Task Force Hydro1

05/16/2026

🚀 Good luck today to our incredible Brian and Pauline! ❤️
An Air Force vet and his amazing wife — longtime pillars of Task Force Hydro 1 and former Stoking Saturday St. Augustine leads. Proud parents of a firefighter and Air Force airman.
It’s been such an honor watching you two grow together in this sport you both love so much. Today is extra special — Pauline’s first race!
We are so incredibly proud of you both. Go get it, Pauline! 💪

05/04/2026

Grateful hearts overflowing! ❤️
Thank you to every Paddler donor, sponsor, and supporter who made this year’s Mission 50 event unforgettable. Your generosity powered four days of breaking bread, clinics, luaus, dinners, new friendships, and beautiful keiki moments on the water — even when weather forced us to adapt.

We laughed, cried, and cheered together as our keiki crushed it in the canoes. Congratulations to Chris D on earning the Purple Shark Tooth, and mahalo to Tikki Tony for cheering us on at every stop.

Deep thanks to all who contributed: Laura (beautiful voice), Jesse (video), Ethan (drone), the Jax Halau, Shop Outrigger (canoes), Kris & Maka (kava), Hadley (upside-down cake), and so many more. Special gratitude to our dedicated wives — Marcella, Vicki, Pauline, Sonja, Marlit, Sally, and those we’ve missed — and to our amazing ops crew, Leo and all the boat captains.
This truly reflects Proverbs 27:10 — “Better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.” We are so thankful for our paddling community that showed up first with open hearts.

A heartfelt mahalo to our sponsors: Veterans Benefit Guide, Liquid Therapy, Patti Flike, and every fundraising paddler, donor, spouse, and child.
Stand by for the 5th Annual Mission 50 Sprint, Distance & Surf Festival next year, and don’t miss our Surf Contest on October 10th with the special Hydro Games team event!

With deep gratitude and aloha, The Mission 50 Task Force

05/04/2026

Grateful hearts overflowing! ❤️
Thank you to every Paddler donor, sponsor, and supporter who made this year’s Mission 50 event unforgettable. Your generosity powered four days of breaking bread, clinics, luaus, dinners, new friendships, and beautiful keiki moments on the water — even when weather forced us to adapt.

We laughed, cried, and cheered together as our keiki crushed it in the canoes. Congratulations to Chris D on earning the Purple Shark Tooth, and mahalo to Tikki Tony for cheering us on at every stop.

Deep thanks to all who contributed: Laura (beautiful voice), Jesse (video), Ethan (drone), the Jax Halau, Shop Outrigger (canoes), Kris & Maka (kava), Hadley (upside-down cake), and so many more. Special gratitude to our dedicated wives — Marcella, Vicki, Pauline, Sonja, Marlit, Sally, and those we’ve missed — and to our amazing ops crew, Leo and all the boat captains.
This truly reflects Proverbs 27:10 — “Better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.” We are so thankful for our paddling community that showed up first with open hearts.

A heartfelt mahalo to our sponsors: Veterans Benefit Guide, Liquid Therapy, Patti Flike, and every fundraising paddler, donor, spouse, and child.
Stand by for the 5th Annual Mission 50 Sprint, Distance & Surf Festival next year, and don’t miss our Surf Contest on October 10th with the special Hydro Games team event!

With deep gratitude and aloha, The Mission 50 Task Force

04/29/2026

Thanks to ARE Tahiti for your continuing support.

ARE Tahiti supports Task Force Hydro1’s Mission 50, a 50-mile Florida paddle raising funds for veteran, service member, and first responder mental health.

04/27/2026

🔥 Big shoutout to our girl Hadley!
This chica rolled into the club fired up and ready to paddle, and she’s been crushing it ever since. She jumped straight into our crew of misfits and fit perfectly — because she is one of us. Clinics, personal trainer, consistent grind, showing up even when it’s tough… all that work showed up big time today. In super difficult conditions, she conquered the unknown, trusted her partner, and paddled with pure heart and power. She straight-up instilled confidence in me out on the water.
Nothing feels better than watching your crew rise up and shine.
We raced against two incredible teams today. Second place went to The Hoards — that amazing couple that shows up and crushes it together every single year. I love seeing them race side by side.
But the win went to legends Christianne and Lex Rass. Lex is a true paddling icon — been out here forever, close friends with Kai Bartlett and his family. I learned even more club history: Lex brought our V3 over from Tahiti more than 20 years ago, rigged the rudder himself, and now that same canoe helps develop our paddlers every week. Full circle.
What makes today even deeper is the bond Lex and I share — both cancer warriors. Yeah, cancer sucks, but our stories of perseverance and refusing to quit inspire others to keep going. We talked about the late, great Kai Bartlett. I’d recently sent him a “F$&k Cancer” shirt, and it still hurts that he’s gone. But sharing those stories of his selflessness reminded me why we do this.
Yes, it’s about winning… but I always tell my toddlers and our crew: it’s really about how you start and how you finish. Never let sickness — mental, physical, or emotional — slow you down. When the doctor says you can’t, look him in the eye and say, “You don’t know me.”
Once again, I thank the Lord for allowing me to be out here doing this for His glory. As a cancer survivor and Special Forces Veteran, I’m grateful to be salt and light — using my testimony and the healing power of the ocean to bring others closer to Christ.
Way to go, Hadley. You earned every stroke today. Proud of you, teammate.
To the whole crew — keep bringing that fire. We’re just getting started. 💪🌊🙏🏆 Skyway Outrigger Challenge Liquid Therapy Nordic Blue Water

