Paddle Articles

The following submission was made as an entry to win a OC1 from an amazingly generous donor, who wanted to see the canoe truly enjoyed, rather than turn a profit. Entrants were asked to submit an essay answering the following:

• Part 1: “Describe how paddling has changed your life.”
• Part 2: “How do you plan to use this canoe, and perhaps someday pass it along?”

< View all entries

---

Marc (Hapa) Hammer, California

Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Marc (Hapa) Hammer. I have been in the past an avid outrigger paddler for many years, to the extent of being a President to a local San Diego Outrigger Canoe Club for over 5 years.

The paddling community has been near and dear to me, but because of numerous surgeries, neck, both elbows, shoulder and more recently a pacemaker it has slowed me down. Been talking to a dear friend of mine and he’s been trying to get me back on the water for some hydro therapy.

As a paddler I have been very fortunate to have paddles with some awesome folks from all over the US. I have been able to paddle with clubs in California, Arizona, Washington St, Texas, New York, Hawaii, Japan and Somoa. If you paddle you understand the felling to be asked by others to paddle with them and there clubs. If you paddle you get the feelings

I do not consider myself as a Kumu, but have been honored to be able to pass on some of my knowledge of paddling, steering, reading water, parts of canoe and the parts of the paddle. I have been blessed teaching a few choose individuals on how to steer and then watch them excel. But mostly blessed of the feelings of peace with ones self as it pertains to paddling.

In conclusion of this I hope you consider me for this awesome gift. To be able to use this canoe as a form of rehabilitation and reconnecting with the ocean and community. Also to be able to keep the Mana of the gift giver alive with every paddle stoke.

Allow me to say Mahalo for even considering me for this.
Mahalo, Marc (Hapa) Hammer

---

< View all entries

The following submission was made as an entry to win a OC1 from an amazingly generous donor, who wanted to see the canoe truly enjoyed, rather than turn a profit. Entrants were asked to submit an essay answering the following:

• Part 1: “Describe how paddling has changed your life.”
• Part 2: “How do you plan to use this canoe, and perhaps someday pass it along?”

< View all entries

---

Jeremy Louie, California

As I quickly surfaced the ocean waters, I gasped for air. I was disoriented, afraid, and barely holding onto life. From a distance, I could see our capsized outrigger canoe. And although I managed to swim towards the boat’s iako despite the unforgiving current, I was at a loss as to what to do next. No one on our crew knew what to do in the event of a huli, and we ended up drifting in the middle of Marin County without a clue as to what to do next.

In the end, our coach braved the freezing waters to help overturn our canoe. Practice was ultimately cut short, and all crews decided to head home. But even after drying up on shore, I was largely unnerved. My hands continued to quiver, and I found myself rapidly downing coffee as a method of coping. I felt largely guilty for putting my crew in danger because, given that I was seated at seat two, I was partly responsible for saving the ama in the event of a huli. I continued to guilt myself for several days, and even hesitated to attend the following practice because I didn’t want to place another crew in danger again.

Throughout the week, however, I realized that pinpointing every mistake during that day reflected my refusal to accept the past. I was placing necessarily excessive guilt on myself – even if it was my fault – on things that I could not otherwise change. As a result, the fear of what may happen dissuaded me from returning to what I used to love, that is paddling.

In the end, I eventually ended up attending the following practice. To my surprise, I was warmly welcomed. When I returned to the water, I was admittedly a bit scared. But after getting a few strokes in, all the stress I had previously accumulated dissipated. Ironically, my first huli experience had nearly discouraged me from the one stress outlet that was necessary for me to move on.

Ultimately my first huli experience was more illuminating, if anything. I learned that what did happen in the past is beyond our control. Additionally, I realized that the past should be used as a tool to fix mistakes rather than fear them. Above all, my first huli experience provided the contrast needed for me to realize how much I truly love paddling.

I hope, given the opportunity to have access to an OC1, that I help ignite that passion for paddling in other athletes alike – particular on my current dragon boat team, San Francisco Dragon Warriors (DW). Having originally come from a dragon boat background as opposed to outrigger canoe, I truly want dragon boat paddlers to experience the difference in being an outrigger canoe. The ability to surf waves, catch swells, and even huli are all things that dragon boat paddlers do not often experience. And I believe that those other factors to consider are what may be enough to re-lit that passion for paddling. With that said, my plans for the OC1 are not so much use it for myself but rather give it back to the paddling community for those who may need it more. I hope that in doing so that I can popularize the sport, even if it’s only among my own dragon boat team, because it may be the one stress outlet for others – much like how it was for me. I know for a fact that, given how many other passionate paddlers there are on DW, that the OC1 will continue to be in good hands.

---

My name is Jeremy, and I’ve been paddling for over four years now! I actually owe paddling for several great memories I’ve made over the years, ranging from ranging
from being the third best youth team in the Bay Area to Secret Santa’s at our team’s house. More recently, I actually just started outrigger canoeing in order to try other
aspects of paddling.

