Sabrina stops to pose in Canoe Alley
Along the way, Sabrina has embraced various challenges, from long distance races to SoloCraft seasons and regatta competitions. Yet, amidst this array of experiences, she finds the most excitement in the thrill of long distance races. “It’s so fun doing these super long races that really test your endurance,” Sabrina says. “You get to see so much of the island, and it’s just beautiful.” One of her proudest accomplishments at the Club was winning first place with her best friends and teammates in the 2023 Kaiwi Channel Crossing OC-1 junior girls relay. Participating in the 26-mile race had been a dream of hers since she was 14, and when the opportunity came to compete, she seized it, despite recovering from a shoulder injury. “It was a lot dierent than I expected because the conditions were insane,” Sabrina recalls. “It was fully flat–no bumps–no waves you could catch. So it was just pure muscle strength, pulling through the water. I was just so proud of my team and my girls because we really hammered all the way through.” Throughout her time paddling, Sabrina has gained immense mental toughness. Her determina- tion to win and competitive spirit have driven her to push her limits to the point of physical exhaustion during races. However, she acknowledges that the journey isn’t always easy, and there are moments when motivation wanes. “The girls in your boat— that’s one of the main reasons you’re pushing so hard,” Sabrina reflects. “I’ve learned when it gets hard, just continue to push through and push harder. I think when you lose motivation to do it for yourself, you do it for others. You do it for your girls.” Sabrina attributes much of her growth as a leader to her involvement in Outrigger’s paddling community. Growing up, her biggest role model and motivator was her sister, Gigi, who held stroke seat one and served as a strong leader for the team. When Gigi transitioned into the women’s program, it was time for Sabrina to step into the crucial role of seat one during long distance and regatta sea- sons, taking on the responsibility to help guide the younger girls on the team.
I know that if I’m pushing hard, then the girls behind me will push hard because what they’re doing is a reflection of what I’m doing and what I’m putting out.”
july / august 2024 | AMA
19
Made with FlippingBook Digital Proposal Creator