in half like a papier-mâché Titanic! (Note to Coach Birk – Please cancel the order for the knockoff BuK boat. It’s not worth it.)

TWO THUMBS UP! Does anyone have a copy of this movie? It’s time for another DieselFish movie night!

Hello Internet friends! Doesn’t dragon boat racing with DieselFish sound like fun? Go to http://dieselfish.org/ now to sign up for a free practice session!

Dragon Boat/Tiger Mom

2011-02-20T15:24:00.000-08:00


Mine/His

This past Christmas, a coworker put a pot of tulips into my stocking. I didn’t like this gift at first – its pretty, fussy existence threatened my already fragile sense of masculinity. But, in time, I learned to stop worrying and love my bulbs. In fact, taking care of these flowers has become an exciting part of my daily office routine, because I get to watch them grow a little bit more each day. I’m actually getting competitive about them. Sometimes, I’ll look at my coworkers’ plants and scoff at them. “Meh,” I’ll think to myself. “Mine are taller. Mine are blossoming more quickly. Mine have deeper colors.” This Tiger Mom-kind of thinking is new territory for me. For most of my life, I was not a very competitive person. A few years ago, I wouldn’t have batted an eye if a coworker’s plant had the gall to sprout an extra bud. I guess paddling for three seasons on a dragon boat team will do that you.

To be kind, I am not a natural athlete. I wasn’t born with the heart or body of a champion. But I’m working on it. My first season with the team was strictly recreational. I didn’t even bother to try out for a seat on the advanced boat. But, as time went on, I got hooked on both dragon boat paddling and DieselFish, thanks to the support the team gave me. They never gave up on my shallow, jittery stroke, and that positive energy encouraged me to try harder. By my second season, my technique improved, as did my mindset – I was determined to prove myself. I tried out for the advanced boat, and earned a seat on it.

At some point, this desire to push myself in the boat spilled over into my personal life on dry land. My time with DieselFish has been rewarding because it has become more than just a physical activity. It flipped on a switch in my head, and showed me the need to strive for better things. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to force my flowers to do extra math homework and play the piano for a couple of hours.

Hello Internet friends! Doesn’t dragon boat racing with DieselFish sound like fun? Go to http://dieselfish.org/ now to sign up for a free practice session!

Fun with the Census

2011-02-10T01:04:00.000-08:00

Back in March, I had some fun with my official Census form:

If you believe that "race" is a social construct, then this response is not untrue. But honestly, I got bored filling out my form and wanted to have some fun.

Hello Internet friends! Doesn’t dragon boat racing with DieselFish sound like fun? Go to http://dieselfish.org/ now to sign up for a free practice session!

Happy Duan Wu!

2011-01-26T00:42:00.000-08:00

[Editor’s note: This entry was originally posted on the old DieselFish blog on June 16, 2010]

--- Joyce L wrote:

Today is Duan Wu (aka Dragon Boat) Festival on the Chinese calendar. My Mum wrote to remind me. Things to do include eating some rice in lotus leaf and paddling hard!

I urge everyone to study up on the history of dragon boating here: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duanwu_Festival?wasRedirected=true

...and be able to tell a little story during the next new paddler day!

(and do better than my "well there was once this poet with depression"...)

Sent on a bus from Joyce's iPhone

Re: Duan Wu Festival!

Wed Jun 16, 2010

Hi Fishies:

Reading Joyce's email reminded me of something that a newbie told me after one of our New Paddler Day events. He said that one of the things that he likes about dragon boat paddling is that it is a cultural as well as athletic activity.

The race in Portland that we just returned from is a prime example of this duality. The race celebrates Portland's sister city relationship with Kaohsiung, Taiwan, and is part of a program designed to promote the exchange of educational, artistic, and cultural activities. We see a little bit of this on our own home turf as well when we dress our CDBA boats with the heads, tails, and drums before races. These decorations make the boats a little heavier, but I enjoy seeing them because they bring a little tradition back to the sport.

I'm actually going to my parents’ house tonight for a special dinner. Celebrating Duan Wu is a new tradition for us. We're not especially festive, so in the past, we only paid attention to the Lunar New Year. Mom only started buying zong for the holiday after I joined the team. For those of you that haven’t had one before, zong are like Chinese tamales – big globs of meat-filled sticky rice that are steamed in lotus leaves. They are perfect for carbo loading the night before a race or practice session.

As Frank pointed out, DieselFish is one of the most diverse clubs in the Bay Area. I'd like to think that this experience has brought everyone in the boat a little closer to Chinese culture.

Happy Duan Wu, everybody!

-A.

It's like a Benetton ad!

Hello Internet friends! Doesn’t dragon boat racing with DieselFish sound like fun? Go to http://dieselfish.org/ now to sign up for a free practice session!

My Favorite Long Beach 2010 Moments

2011-01-24T22:39:00.000-08:00

[Editor’s note: This entry was originally posted on the old DieselFish blog on August 7, 2010]

This year’s Long Beach race was a blast – 48 hours of nonstop thrills and spills. There was so much to do and see!

Lining up the boat

*Medaling in Division 2A. Much better than last year! Our newbies went home with hardware!

*Cheering for the Youth Team in their championship race. Way to go, guys! The DieselFish God was very happy on Sunday – the kids won gold!