Outside of paddling, I will be attending UCLA has a Mathematics of Computation major this upcoming fall quarter. I also enjoy portrait photography, and I hope to do
wedding or journalism photography as a small side career while on campus. I’m also an avid powerlifter, which is a strength sport where you lift maximally in the squat, bench, and deadlift. I occasionally volunteer to coach other powerlifters as well as a way to give back to the community. In the future, I plan on competing and hopefully medalling at California State Championships in my weight class.

For the future, I definitely plan on paddling at UCLA – both on the campus’ dragon boat team and perhaps even Lanakila Outrigger Canoe. If given the opportunity, I would like to coach for UCLA Dragon Boat. I would also like to continue to popularize the sport by producing works of media for paddling – whether it’s making cinematic race day or even promotional videos.

---

< View all entries

The following submission was made as an entry to win a OC1 from an amazingly generous donor, who wanted to see the canoe truly enjoyed, rather than turn a profit. Entrants were asked to submit an essay answering the following:

• Part 1: “Describe how paddling has changed your life.”
• Part 2: “How do you plan to use this canoe, and perhaps someday pass it along?”

< View all entries

---

Marcos De La Rosa, California

I was introduced to SF Dragon Warriors by a fellow church goer Eddie Alvarez.  I got interested in wanting to paddle after watching a competition last year at Lake Merritt in Oakland.  Eddie informed me of a Friends and Family event that was coming up and if I was serious,  I should sign up and attend, so I did.  That was back in January.

I initially wanted to join as exercise,  something to help me get in shape. So I joined the  team.  The Dragon Warriors had something else in mind! I was a team member now and they are going to push and encourage me to get to a level of competing. At first I couldn't even breathe,  in order to do that I had to quit smoking! Before the team, I wouldn't quit even for my wife or my Doctor, who kept insisting for me to quit!  I started pedaling a stationary bike during the week and walking 5 miles on the Saturdays to try to build my stamina.

Here we are in June and although I have only lost 2 lbs since I have started, I feel more fit.  My chest is getting bigger.  I will admit I don't see a lot of physical change but being diabetic, I have noticed my sugar numbers have dropped to almost normal levels.

Being a part of SF Dragon Warriors I have a big family.  Always encouraging and motivating to get us through practice and to push ourselves to the next level.  We are a team, teaching us to hold ourselves accountable! We all push the boat, not just 1 person.  If I was considering to win the OC1 , I would not only use it to make me a better paddler.  I would also let anyone on the team that wanted OC1 time to borrow it as well.

Thank you for your time and consideration, Marcos De La Rosa

---

< View all entries

The following submission was made as an entry to win a OC1 from an amazingly generous donor, who wanted to see the canoe truly enjoyed, rather than turn a profit. Entrants were asked to submit an essay answering the following:

• Part 1: “Describe how paddling has changed your life.”
• Part 2: “How do you plan to use this canoe, and perhaps someday pass it along?”

< View all entries

---

Zayar Dorku, California

Hello, my name is Zayar Dorku and I am 10 years old. I have been paddling for 5 years. I paddle in Martinez for Golden State Outrigger Canoe Club. My father is West African, more specifically Ghanaian from the Ewe people. My mother is Fijian, although she has a little bit of Chinese from her father's side. As you should know, I am writing this essay to win a free OC1.

When I first started paddling 5 years ago, I wasn’t that much of a water lover. In fact, when I was told that you could flip, I got really paranoid. (I’m not anymore). When I got exceedingly better, I started to stay around the water.

Paddling has also made me more athletic and more stronger. As a seven year old, I only played soccer. From time to time I did workout but only with simple stuff. Over the three years it took me to become a ten year old, I picked up more sports along the way, becoming a better soccer player, a full time paddler, a time to time rugby, football, and basketball player, and many more. My legs became much stronger and I became used to going long distances. From making me a better swimmer to helping me learn about my ancestry (we Fijians use a boat called a drua, it uses a sail instead of paddles), paddling has truly changed my life.

I plan to use this canoe to help me train, compete in races and have fun. I plan to someday pass it along by getting my children to paddle and to use my OC1. Hopefully, they will pass it onto their children, and my bloodline will paddle until there is no water left to paddle on.

I hope you will consider me getting this OC1 as I would really like it. Paddling is now a very important part of my life and if I could get this canoe, it would be the highlight of my year.

Sincerely, Zayar Dorku

---

< View all entries

The following submission was made as an entry to win a OC1 from an amazingly generous donor, who wanted to see the canoe truly enjoyed, rather than turn a profit. Entrants were asked to submit an essay answering the following:

• Part 1: “Describe how paddling has changed your life.”
• Part 2: “How do you plan to use this canoe, and perhaps someday pass it along?”

< View all entries

---

Jennifer Dunavin, California

I am fortunate enough to have grown up in Southern California and in Ventura County my whole life. As long as I remember, the ocean from Ventura, Malibu down to San Diego have been a part of who I am. Beach culture, no matter what coastline you are from, it seems we all share that same feeling of zen and exhilaration near or on the water. I am grateful to my parents who were transplants from the East Coast and the South. My stomping grounds were 12 miles south on Kanan Rd. Zuma and Malibu are where I swam, and surfed on occasion. The ocean has always been home to me. So, the question of how Outrigger Paddling has changed my life? The broad answer is, being my authentic self. Paddling found me, I did not find it.