04/21/2026

🌊 Sometimes you just gotta GO FOR IT.
Our co-founder Leo committing to this beauty at Dolphin Plaza, Hanna Park during our monthly Stokin’ Saturday.
Overthinking (aka paralysis by analysis) will rob you of the wave — and the mission — before you even start. The best things in life happen when you paddle hard and take the drop.
That’s the spirit of Task Force Hydro1.
Come learn to surf with us — no experience or gear needed!
3rd Saturdays → Dolphin Plaza, Hanna Park (Jacksonville)
1st Saturdays → North Beach, Vilano Beach
Both days: 8AM – 12PM
All welcome. All levels. Pure stoke.
Tag someone who needs to get in the water 👇

04/20/2026

🌊 Proud Milestone for Task Force Hydro1! 🌊

This week, Task Force Hydro1 (TFH1) successfully held our very first pilot paddle program on Naval Air Station Jacksonville — a key step in preparing to support the Navy’s active duty Wounded Warrior program right here in Jacksonville, FL.

Outrigger canoe paddling has been used around the world for centuries to promote mental, emotional, and physical health. It’s especially powerful for our veterans and active duty service members — just like the healing work being done with warriors at Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii.

A huge mahalo to USN Capt (ret) Frankie Wonpat and Army Purple Heart recipient Jeff Taylor for generously hosting and leading this clinic. Your expertise and aloha made it all possible!

This pilot program was made possible thanks to the generous donations from all of our incredible supporters — from personal donations to contributions from both small and large businesses. Your support is truly changing lives on the water.

If you would like to support us and help us expand this important work, please visit TaskForcehydro1.org and donate or click the link in the bio.

We’re building something special — a true Ohana on the water where healing, camaraderie, and resilience happen stroke by stroke.

Stay tuned as we grow this program to serve more of our Navy warriors.

Who’s ready to paddle with us? 💪🚣‍♂️

NavyStrong Ohana BlueMindHealing watersaveslives

04/20/2026

🌊 Proud Milestone for Task Force Hydro1! 🌊

This week, Task Force Hydro1 (TFH1) successfully held our very first pilot paddle program on Naval Air Station Jacksonville — a key step in preparing to support the Navy’s active duty Wounded Warrior program right here in Jacksonville, FL.

Outrigger canoe paddling has been used around the world for centuries to promote mental, emotional, and physical health. It’s especially powerful for our veterans and active duty service members — just like the healing work being done with warriors at Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii.

A huge mahalo to USN Capt (ret) Frankie Wonpat and Army Purple Heart recipient Jeff Taylor for generously hosting and leading this clinic. Your expertise and aloha made it all possible!

This pilot program was made possible thanks to the generous donations from all of our incredible supporters — from personal donations to contributions from both small and large businesses. Your support is truly changing lives on the water.

If you would like to support us and help us expand this important work, please visit TaskForcehydro1.org and donate.

We’re building something special — a true Ohana on the water where healing, camaraderie, and resilience happen stroke by stroke.

Stay tuned as we grow this program to serve more of our Navy warriors.

Who’s ready to paddle with us? 💪🚣‍♂️

04/15/2026

https://youtu.be/W_EOrPJiU_Q?si=aH-ZH15gz7IDzKiN

🌊 Meet Jeff Taylor — U.S. Army Veteran, Purple Heart recipient, and an incredible leader in our Task Force Hydro1 (TFH1) Ohana.
Jeff has been part of Task Force Hydro1 since the very beginning, and for the past year and a half, he's been paddling strong with our Outrigger Platoon. His first overseas competition with us was in beautiful Bora Bora — made possible thanks to the generous support of TFH1 and our amazing donors.

Jeff is living proof of our motto: . His positive outlook and powerful mana (spirit/energy) have a way of lifting everyone around him and bringing people back to life — on and off the water.

Just recently, Jeff paddled with us in our annual Mission 50 — the epic open-ocean fundraiser from St. Augustine to Mayport, Florida.

If Jeff’s story in this video moved you, please support him by clicking the https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/fundraising/jeff-taylor and donating today. The more he raises, the better his chance of winning a one-man Tahitian canoe donated by shopoutrigger.com
Every dollar raised during Mission 50 goes directly toward:

Equipment upkeep
Race registration fees
Getting more veterans, first responders, and their families on the water
Retreats, holistic healing programs, and so much more

Together, we’re proving every day that water heals and community saves lives. Mahalo for being part of the Ohana! 💙
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/fundraising/jeff-taylor

🌊 Meet Jeff Taylor — U.S. Army Veteran, Purple Heart recipient, and an incredible leader in our Task Force Hydro1 (TFH1) Ohana.Jeff has been part of Task Fo...

04/06/2026

After nine months of intense training and preparation, TFH1 has finally made it to Bora Bora! 🌊🏝️

We’re here representing the United States — Veterans, First Responders, and Service Members — carrying our mission forward in paradise.

Water saves lives. In our community, the ocean is more than a backdrop… it’s therapy, connection, and healing for those who’ve carried the heaviest burdens.

Through paddling, surfing, and fellowship in the water, we combat isolation, PTSD, and the invisible wounds of service.

Our paddlers are self-funded Veterans and First Responders. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our donors and sponsors, we were able to cover their registrations — and fully fund one Veteran and his entire trip to join us here in Bora Bora.

A special Māuruuru roa to JSC Orthotics and Prosthetics for funding our entire strength and conditioning program — your support helped us show up strong and ready!

We’ve brought together people from all over the United States and the world to spread Mana (spiritual power/energy) and build Ohana (family — where nobody gets left behind).

Māuruuru roa — thank you to everyone supporting this journey!