NAC’s Novice Women placed 1st in their first ever race at Crystal Pier!
Check out Steerswoman Krista’s race recap below!
I had forgotten how much I love participating in team sports. At the beginning of this year, one of my best friends came up to me with an invitation: join an introduction to outrigging course with her. I knew what outrigging was but had never actually explored the sport itself. After some deliberation, I decided why not! One thing led to another and next thing I know I was competing in my first ever outrigging race at Crystal Pier, San Diego. Not only that, but I was our designated steerswoman.
The week of the race, my emotions ran through bursts of excitement and nervousness. I have always had a very competitive edge about me. I want to do well, not only for myself but for my team and coaches. The anxiety might’ve taken hold of me if it weren’t for the amazing community that surrounds this sport. NAC has provided such a wonderful and encouraging environment for us novices to not only succeed but thrive! My mentor and all the friends I have made while learning outrigging provided me with the reassurance I needed to know that I could do this and, in the end, just have fun. Between team bonding opportunities and blessing newly crafted canoes with freshly handmade ti leaf and plumeria leis, I was feeling ready.
Race day came before I even knew it. I was prepped with the skills and groundwork that my coaches had given me. I took in all the advice and strategies from my mentor and newfound friends. Before too long, my team and I launched our canoe and were on our way to the starting lineup. There was some fun bantering and chatter with the other teams as we excitedly waited for our heat. But soon enough, it was our turn to get to the starting line. Paddles Up! Go! We all dug in, doing our best to drive the boat forward. I was making sure to steer us as straight as possible to not collide with the vast amounts of other novice boats. As we went on our way, I began cheering and yelling phrases I had heard my coaches say to us at practices in hopes that I was encouraging my team rather than disturbing their focus. Sometimes I wondered if my yelling was a bit excessive. It could be possible I was getting carried away with talking too much, but I was just so amped. We had just passed our first turn of the race without any major hiccups and on our way to the next. Passing Sea World, I remember hearing the theme park music surrounding the water. I got excited and started hyping everyone up to the soundscape happening around us. I kept cheering us on as a team as we rounded the last dorito-buoy turns and headed back to the finish. Neck and neck with another team, we honed in on our techniques staying synchronized. All I wanted was to finish strong. Strong as a first time steerswomen. Strong as a team. Together.
We crossed that finish line with so much pride and a sense of accomplishment. My very first outrigging race completed! Adrenaline and endorphins were surging through my body. We paddled back to our camp and were welcomed back with cheering and congratulations for our first race. I remember feeling like I could cry from the feeling of happiness as I got out of the boat and was greeted by my mentor holding out a lei for me and pulling me in for a big bear hug. The giddy feeling of embracing my teammates and friends and congratulating the other novice boats had me overcome with joy. When the later races would come back, I couldn’t hold back my excitement to congratulate them as well and participate in tunnel arches for them to run through. I wanted to be in every tunnel arch for each boat coming back to show my appreciation for them sticking by me.
With my first race concluded, I already can’t wait until the next. The feeling of joy from participating in a sport again with a team who has my back and is in the trenches with me has given me a renewed sense of fulfillment. The culture surrounding the outrigging community brings joy and inspiration in a way that I have not felt in a while. With positivity overflowing, the rest of the season better watch out for this up and coming steerswoman and her team.
Krista Saito
#nac4life you know thats right!