Novice year 2017 with my Ohana, Hokuloa Outrigger Canoe Club. A close friend had introduced me. From her previous novice year, I heard so many stories of practice, races and gatherings. Until I actually stepped on the sand where our canoes rest, I had no idea what I was about to embark upon. On a Sunday morning, I finally took her up on the invitation to attend a clinic. I knew what the boats looked like, not realizing they are not docked, but on the sand facing front to our cove. Canoes ready to be lifted on wheels with many of the veterans of the club and new nervous faces. What stood out to me initially, the members were so helpful, and seemed like they could not wait to get on the water and share their knowledge. Being able to move that boat as one, and gliding across the top of the water was so completely different for me. I have kayaked, but this was on a another level. The gliding part initially may be an exaggeration, all of us clumsily plopped our blade in the water. All the same, when we landed and put the canoes back in their home, I knew I wanted to come out again and keep trying. That is exactly what I did, and became a Novice Hokuloan.

Each practice was more challenging than the next. Along with my Novice brothers and sisters, all of us were challenged, but always managed to laugh and enjoy each other. Then finally before my first race, we had the opportunity to go outside the harbor for a ten mile practice. I couldn’t believe I completed it in one piece, but felt amazing. As if I could lift the world on my shoulders. The next day, that’s exactly how my body felt. Soreness in  places I didn’t know could get sore, my hair hurt! All I wanted was more. Paddling brings me to a center of balance, all the while my personal life was chaos. Within four years, I lost my brother in law, As well as my mom. Then the living death to an end of my marriage of 18 years. While life was a swirling tornado of mourning, the ocean was always there waiting to see what I have in me to go up against her. She challenged me physically as well as emotionally.

As 2017 progressed, I participated in only three Iron races. In July if that year, my marriage was done and I had to break away from my team abruptly to deal with all of that. Fast forward to December. Sadly having to leave Ventura temporarily with my two teenagers, ironically to Oak Park, which was recently devastated by the Woolsey fires. The Thomas fires devastated Ventura. What seemed never ending, by February of 2018, I moved back to my home of Ventura. Just taking each day as it came, I had no expectations. I was a single mom now. Priorities are obvious. Roof over head, food and essentials. My friend also fellow teammate asked me if I was coming back to paddle?  My answer was that I’m not sure. Time, finances, the usual when you are trying to make a whole new life, and have even more responsibility. So happy just to be back, I made it down to our beautiful Harbor Cove Beach. She let me use her one man, while she and another teammate used a two man. The ocean again, my friend was there waiting for me. I was a little rusty, but she was behaving to gift me with a rejuvenating healing paddle out. I could smell the fire still in the air that decimated our beautiful hillsides. There was runoff in the ocean from charred homes that people lost, and could not return to build. The juxtaposition was I was free and rebuilding my life, healing just as Ventura was from the fires. I was motivated more than ever to go back to my team.

In 2018, I worked harder and participated in every Iron race. All the early mornings, labor, rigging, de-rigging, lifting boats onto a trailer. Waking up at 2:30 am to drive to San Diego to put in your time, race then turn right back around to do it all over again. Who does that? Obsessed paddler people that’s who! Which I am proud to be a part of. Paddling has brought me peace amongst life chaos. My kids also benefit from it. My daughter Camille, then 16 years old, also ended up joining. Doing Iron, Sprints and 9 man including the Catalina Crossing her first year! This all could not have been possible if it were not for the Ohana spirit that runs through this community. Not just my team, but our sister teams out there. We lift one another up, and I am grateful for all the opportunities and generosity of my paddling family. One of our many stunning summer evenings after a practice, the sunset was stunning.Tired, walking to my car, I grabbed my phone and decided to snap a photo.The Ocean called to me, while the  sun was fireball pink sinking into her. There was something familiar, where I was standing, the whole set up of the shot. I realized I had taken the same exact photograph one year ago almost to the day. Now life was so different. How amazing that you could be standing in the same exact spot under completely different circumstances. Perspective is everything, and I am grateful.  

Mahalo Nui Loa

---

< View all entries

The following submission was made as an entry to win a OC1 from an amazingly generous donor, who wanted to see the canoe truly enjoyed, rather than turn a profit. Entrants were asked to submit an essay answering the following:

• Part 1: “Describe how paddling has changed your life.”
• Part 2: “How do you plan to use this canoe, and perhaps someday pass it along?”

< View all entries

---

Lynn Nguyen, California

Three coaches, two words, one team. Who knew such a sport would influence me so much.

