This coming Saturday, May 10th, marks my first race of the 2025 season, my first race as an open paddler, and my first race as a member of Hanohano. I’m still quite new to the sport and have a long way to go, but paddling has quickly become an integral part of my life. As my first race approaches, I’ve been reflecting on why it’s had such a profound impact on me.
I started paddling outrigger canoes at the end of 2023. I had just moved back to San Diego a few months earlier and was feeling a little lost. I was getting over a heartbreak, work was draining thanks to a difficult boss, and I felt disconnected from the people around me. I had consciously decided to let go of relationships that felt one-sided or no longer aligned with my values. As it turns out, making new friends as an adult is no easy task. So, I started trying different things: dancing, improv, driving my car way too much, just searching for a place where I might feel like I belonged
One day, I was at a café, Divo Diva, where Victoria, the owner, was singing and playing the guitar. She has a lovely voice and is a professional opera singer. That day, she was covering the “old” classics—artists like Elton John and Bob Dylan. I didn’t recognize most of the songs, but I enjoyed them anyway. Nearby, a group of women were sitting also enjoying the music. One of them, Kim, decided that teasing (or dare I say, lightly bullying) a poor, innocent young man about his music taste would make the night more entertaining. Our playful banter continued until the show ended, and when I went over to say goodnight, Kim started telling me about this thing called outrigger canoe paddling. She mentioned she was the president of a club and said I should check it out. I knew nothing about paddling, other than that my friend Nate paddles racing kayaks for Team USA. We exchanged numbers, I showed up to a practice, and the rest is history. This year, I changed clubs and joined Hanohano—the biggest club in San Diego—to improve my skills and compete with top paddlers.
So why have I fallen in love with it?
Paddling is a team sport. Six paddlers work in unison to move the canoe forward, stroke by stroke. Everyone must be in sync, and everyone must give their all with each stroke. There’s something beautiful about that kind of unity. Everyone is working toward the same goal. Everyone supports each other, helps each other improve, and looks out for one another. The paddling community I’ve met has been full of kind, helpful people who genuinely love the sport and want to share it with others. It’s helped me build deep connections with people I can trust—something that’s been difficult to find as an adult. Growing up, I never took sports seriously. The focus was always on academics, chasing the idea of a better life. But I always wished I had. Paddling has given me that chance—and it’s been a truly rewarding experience.
Outrigger paddling also tingles my inner child’s love for exploration. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve loved to roam. I’d ride my bike through unfamiliar streets, discovering new routes and hidden spots. As an adult, that curiosity turned into a love for hiking and wandering through nature. Paddling lets me explore the water—and eventually, the ocean. Okay, maybe “the ocean” is still a bit of a stretch for me right now, but these canoes were traditionally used to travel between islands! A few weeks ago, we even saw a pod of dolphins during practice. There’s so much beauty in the world, and I want to see as much of it as I can.
Paddling has also made me confront my fears—especially my fear of the ocean. I’m a decent swimmer, but the idea of getting pulled away by a rip current terrifies me. And the whole “becoming shark food” thing? Not appealing. Sometimes, I worry the cold water will send me into shock and I’ll sink straight to Davy Jones’ Locker. But courage isn’t the absence of fear—it’s acting despite it. And as my mom would say: mama didn’t raise no b*tch. All jokes aside, facing your fears makes you stronger. That kind of growth spills over into every part of life. I hope to feel more at ease in the ocean soon.
Paddling has also taught me to check my need for control. I’ve realized I can be a bit of a control freak. When things don’t go how I envisioned, I get anxious. “Why haven’t they texted back?”, “That car shouldn’t have cut me off,” “Why isn’t that Amazon package here yet?”—tiny, controlling thoughts that spiral fast. But out on the ocean, we’re at the mercy of nature. You can’t fight the waves—you have to work with them. I’m learning to let go and flow. Have I mastered it? Not even close. But I’m heading in the right direction. On the water, I leave my worries on land, connect with the canoe, and focus on giving my best with each stroke.
I’m excited to see where this journey leads. Every practice pushes me to my limits. My whole body is sore by the end, and I feel so alive. It’s a euphoric feeling.
Mohit Jain 