“why do you paddle?” with puakea ambassador kylie bebe

We are starting 2022 off by getting back into our “Why do you paddle?” series again! Last year we left off with Katie Peck and this year we are pleased to be starting with #puakeaambassador Kylie Bebe! For those that don’t know Kylie she was a Lanakila Junior paddler who moved to Oahu for college and joined the #puakeadesignshawaii crew to continue her training. Not only is she a great paddler, but she has also spent lots of time on the ocean, which you will find in our interview with her here. To learn more about her waterwoman story, read on!

Puakea Designs [PD]: To start, can you tell us a little bit of your background?

Kylie Bebe [KB]: I was born and raised in Redondo Beach, CA. For as long as I can remember I have always been infatuated with the ocean. I started surfing at a very young age and would spend as much time as possible in the water. It has always felt as if my purpose in life was to be a waterwoman. 

PD: What got you into paddling?

KB: I learned about outrigger after I joined a program called Junior Lifeguards. This program was popular among SoCal beach city kids and it teaches you ocean safety and you become really comfortable and capable in the water. It was there that I had made some friends who paddled for our local canoe club, Lanakila. They seemed to really love the sport and it would mean that I could spend even more time on the ocean, so I decided to check it out. My first racing season was 2018 where I not only raced in my first ever outrigger race, but by the end of the season I had made the junior girls top crew for the Catalina Crossing and was able to start and finish a race in which we placed first. 

PD: What do you love about it?

KB: It’s hard to pick just one thing that I love about paddling, because I honestly love everything about that sport. From the workout, to the people, the exhilaration of racing and doing downwind runs, I love it all. I think my most favorite part about paddling is simply the pure elation you feel on the water. Everything around you is so beautiful; you can stop and look down at the coral, fish, or kelp forests. There’s also so much strategy and so many things to think about that you forget about all of the worries of your life on land. It is my escape and my happy place. 

PD: Outside of paddling, what are your favorite hobbies?

KB: I have many hobbies outside of paddling, most of which are ocean related. As I previously mentioned I love to surf. I used to compete in high school, but I have retired from that life to instead surf for pleasure everyday. I also love to sail and work as first-mate on inter-island sailing charters. I am also a rescue scuba diver and have recently taken up freediving and spearfishing as a means of sustainably catching my own food. After a long paddling season I do a lot of yoga to stretch out my hips, relax and revive my body. 

PD: Can you tell us more about the trip you took this past summer?

KB: This summer I sailed from Fiji to Palau. This was a 4,000 nm crossing and 20 days out at sea and out of sight of land. I was nominated to be the navigator and successfully navigated Super Yacht Argo to Koror, Palau. I also gained my ICC International Crew certification and Navigation Master certification. During the two months that I lived in Fiji I lived on the boat and gained my Rescue SCUBA Diver certification. I lived on the boat for 73 days straight and studied marine biology and oceanography during my time on the boat as well. I got to dive with manta rays, skates, sharks, and fish bigger than you could imagine. This trip changed the way that I viewed life and it was the first time in my life that I felt understood and completely in my element. Everyday we woke up and had the opportunity to live an amazing day doing whatever we wanted to do. I learned to live minimally by only having a small bunk with few belongings for 3 months. My favorite part of the whole trip was the passage. Being over 300 miles offshore, sailing through squalls, swimming in the middle of the ocean, and having no phone service for three weeks. I saw the most insane sunrises and sunsets of my life and every night had unbelievable skies and shooting stars so bright they lit up the entire sky. Coffee became my best friend, I learned to sleep in 20 foot seas, and I found who I was truly meant to be.

PD: What are you working on right now and what are your plans for the future?

KB: I am a junior at UH Manoa and I am in the honors program majoring in biology with a certificate in marine biology. I am also studying to get my yacht master captain’s license. When I graduate college I plan on working as a captain on super yachts sailing around the world. I also plan on working for NOAA Corps once I am done with the yachting industry. When I am ready to settle down I will get my masters in nursing and work as a nurse practitioner just like my mom does. 

PD: Who are some of your biggest supporters when it comes to your dreams and goals?