I remember my first practice out, especially how nerve-wracking it was initially. There were so many unknown faces, and I stuck close to my friend the entire time. I didn’t know anyone, no one knew me, I felt surrounded by strangers. However, the team captain at the time gathered us up in a circle and we all introduced our name, grade, and favorite food. We did warm-up exercises, but once it was time to get on the boat, I didn’t know what to do. I remember a girl running up to me, helping me determine what size paddle I should use. She was so enthusiastic and lively, and I’m happy to say that the two of us are very close to this day. Getting on the boat was very...eye-opening to say the least. I have never heard, seen, or experienced this sport before. Everything was so new. However, I’m so grateful to have a motivating coach who taught us all the basics thoroughly and clearly. Although we were all new paddlers, the coach stayed patient and kept sending positive feedback. Once practice was over, we all went out to eat at a local In and Out. At first, my friend and I sat at a separate table away from the team. However, our coach pushed us to sit with the team, and I’m glad he did. Everyone was so cheery and welcoming. They all introduced themselves to us, and we shared so many laughs. I can’t believe that a group of team members could be so close to one another. They don’t just paddle together, but they also casually hang out, play games, and enjoy life like a family. This made me realize that the bond this team has with one another is irreplaceable, and I want to be a part of it.

I would like to say that dragon boat, as a sport, did change my life dramatically, but the team was what kept me going. I stayed on Mountain View Dragon Boat because I saw how dedicated everyone else was. I wanted to work hard as well to help my team push through and execute cleanly at races. My second practice out was actually a Time Trial, where we are placed on an OC and had to travel 300 meters as fast as possible. I got 2:36, which isn’t bad at all for a first timer. Looking back at the footage, it was very cringy. I didn’t stack my paddle, my rotation was nonexistent, I was flaring and splashing. I can’t even watch five seconds of that video without looking away. But there was a specific moment in that video of the team cheering my name and encouraging me to finish strong. They were all yelling and clapping, and during that moment, I pushed as hard as I can. A team can work together to execute well, but only a family can really soar by pushing each other to the max.

In 2018, I realized how much of an impact this team made in my life. Their energy and optimism are contagious, and since then I have been a more extroverted person. I’m an ambivert, but I usually don’t go out of my way to talk to people. However, nowadays, I noticed a change in my everyday lifestyle. Whenever an acquaintance passes by, I always make the effort to say hello. I greet my teachers every time I enter the classroom, and I never forget to smile. I noticed that everyone on the team smiles very often. Whether that be during just casual talks or practices, it’s rare that you’ll see Mountain View Dragon Boat without at least one person smiling. I wanted to repay back the favor of how the benefitted me, so I asked my coach if I could join MVDB Leadership. I was recruited and I learned so many things from the team captains and coaches. I learned how to be more open-minded and professional. I learned how much logistics really go into planning events. I became more confident in my public speaking, and I have no trouble asking around to get the information that I want. I became a stronger person physically and mentally through dragon boat. When the old team captains graduated from high school, I was promoted as the new team captain. It’s a pretty big role, I’m not going to lie. At first, I was hesitant about being able to fully maintain this role and perform well. I was afraid that this team would become a burden under my responsibility. However, with the help of the coaches, I was able to push the team greatly. I was able to contact many different companies and get fundraisers going! In total, I raised over $2,000 for the team over the past year since I’ve been a team captain. I was able to plan so many socials that I didn’t think were possible due to complications in expenses and carpool. I overcame multiple obstacles along the way, but I’m proud to say that I learned from my mistakes. Ever since I joined MVDB Leadership, a whole different me has sprouted. I gained experience in professional skills such as public speaking and outreaching, as well as building more self-confidence and assertiveness.

I don’t necessarily like going over this topic so publicly and casually, but I am not proud of my body. Over the past five years, my eating habits fluctuate from constantly overeating to consuming less than 500 calories daily. When I was born, I gained double the amount of weight a normal baby should weekly. I’ve been overweight for as long as I can remember. For reference, at my worse, I was roughly 160 pounds at 5’3”. I’ve grown up being ridiculed for my weight and it deteriorates me mentally. There was this period during freshman year where I
would constantly overestimate calories. I would only eat one meal a day and it usually only consisted of a cup of yogurt with honey drizzled on top. Back then, that diet seemed like the perfect solution to all of my weight problems. I began to lose pounds dramatically, I fell in love with seeing that scale drop daily. I felt so happy, but it was only temporary. I stopped eating out with friends, and I didn’t have enough energy to perform any extreme physical exercise. Everything about that is unhealthy, but I was naive and blinded by my weight loss to care. Dragon boat was what made me realized what healthy eating truly is. It’s not about restricting yourself, but rather balancing how much you consume with how much you burn. I began to eat more nutritiously to gain energy and work hard at every practice. I started to do more at-home exercises that were recommended by my coach. Gradually, I saw myself losing weight again, but healthily this time. It was slow, but that’s how it’s supposed to be. As of now, I’m still 5’3” at 145 pounds. Still overweight, but I’m much more comfortable with my body. Paddling helped strengthen my core and legs, building much more muscle than I could possibly imagine. I’m extremely thankful for dragon boat and MVDB for helping me become a better, healthier person.

