“why do you paddle?” with puakea ambassador maureen taylor

This month we are so excited to have the bubbly Maureen Taylor on our blog for our “Why do you paddle?” series! Maureen is one of our newest ambassadors with lots of energy, a contagious smile and a knack for immersing herself into new groups which you will find out why in our interview. Stay tuned till the end where Maureen shares her thoughts on our spring 2022 camps. Happy reading!

Puakea Designs [PD]: Can you tell us a little bit about your background?

Maureen Taylor [MT]: I'm originally from Michigan, but even though we had some access to lakes, I was never really a "water person" growing up--I was a competitive gymnast for many years, then ran cross country and track in high school, and then was fortunate to continue doing track at the collegiate level where I specialized in pole vaulting. And yup, none of that even remotely involves water--probably because I almost drowned when I was younger so I wasn’t a fan of the water for a long time. But then I met and married my partner Brian…and when he joined the Navy, living close to the ocean became a non-negotiable part of our existence.

PD: How did you start paddling?

MT: I didn’t pick up a paddle for the first time until Spring 2018. We were stationed in Okinawa (Japan) then, and I kept hearing about these awesome dragon boat races they had each year--crews of 32 paddlers, all working together to move a 2.5 ton boat through a 500m turn race! How cool is that?! I had given birth to our son Luke only about 7 months prior so I was hesitant to make that kind of time commitment with an infant at home–was I ready? Could we balance it all? I wasn’t sure, but we were scheduled to move that coming summer so if I was going to do it this was my last chance. With Brian's support and blessing I tried out for the Navy Women's team (because Go Navy! And also because their crazy 4:45am practices were what fit in with our family's schedule) and the rest is history. I was hooked!

After that first big boat race and the following sabani (small boat/10 paddler) season we moved to Hawaii, where dragon boat was difficult to find but outrigger was everywhere! I raced with Kailua Canoe Club on Oahu in 2019 for both regatta and distance, and thankfully got to paddle Na Wahine O Ke Kai with my all-novice crew at the end of that year. 2020 brought Covid lockdowns and cancellation of races, but it also gave me ample time to learn how to maneuver my new Kahele that serendipitously arrived just days before the shipping shut downs. Out on the OC1 is where I feel like I finally found my zen–being out there solo allowed me to connect with nature differently, to paddle out all the feelings, to feel how powerful the ocean is, and to realize how simultaneously strong and yet insignificant I am compared to its vastness. It fulfilled me in a different way than my other sports previously had, and it still does today.

PD: What do you love most about paddling?

MT: What I love most about paddling though is how the sport brings people together in a tight knit community no matter where you are in the world. Navy life has allowed us to live in some amazing places, but it’s also really really tough to start over every 2-3 years–having to find new friends, new jobs, new connections, new communities...it’s exhausting. Luckily paddling has made that process a lot less painful these past couple of moves and has given me something to look forward to at the new duty stations. Paddlers have been so welcoming everywhere we’ve gone, willing to fold you right in and help you out even if you’ve never met before. There’s something about the shared experiences that bond you together–any race you go to, or any club you visit, that paddle connection is there… and that is truly something special.

I paddle because of the joy it brings–joy in the form of the ocean, the people, the glide, the speed, the competition, the friendships, the exercise, the exhaustion… all of it! Paddling makes a bad day good, and a good day even better! I just wish I had started sooner, but I’m sure glad I found it when I did. Cheers to hopefully many more years to come in this great sport!

PD: Hobbies outside of paddling?

MT: There are hobbies outside of racing? Lol!  

I do enjoy doing some amateur woodworking/furniture building, hiking, and spending time with my boys when I’m not in the canoe. 

PD: What's your favorite cross training routine?

MT: For cross-training I enjoy running, strength/lifting programs, and restorative yoga to keep the muscles loose. 

PD: Career choice?

MT: Career-wise I am a secondary educator by training (Spanish & English), but am just substitute teaching for the time being. 

PD: People in your support/friend/family group?

MT: Special shout outs: To my family who moves mountains so I can make it to practice & races–I love you more than words! 

To Jarmaine & Meaghan, who are the best supporters and listen to all my stories–you da best! 

To Coaches Laurie, Jake, Mike, Kamoa, and the whole Dana crew–your kindness & wisdom have shaped me more than you will ever know!

PD: Any races you are looking forward to in 2022/23?

MT: For 2022/2023 I’m first looking forward to racing distance with the Dana OCC women, with our sights set on Catalina. After that I’d love to race Wild Buffalo Relay again, and I’m hoping to throw my hat in the ring for the premier Team USA dragon boat team that will compete at World Nations later in the year. 

PD: Favorite travel destination(s)?

MT: My favorite travel destination is wherever is next on our list! We love to travel and to experience new places whenever we can. Some past highlights though have been Bali, Chile, Vietnam, New Zealand, and of course Hawaii. 

PD: Words to live by, mantra, or philosophy; paddling related or not?

MT: I don’t have one particular life mantra per se, but some words I try to live by are:

Live life to the fullest.

Bloom where you are planted. 

Focus on what you can control. 

PD: What camps did you attend this spring?

MT: This past spring I was fortunate to attend two different Puakea camps: the Women’s Outrigger Camp in March and the Puakea Dragon Boat Camp in April. I had never been to any paddle camps or clinics before this year, and I was amazed at how much fun and learning happened at both of them! 

PD: What did you learn at the camp(s) that has really helped your paddling this year?

MT: One of the biggest takeaways from camp was how to apply pressure more effectively and how to keep my wrist in a better position to produce a more positive catch angle. I had been told how to do it time and time again, but it never clicked until Johnny and Leanne moved my hand/arms through the correct motion and gave me some specific cues to remember. These slight changes have helped my stroke tremendously, and more importantly have almost completely removed a recurring deltoid injury from doing it improperly/inefficiently. 

PD: What were some of your favorite moments during the camp(s)?

MT: Some of my favorite moments during camp were the downtimes in between sessions, whether at lunch/dinner or just hanging out in the hotel–during those times we got to chat with the coaches and other paddlers, and I feel like those moments were as valuable as the water time. I loved hearing about their life experiences, all their crazy paddle stories, and just getting to know one another outside of the canoe/boat. The camps really help to build up our community in addition to bettering ourselves as paddlers and I look forward to attending more of them in the future!

Follow Maureen on her paddling adventures and travels over on her instagram @srataylor10 and the #puakeaambassador IG tag.