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Reserve canoe paddler among world's best

  • Published
  • By Tech Sgt. Richard Gonzales
  • 419th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii --  It's only natural Staff Sgt. Albert Van Gieson is incredible at canoe paddling. He has the pedigree and the physique: long arms and lean muscles (think Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps).

Van Gieson started paddling at 8 years old and found it easy to climb into a canoe because his family ran the local paddling club.

"My grandma and grandpa started a canoe paddling club back in 1967, and I was born in '81," Van Gieson said. "So they were going full force with running the paddling club when I was growing up."

Hawaii is home to the best canoe paddlers in the world; Van Gieson is one of those paddlers.

"For sure, he's a top 5 paddler in the world," said Jenn Lee, Van Gieson's girlfriend. "And I'm not saying that because he's my boyfriend."

Van Gieson has the trophies to prove it.

"This year, I haven't finished anything worse than 5th place in all the races I've done," Van Gieson said.

Paddling his carbon fiber canoe that weighs just 16 pounds, Van Gieson can average between 7.5 and 8 miles per hour in a canoe. For perspective, he can paddle faster than more than half the men his age can run the Air Force physical fitness test.

"When it comes to technique, you want to get good leverage with your canoe paddle. People don't think about the angle the paddle blade enters and exits the water, and where your body sits to give you good balance and center of gravity. It's just little things you put together to make a big difference," said Van Gieson.

The canoe paddling race season runs from December to early May, although Van Gieson trains year round. The circuit starts with several eight-mile races. Each race progresses in length throughout the season to 16, 18, and 20 miles races, with a 31-mile season finale. Lee and Van Gieson agree canoe paddling is Hawaii's biggest sport, but it hasn't received the same commercial success as surfing.

"It's really strange how paddlers don't get paid, because it's one of the biggest sports," Lee said.

"If I could do this professionally, that would be awesome, but the reality is nobody is getting paid to do this," Van Gieson said.

The military helped with that. After seven years in the Army Reserve, Van Gieson joined the Air Force Reserve in 2008 and works as an aerial transportation specialist with the 48th Aerial Port Squadron. It's not the most lucrative job, but Van Gieson is just as motivated to be successful as an aerial porter as he is with paddling.

"I want to gain more knowledge and progress in my sport, and in the military, as well. I want to show [my leadership] I'm serious about staying healthy, showing initiative, and asking for more training opportunities," Van Gieson said.

For Van Gieson, it seems excelling in paddling and the Reserve just comes natural.

"I do want to become a mentor to my community, especially because I'm a reservist so I'm a Citizen Airmen like they say," Van Gieson said.

"It doesn't pay the bills," said Van Gieson.

"I told them this is a big part of my life, and they've been so supportive of me."

His canoe measures 21 feet in length and weighs just 15 pounds. The ama, a small pod to help with balance, and the iakos, aluminum pipes connecting the ama to the canoe, add another pound to the setup.

"He was raised in this so it's only natural for him to be good at it," said Lee.