This team has been through its ups and downs over the past two years, but I’m glad that we still stayed strong. Near the end of 2018, one of our fellow paddlers passed away. He had a seizure and unfortunately suffocated in his bedroom. He was my age and died at 15 years old. I regret not making a bigger effort to know him better. He was incredibly dedicated to dragon boat. On his first practice out, he brought everybody donuts. He always made the effort to go around asking if anyone needed help, and he was a great asset to the team. I learned that life is very short. Sometimes, you just have to follow your heart and live with no regrets. Don’t take people for granted because they won’t be by your side forever. My whole experience with dragon boat has ultimately taught me many life lessons. I’ve become more social, civil, understanding, and resourceful. I met so many great people, and bit by bit I learn more and more each day, whether that be about technique work, strength exercises, or just how to manage life. There are so many people in the dragon boat community that range from 14-year-old freshmen to 85-year-old active paddlers. Dragon boat isn’t a popular sport. When people ask about what sports I do, I always have to explain dragon boat thoroughly because many people have never heard of it before. Despite the community being smaller than the typical sports such as swimming or track, dragon boat consists of a supportive group of paddlers who work together and encourage one another. I have met so many sagacious coaches from other teams and I’ve learned so much about how they lead their paddlers. I’ve been taught so much already over the past two years, but there’s still so much more to explore! Dragon boat changed me for the better, and I don’t regret participating in this sport one bit.

Part 2: How The Canoe Will Be Used

I absolutely love paddling on the OCs. It’s much smoother than a dragon boat and glides more fluidly. However, it is rare that MVDB ever gets to use an OC because our team only owns one OC-2 that’s mainly used by the coaches. Having another OC would definitely benefit the team as we will have more materials and boats to practice with. Personally, I have no intention of keeping this OC for myself. I want to give this canoe to the team and allow every paddler the opportunity to train on it. An OC can really help determine a paddler’s level of technique, strength, and endurance. Having that information can greatly benefit the team as each paddler will know exactly what they need to work on in order to improve. It has been a long lasting goal of Mountain View Dragon Boat to try and place in A division, and we have been close! With this canoe, we will use it to our advantage and train hard to help us make the push to fulfill our dream.

To that, I also made some friends in the dragon boat community, and I would be more than willing to let them use the canoe to train as well. I believe that we should all share and support one another, there is no need for selfishness. I would love to share this canoe with everyone if I could, but that’s impractical. However, that won’t stop me from trying my best to allow anyone to use the canoe as long as the logistics of transportation are handled.

Once I have graduated high school and no longer paddle with Mountain View Dragon
Boat, I will leave the canoe in their care for future use! This canoe is for them and will always be for them. The team has impacted me so much, this is the least I could do to repay them back. The OC will not be left on a rack unused. I will make sure that it is being used as often as possible in order to take advantage of this amazing opportunity, even after I leave.

Thank you so much for hearing my story. No matter who the winner is, I hope this canoe goes to an amazing, well-deserving
paddler!

P.S. Here’s the link to my very cringy Time Trials: https://youtu.be/w_kVzuYYFR8
I hope you can cringe along with me, but in the background you can hear all my supportive teammates cheering me on!

---

Hello! My name is Lynn Nguyen and I am a current paddler as well as captain of
Mountain View Dragon Boat, a team located in Northern California. I am an incoming junior at Milpitas High School and president of Dragon Boat Club! I was first introduced to this life-changing sport by a friend, who encouraged me to join after she was recruited by her brother to the team. At first, I had no clue what dragon boat was. All I knew was that it was a traditional Chinese sport and required lots of people. Initially, I imagined something similar to lion dancing, because that was the only thing I could remotely compare it to. However, I’m glad that I had the courage to come out to my first practice back in 2017, and I have no regrets whatsoever.

---

< View all entries

The following submission was made as an entry to win a OC1 from an amazingly generous donor, who wanted to see the canoe truly enjoyed, rather than turn a profit. Entrants were asked to submit an essay answering the following:

• Part 1: “Describe how paddling has changed your life.”
• Part 2: “How do you plan to use this canoe, and perhaps someday pass it along?”

< View all entries

---

Aiden Cargo, California

Whether they know it or not, everyone who partakes in or is associated with a sport has their life changed by it. My values and character wouldn’t be what they are today without paddling. The things in my life I currently value most are religion, family, and my sense of self-worth.

I used to hate sports, and I liked to think that I had some sort of disadvantage at them having asthma, leading to my hate for the idea. Without much motivation to do anything outside of my only two physical activities, my mother decided to sign me up for a paddling club by the name of Ke Kai O’Uhane and I agreed. Nervous to start, as I am with all new experiences,  I went to the beach and was greeted by the coaches who were delighted to have a new Keiki paddling. I had a tendency to value lazy, relaxing time over physical experiences and disliked the idea of paddling at first, not wanting to paddle or help clean the canoe after. My values since then have grown into better respect for my elders and figures of authority, even if they aren’t part of my blood family.

