“When you’re stroke seat, you don’t have anyone in front of you. It’s you that’s keeping the pace,” she says. “You can’t back o at all or people are gonna notice–you can’t hide within the boat there. 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.” After experiencing the sisterhood among her paddling teammates at Outrigger, Sabrina realized that this was the support system she wanted and needed in college. “I feel so close and connected with the girls and the coaches. It really became a second family,” she says. It was this sense of camaraderie that solidified her decision to pursue collegiate rowing. In fact, Outrigger Coach Rachel Kincaid first introduced both Sabrina and her sister to the sport. Coupled with her dream of one day flying commercial planes in the islands, Sabrina committed to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Flor- ida, where she will study Aeronautical Science and also compete on the school’s NCAA Division II rowing team. “If I was gonna go somewhere so far away from home, I knew I needed to have my girls there,” she says. “And with rowing–the sport is completely dierent–but the community is very much like the paddling community.” Being part of Outrigger has imparted numer- ous invaluable lessons to Sabrina, instilling in her the importance of relying on and trusting her teammates, fostering camaraderie, and unity. However, perhaps the most profound lesson learned from her involvement with Outrigger is the understanding of being there for others. From learning under the guidance of coaches to becoming a leader herself, Sabrina has honed her ability to support and uplift her peers. Ultimately, the Club has equipped Sabrina with the skills and mindset necessary to navigate both the waters of the ocean and the journey of life with determina- tion, compassion, and unwavering commitment.
SABRINA’S STORY IS A TESTAMENT to the transforma- tive power of the Outrigger community. Similarly, Ella Deuchar found a sense of belonging and support within the Club’s close-knit environment. Growing up, Ella spent countless days at Outrigger with her family, becoming a junior member at the age of 10. Now, at 18 and a senior at Punahou School, she is pur- suing her passion for beach volleyball at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. In November 2023, a celebration took place in Waikiki as Ella and dozens of other student athletes gathered to commemorate National Letter of Intent Signing Day. Many of her friends from Outrig- ger were there, ready to chase their own dreams of S
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AMA | July / august 2024
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