Rise and Glide S3E4: Iloha Eychenne - Competition and Community in Paddlesports
Today, we welcome Iloha, a talented paddler from French Polynesia. Iloha shares her journey into the world of paddling, starting from her childhood experiences in Tahiti to her current competitive endeavours in various paddling disciplines, including Va'a, SUP, and surf-ski.
We chat about her training routines, how she prepares for competitions, and her recent performance at the ICF SUP World Championships in Sarasota, Florida. In this event, Iloha was easily keeping up with some of the most well known SUP racers in the world, just a few months after she began the sport of stand up paddle.
Iloha emphasises the importance of technique, the differences between various paddling crafts, and her passion for the sports. We discuss the importance of injury prevention and Iloha shares insights from her career in physiotherapy. She discusses her experiences in various race formats, the differences between SUP and Va'a, and how her background aids her training.
Iloha emphasises the significance of community in paddling, particularly for women, and encourages more participation in the sport. The discussion also touches on her teaching experiences and the meditative aspects of paddling.