As soon as I started paddling, I was starting to take a strong interest in the sport. Although eight year old me was getting tired and was only there because of my mom, I decided to stay because I enjoyed learning about the tradition and was quickly surrounded by friends who I became close with. When I started my second year, I started in seats three and four in the canoe, which were quickly explained to me as “power seats”. Transitioning to my third year in the sport, one of my friends started paddling and they were quickly placed in the aforementioned power seats and I was placed in seat one. With this new position, I started working harder to be able to paddle in every seat. The next year I stayed in my seat and raced normally, at the end of the season, I started in long distance wavechaser races with my friend in an OC-2.

Throughout my five years of paddling with my club and various different crews, I have grown in personality; becoming more understanding to what seemed like simple rules such as the importance of respecting people that have any level of experience in any hobby or sport since I was in their position when I started. I learned this fairly recently when I was out with new paddlers, and the person in front of me was having trouble with timing. As much as I wanted to keep telling them to keep in tune with the person in front of them, one of the coaches advised them and I was able to keep paddling, although cautiously. This taught me that I should try to help new people, but respect that they are new and not as experienced as I am.
Now I am thirteen years old, learning to be a steersman and helping new paddlers in my club. With the canoe, I plan on practicing and using it to share the love of the sport I feel with others in my club, specifically more interested paddlers close to my age. My ultimate goal is to share my irreplaceable care for canoes and paddling with the other paddlers and will use this canoe to achieve it. Without paddling, I wouldn't be who I am today, and my character would be close to none.

---

< View all entries

The following submission was made as an entry to win a OC1 from an amazingly generous donor, who wanted to see the canoe truly enjoyed, rather than turn a profit. Entrants were asked to submit an essay answering the following:

• Part 1: “Describe how paddling has changed your life.”
• Part 2: “How do you plan to use this canoe, and perhaps someday pass it along?”

< View all entries

---

Patrick Tsai, California

I’m Patrick Tsai, and I live in San Francisco, CA. I was born in New York City and
lived there until I went to the University of Michigan to study electrical engineering. I just graduated and moved to San Francisco in August 2018 for a job. Rowing was a big sport at my university but I didn’t try it out due to heavy course loads. After I moved to San Francisco, I had some time to spend on new activities and knew no one, so I decided to try dragon boating since it was a team sport and up to that point in my life, I had done mostly solo sports like tennis, swimming, and cycling.

My first taste of dragon boating was a novice event in September 2018, at the Northern California International Dragon Boat Festival. I had joined a group called TAP (Taiwanese American Professionals) to try to get to know at least a few people in the San Francisco area, and when I heard they were going to enter the competition as a team, I searched up on YouTube what dragon boating was about. From the videos I saw, I thought it was absolutely insane how every paddler on the boats were in sync. It looked easy on my computer monitor, but little did I know how tiring it could be when practiced with TAP, and that technique was key to going fast. When competition time came, I found dragon boating to be exhilarating. The calm before the storm when the boats are lining up to begin the race, the call out shouts when the horn sounds, the visual communication with teammates to make sure the stroking is in sync, the eyeing of other boats to see if we were falling behind or catching up were all things I can still picture in my mind. For some reason, my mind tends to remember in great visual detail moments that really moved me or had an impact on me, and the first competition race is one of those moments aside from memories of a car crash, going skydiving, and hitting my head on a door frame while running when I was a kid (an injury that I needed stitches for). There were some members from the Ripple Effect dragon boat team also competing on the novice team, and after the competition, they reached out to the rest of the novice team asking if anyone was interested in joining the team, so I went to one of their practices and I’ve been there since then. I’ve been on the team for about nine months now, practicing on the weekends, doing community service with team members, and feeling the same rush I felt during the novice event during race weekends with the team.

I can say for sure that dragon boating has shown me what grit is, and what encouragement can do for physical endurance. When I swam or cycled, fighting through the burn of muscle fatigue was something I thought I was mentally prepared for, but the burn from dragon boating was like no other. I was giving it my all, arms aching from paddling, and yet there were still a hundred or two hundred meters to go and the boat in the next lane was sailing past us. But the shouts of encouragement from teammates to make it to the end, the calls from the steersperson that they “need more now,” and the sight of the entire boat still keeping in sync and paddling fast keep my body paddling past what I thought was possible. I can also say that I have never been in a group as diverse as the one in Ripple Effect. In school, everyone is around the same age. In TAP, everyone is Taiwanese. But in Ripple Effect, there are high-schoolers, new graduates like me, retirees, nurses, software engineers, math teachers, parents, people about to buy their first house, people renting for the first time, the list could go on. There are people from all walks of life in Ripple Effect.

Ripple Effect has also given me a sense of community in the San Francisco Bay Area. My teammates are also my close friends, and I know many people on a deeper level than I ever have in a group setting. We spend time with each other on the water paddling, as well as off the water going to events around San Francisco, volunteering with various organizations such as the Food Bank and Salvation Army to assist low-income and homeless people and to try to do good in San Francisco, and watching Game of Thrones. It takes time and repeated interactions to make close friends, and Ripple Effect has created the time to create those bonds. If someone was to ask me what the best parts of living in San Francisco were, I would definitely point to Ripple Effect as one of them.

