My paddle journey started in May 2023. I paddled before that, but it was just for fun and mostly to take a cute photo with my dog. One day, OC6 from the HPOCC club surrounded my paddle board and I joined the club. The amount of adrenaline I experienced in my first-ever race was so high that my body was shaken for five more minutes after the race was over. That was the moment when I understood I wanted more. After the team season was over, I treated myself with a beautiful Cantare. The only issue was I had no idea how to paddle OC1. Tek, I found you on Instagram. We scheduled some 1:1 sessions and a program for me to follow. Over the year, I've made good progress, and still, there is a lot to learn. Paddlesport is quite a big part of my life now. It helps me to be fit, content, and focused, and more importantly, it helps me take care of myself better. I don't have specific goals, but I want to race and be confident in different water conditions, enjoy downwind, and paddle in various locations, especially remote ones like Hawaii.

Hi everyone! Only been paddling for less than a year but loving it!! Morro Bay is the best place for dragon boating- so glad to be here.

Hi everyone! I started paddling with a new Dragon Boat co-ed team here in Kansas City, the “SLAP Dragons KC,” in May 2023. It began with a casual invitation with a coworker at the time, who invited me to one paddle after work. Coincidentally they were only a few weeks away from a small race. So I decided to give it a shot and practice for the race, and of course I fell in love with the sport! I discovered how much I enjoy the competitive nature of paddling and found it incredibly motivating to share that drive with my teammates. The team also inspired me to adopt healthier habits. I started incorporating cardio and weightlifting into my routine, something I’d never done before, and eventually invested in a Concept 2 with the KAHA attachment. Paddling has truly transformed my life, improving not only my physical fitness but also my overall quality of life. I do have my challenges though. My biggest challenge, like many of us, has been managing my time more effectively to balance training, fitness, family, and work. As I head into my third year of paddling, my goal is to be in the best shape possible, both for myself and my team. I joined this community to stay focused, motivated, and to learn from you all. I’m excited to continue growing, pushing my limits, and making 2025 a fantastic year! *The photo is from today, our first paddle of 2025! (I’m in the red, and that’s my good friend and DB teammate Gary in the blue.) The hats are part of an inside joke with a group of local paddlers who brave the cold in the winter and call themselves “Team Viking.” 🥶

I started paddling in 1997 with whitewater kayaking and commercial raft guiding. I raced competitively with the U.S Whitewater Raft Team for 10 years. I eventually branched out to OC and dragon boat racing and during COVID learned how much I could do with an OC1 and a speed coach. Lately I helped start the Dillon Outrigger Canoe Club at our lake here locally. I reached out to Tek for help with off season training, managing data for more effective training and hoping to write programming for myself and our club. My goal is to keep shaving seconds and try my hand at V1 racing at some point and to keep exploring more of the great venues there are for a variety of paddle racing.

Hi Tek, Excited to join this group and looking forward to your upcoming Tek Talk.