*Introducing myself to the Chinese women’s team. “Xiao jie, dajia hao! Wo shi BILL. Wo shi Meiguo ren!” Hey Bill, have you been receiving a lot of angry phone calls from overseas? Now you know why.

*Watching Birk get sauced. While Birk was away from his seat, the kids spiked their beloved leader’s Coke with soy sauce, Tabasco, and lots of other crazy crap. Then they let him drink it. Funny lil’ bastards.

*Enjoying exotic drinks at the Purple Orchid. Joyce, Bob, and I had some time to kill, so we went to a tiki bar and sipped fruity, slushy rum drinks from mugs shaped like Polynesian statues. I left my sobriety in El Segundo.

*WALKING AROUND WITH THE DF TRAMP STAMP. I felt powerful, fashion forward, and filled with team spirit! Definitely a good look! [BRO FIST]

*Murdering pop classics at the Karaoke lounge. Raise your hand if you knew that Shun could sing. Anyone? It turns out that our Favorite Foreigner is big time into old school lover man R&B. On a sad note, O'Sum didn't get to sing his favorite Wonder Girls tune.

*Witnessing this:

It's like a frame from a Miyazaki movie!

Let’s do something like this again, in about a year or so…

Yours in the DieselFish God,

Alex
Head Captain, Lucky Season 13

Hello Internet friends! Doesn’t dragon boat racing with DieselFish sound like fun? Go to http://dieselfish.org/ now to sign up for a free practice session!

The No Skateboarding Rule

2011-01-24T13:03:00.000-08:00

[Editor’s note: This entry was originally posted on the old DieselFish blog on July 29, 2010]

Hi Fishies:

The Long Beach race is almost here! Excuse me for a second, won’t you?

[Goes over to closet, puts on a house cardigan and slippers]

Ahhhh, that’s more like it. I’d like to take a moment to talk to you about the No Skateboarding Rule. As you know, this is the team’s Lucky Season 13. As such, we've been cursed recently by a bunch of pre-race injuries that have, unfortunately, taken paddlers out of commission.

While the coaches and leadership team are happy that you guys are staying fit and active off the water, we think you should take it easy in the days before the upcoming race. So please don’t try any new physical activities, and don’t overexert yourself.

Banned activities include, but are not limited to:
*Skateboarding
*Marathon running
*Bungee jumping
*Mixed martial arts
*Parkour
*Dirty dancing
*The Pho Challenge

You get the picture. Let’s all make it down to Long Beach in one piece. (That will make it harder for the gangbangers to hit us when they open fire – according to all the rappers that I listened to in high school, there’s so much drama in the LBC.)

Yours in the Dragon Boat God,

Alex
Head Captain, Season 13

PAST PERFORMANCE DOES NOT GUARANTEE FUTURE RESULTS. ALEX IS NOT A REAL DOCTOR NOR A LAWYER, MUCH TO HIS PARENTS’ ETERNAL SHAME.

Hello Internet friends! Doesn’t dragon boat racing with DieselFish sound like fun? Go to http://dieselfish.org/ now to sign up for a free practice session!

WE NEED TO GET KIM KARDASHIAN TO JOIN DIESELFISH

2011-01-23T11:35:00.000-08:00

[Editor's note: This entry was originally posted on the old DieselFish blog on July 20, 2010]

Everything was beautiful and nothing hurt...

Recently, a first-timer left his shirt at BIAC. I picked it up for him, and agreed to hand it back to him at my office during my lunch break.

First Timer: Hi Alex, thanks for picking up my shirt.
Me: No problem! Did you have fun on Saturday?
First Timer: Yeah, but I got really sore the next day!
Me: That's how you know it's working! You had a good workout!
First Timer: Yeah, the next day, my arms were sore, my back was sore…even my butt was sore.
[The security guard that I nod hello to every morning hears this and chuckles to himself]
Me: …Err, yes. The DRAGON BOAT PRACTICE SESSION that you were just referring to does work out those muscle groups…
First Timer: My God, my butt seriously HURT! I had trouble sitting down!
[A bunch of people dressed in suits – upper management-level executives, perhaps? – hear this and start cracking up.]
Me: Yeah, well, that happens when you GO DRAGON BOATING. WHEN YOU TRY DRAGON BOAT FOR THE FIRST TIME, YOU WILL GET SORE IN MANY AREAS, INCLUDING THE PART YOU JUST DESCRIBED.
First Timer: I never knew my butt muscles could ACHE like that! I couldn't drive the next day because my rump hurt too much!
[A bunch of the women from the marketing department walk by and begin giggling uncontrollably]
Me: YES, THE DRAGON BOAT PRACTICE SESSION THAT YOU ARE DESCRIBING WILL WORK OUT NEW AREAS OF THE BODY… [defeated]Look I got to go, please come back and practice with us any time….
###

During the off season, a parent of one of kids from the Youth Team gave paddling with DieselFish a shot.

Me: Hey [NAME WITHELD], what did your dad think about dragon boat?
[NAME WITHELD]: He liked it, but his butt was really sore the next day. He doesn’t have any fat back there. It’s all bone.
Me: … Please tell him that he can come back any time he wants.

Hello Internet friends! Doesn’t dragon boat racing with DieselFish sound like fun? Go to http://dieselfish.org/ now to sign up for a free practice session!