The self-proclaimed mission of Ripple Effect is “ohana,” a term from Hawaiian culture that means family and emphasizes respect and cooperation between members, and that nobody is left behind. People who join quickly make friends within the team, as I did, and during practices are given advice by the coaching staff who tirelessly volunteer their time. An term often thrown around in Silicon Valley is diversity, and plenty of news articles pop up saying that more diverse teams perform better. I didn’t understand this concept until I joined Ripple Effect and I met people very different from me in upbringing, occupation, interests, and thought process. Coming up with different ways of explaining paddling technique, choosing public events to go to and enjoy as a team, and planning barbeques is easier when people have differing skill sets and viewpoints. Recently we wanted to host a surprise prom for a team member who is a senior in high school and missed her senior prom to go to our yearly team retreat because she thought the retreat would be more fun. One person made a corsage to go on her arm after another person asked if she’d let Ripple Effect be her date for the night, someone else handmade prom signage, another person brought their disco ball, yet another smoked the dancefloor. I’m not sure another team could pull this off.

Besides our team outings, Ripple Effect trains hard and tries to provide equipment so members can paddle their heart out. We have an ergometer that provides good training and warm up and a solid coaching staff for both on-water and off-water activities. What I believe we are missing is an OC. Every two months or so, the coaching staff holds something called the Ripple Effect Fitness Challenge, or REFC, that tries to measure a paddler’s fitness across several dimensions. The REFC includes push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups, an 800m run, a 500m erg time trial, and when we have access to an OC-2 generously provided a high school team coached by a longtime member Henry, a 300m OC-2 time trial on the water. I love doing the OC-2 time trial since I believe it is the closest I can get to measuring my performance on the water without rowing an entire dragon boat solo. Recently, the high school team that owns the OC-2, Galileo, has been ramping up their practices and usage of the OC-2, so despite our close connections with them we haven’t been able to get access to it. For the June REFC, we don’t have the OC-2 time trial for that reason.

I’ve spoken to other people on the team about getting an OC, and all of them including coaching staff agree that it would be really great to have one. And so I am entering this contest not to win the OC-1 for myself, but to give it to Ripple Effect. The OC would allow team members to train on equipment that more closely resembles the dragon boat environment. A number of Ripple Effect members also coach high school dragon boat teams in the San Francisco area, like Henry, so it also gives paddlers on those teams access to the OC. We often see Galileo’s OC-2 on the water being paddled. It would be great to have another OC so paddlers on our team and other paddlers coached by our members have access to another form of paddling.

I’ve greatly enjoyed my nine months on my dragon boating team and plan to stay for the long run. Obtaining an OC would let us appreciate paddling and the sport of dragon boating more, and would open up more opportunities to paddle to those on our team and the younger paddlers being coached by Ripple Effect’s members. I think this would be a great addition to the community service that Ripple Effect already does, and I hope this will give more paddlers we impact a stronger sense of community and greater self-development like the one I felt after I joined Ripple Effect.

If one day Ripple Effect ceases to function as a team, I’m sure the people on the team, myself included, will make sure that our resources are distributed back to the dragon boat community, including the OC if we win it.

---

I was born and raised in New York City. I liked playing sports, especially ball sports like tennis and kickball, and also swam. I didn’t try rowing or paddling until after I moved to San Francisco for a job after graduating from college. I joined a dragon boating team called Ripple Effect shortly after I moved here, and now I paddle on the weekends with them!

---

< View all entries

The following submission was made as an entry to win a OC1 from an amazingly generous donor, who wanted to see the canoe truly enjoyed, rather than turn a profit. Entrants were asked to submit an essay answering the following:

• Part 1: “Describe how paddling has changed your life.”
• Part 2: “How do you plan to use this canoe, and perhaps someday pass it along?”

< View all entries

---

Daven Ng, Florida

I take a deep breath and move my paddle through the water. A rush of adrenaline fills my body as I feel the boat come to life and lurch forward. To this day, this action still gives me the same burst of feelings.

Paddling is seen as an obsolete sport. Most do not understand or realize its existence. More often than not, you will find people who confuse paddling for rowing! However, despite being very different from traditional sports, I truly take pride in what I do. I never hesitate to represent the community, the teams, and the amazing accomplishments our community has achieved. Just asking my friends, many of them can confirm that my conversations are 90% paddling related. This community has helped me develop so much that I often find it hard to not talk about it. As a leader on my team, I get asked the questions: “What motivates you to do what you do?”, “How did you come into this sport?”. Often, I find it hard to give an answer. I feel that my passion and love for this sport cannot be summarized in words. Even through this essay, I struggle to capture the true essence of how I feel and how this sport has changed me. However, my time throughout this sport has not always been this way. In fact, my dedication and commitment to paddling have stemmed from my own series of ups and downs throughout my life. Despite all of that, I truly believe that paddling has changed my life and helped me develop into a better person.