KB: My family is very supportive of all of my adventures. They not only help fund my crazy ideas, but give me the freedom to live my life of passion. My biggest supporters are definitely my friends. I have been lucky enough to meet so many amazing people all around the world. Even though I may not see them as often as I would like, my friends always have my back and are there cheering me on when I succeed as well as helping me through the tougher battles in life. My best friend of all time however would definitely be my dog Charlie. He is a golden retriever and he just turned 2 years old. No matter how much time I spend away from home he is always there to greet me and remember me in the most excited manner when I finally make it home from my adventures. 

PD: What are some skill sets and personality traits that complement your paddling successes? And conversely, what are you trying to work on to be a better paddler/athlete/human?

KB: I am very driven and can be very stubborn. I will push myself and continue to work hard until I succeed, and I am never satisfied. I know what it takes to work hard and I have learned what grit truly means through paddling. I think the reason why I was able to get fast so quickly was because I was determined to perform well for my team and help the boat move faster. However, I can be very hard on myself and sometimes forget to celebrate my successes, no matter how big or small. I think I would benefit from having a little more grace for myself sometimes. 

PD: Can you give us a little preview of your lifestyle and philosophy?

KB: I live a very sustainable lifestyle. I am a tree hugger who tries to eat sustainably, have zero plastic waste, and pick up trash from the beaches and ocean. I think it’s important to care for the places that you love so that others can enjoy them and hopefully care for the places just as much as you do. 

I also try to wake up everyday and live a life of passion. Everyday you wake up and you get to choose what you want to do that day, so why not just do what you love. There is nothing in my life that I choose to do that I don’t love. A lot of it has to do with attitude. It’s important to be positive and optimistic because it makes the hard times that much easier when you find joy in doing it. I have a life philosophy where I tell myself “I get to do this.” instead of “I have to do this.” because a lot of people don’t have the opportunity to even do the things I don’t particularly enjoy doing. I also tell myself “I don’t know how to do this yet.” instead of “I don’t know how to do that.” because this way I am excited to learn new skills and grow as a human being. 

PD: You joined us for our first Junior Girls Camp back in October 2021, what were your thoughts on it?

KB: The junior girls camp was super fun to be a part of. It was really cool how all of the coaches dedicated so much time and effort to these junior girls. They are very lucky to have paddlers who are invested in making the next generation as fast as possible. The girls were inspiring and fun to paddle with. Their improvement really showed over the few days and especially at the race. I am grateful to have been a part of the camp. The camp was helpful to my own paddling as well. I learned how to cross train better and properly erg. I also learned how to better my technique by relaxing my shoulders more. 

PD: What are some of the ways you cross train for paddling?

KB: My cross training mostly consists of open ocean swimming and surfing. Surfing builds a lot of the same muscle groups and swimming helps my stamina. I also cross train with pilates to build muscle groups that are often neglected by my normal workout routines.

PD: What are some of your paddling goals for 2022?

KB: I hope that the paddling seasons can return to normal soon. I am excited to race in the IVF, Na Wahine, and Catalina crossing again for 6man. I am also looking forward to racing the Kaiwi Channel on a one man (on a relay team). I am also excited for all of the Kanaka Ikaika races and super fun HK runs! I hope to one day race the Molokai Solo, but this year I just hope to be a water drop and support someone else doing the race! 

PD: Bonus Round! 

PD: Favorite Artist(s):

KB: My favorite artists are Kalei Raher and Nolan Omura. My favorite musician is Noah Kahan and my favorite band is Old Man Canyon. My favorite book is The Sea Around Us by Rachel Carson.

PD: Favorite Place(s):

KB: My favorite places that I have been to are the Sunshine Coast of Australia for the IVF races and Kandavu in Eastern Fiji. Palau as a whole is my all time favorite place ever. 

PD: Favorite Quote(s):

KB: “Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” 

Big Mahalo to Kylie for taking the time to tell us her story! So much to come from this waterwoman and we are proud to be a part of the journey and cheering her on along the way. You can follow along on Kylie’s IG at @kyliebebe.