Sweat dripped down my face as I hoisted the basketball up, hoping that it would fall into the hoop. My hopes were followed by the dull thud of the ball ricocheting off of the rim and bouncing off into the distance. Up until eighth grade, this was how many of my previous attempts at sports had gone. Being an awkwardly proportioned, uncoordinated teenager, I felt as if I had no chance in sports. Everywhere I turned, I saw my peers excel at physical activity, while I struggled to get down the basics. Eventually, even my coaches had started to give up on me after years of little to no improvement. The mentality of failure and “not being good enough” plagued my mind and influenced my loss of self-confidence and motivation to become an athlete. This evolved into hours, days, weekends, and summers plastered in front of my computer screen. By request of my mother to find a way to get me active and out of the house, my cousin, Frederick Au, a prominent figure in the dragon boat community, recommended trying dragon boat. He coached a high school dragon boat team from San Francisco. Reluctantly, I accepted his offer as an opportunity to get myself into shape. Little did I know, the sport that I initially disliked and avoided would open a world of possibilities for me.

It was the Spring of 2015. I spent my first year on the team beating around the bush, trying to find ways I could avoid coming to weekend practices. Racing season was upon us and although I still did not feel as if I truly belonged on the team and in the sport, I decided to try my first race. Our first race of the summer was in Alameda: The 2015 CDBA Sprints. Not thinking much about it, I went through with the directions given to me and prepared for my first race. I had no idea how much this one small race would change me. Prior to that day, I had never spent an entire day with my team. However, this one race day with them made me feel as if I had known them my entire life. As we spent the day together, I realized how our social barriers were breaking down. They made me feel so included and at home. Essentially, my love for paddling did not stem from the pure action of moving a boat, it stemmed from the community. That day, I realized that what this community had was precious. I was able to see how diverse, generous, and helpful everyone was. I was ashamed for being so ignorant for the past year and vowed to commit myself entirely to this sport. Looking back, I would like to tell that young, shy, stubborn freshman who was scared of commitment due to his past failures that he had made the right choice.

As I continued to paddle and grow within the community, I began chasing other endeavors. I worked for and earned a spot on the USA U18 and recently the U24 teams to represent the United States in the World Championships of Dragon Boat. I became the male captain of the Galileo Celestial Dragons, and more recently I decided to open my perspective to the world of outrigger canoe. All of these experiences were fueled by this sport and more importantly this community. Trying to write the best answer to this prompt is difficult. There are so many factors and aspects in which this sport has changed me. However, if I were to choose the most prominent answer, it would be the very first lesson I was taught as a paddler: Paddling is a greater connection to people all around the world. You may not know them now, but this sport connects you in so many ways. As you continue to pursue your passion for paddling, you will truly understand how deep these connections are and how much it has taught you. To this day, I stand by the statement that paddling is one of the most inclusive and open sports in the world. Although we have various sub-categories such as outrigger canoe, dragon boat, and more, this sport allows for an almost seamless transition between all types of paddle sports.  This is truly a sport where aesthetics, physicality, and brute force are not hailed as determinations of ability, and I believe that is why many people devote their lives to it.

I find it serendipitous that the Okalani site is only a couple hundred meters from where I raced my first race. It was at Okalani that I truly learned the importance of sharing and caring for one another. When I first joined, Huy Do and Joseph Gapuz, two prominent members within the Outrigger community, offered their resources with no hesitation. They allowed me, a complete stranger and rookie to outrigger canoe, the ability to use their boats, paddles, and more. They, along with my other mentors, are my role models because of how benevolent and caring they are. Without them, I would not find myself trying to win this boat to give back to the community. If I win this canoe, I plan to utilize and care for it and more importantly, teach others to care for a canoe as well. As summer approaches, my time to train and paddle is much more abundant. This OC will come into my training for races in Thailand, Long Beach, Vancouver, and much more. I also plan to allow anyone at the club and anyone I know to use the OC. I believe that time on the water is special and it is my duty to share the gifts that I have. I want to inspire those around me and help them to open their perspectives to something new or allow them to get the water time they need. I truly see the OC, not as a way to get faster, but a bridge to connect paddlers to their passions. We often take for granted how lucky we are in such a loving and caring space like this. I want my teammates and my peers to know and understand the importance of promoting a community that places others before themselves.

My life was changed the second I started paddling and the list of ways that paddling has changed me continues to grow as I invest more time into my passion. As I approach my future of paddling and spreading the same love and kindness of this community, I hope that my list of ways that paddling has changed my life never ceases. I genuinely love what I take part in and the ways paddling influences my life continues to evolve daily. I will always look forward to giving back to the community and teaching others. As I look to the future and envision myself paddling throughout my life, I hope I never find a solid and concise answer as to how paddling has changed my life.

---

My name is Daven Ng. I am currently attending Campolindo High School and will be finishing up my senior year this June. I’ve been paddling for five years. I started in dragon boat and have recently ventured into the outrigger canoe scene. For the past five years, I’ve been paddling with Galileo Celestial Dragons, a high school dragon boat team from San Francisco and for the past six months, I’ve been paddling with Okalani Outrigger Canoe Club in Alameda.

---

< View all entries