Alabama Rowing Senior Q&A: Tayla Cabana
3/1/2018 9:27:00 AM | Rowing
What made you choose to come to Alabama?
"I came on my official visit to The University of Alabama because I had been to the state before and I really liked the people here. Being from Alaska, another very strange, yet cool, thing for me while I was visiting was walking outside and actually having it be warmer outside than inside! After touring the campus, I fell in love with the school's spirit and passion for sports. It's pretty funny though, because the school has 7x more undergraduate students than my entire town."
What is your favorite team memory?
"My favorite team memory would definitely have to be from our trip this past fall to Boston for the Head of the Charles Regatta. The Charles is one of the most well-known and prestigious regattas to be apart of and the course is like no other. The course is roughly 5,000 meters long, has numerous turns and it's not uncommon for boats to run into each during these turns when trying to pass. I was in a four with my teammates Charlotte Adkins, Nicole Lane, Emily Navin (coxswain) and Raien Emery. We headed down the course knowing we were the underdogs and would have to give our absolute all. Emily took us on the best possible course we could have asked for, going around the numerous turns and under the bridges with the shortest path possible. We crossed the line and knew it was a good race but had no idea how we did in comparison to the 53 other boats in the same race. It wasn't until we came onto land when we found out we not only had won but we had also set a new course record. It was an amazing moment and I will forever be friends with those girls."
What are your plans after graduation?
"After I graduate, I am going back to Alaska for the summer to work on my dad's commercial fishing boat that I have worked on every summer for the past 10 years. After I spend my 100 days at sea, I will take a year off to travel abroad as well as get my NASM personal training certificate. After that, I may go back to school to continue my education to become a physical therapist."
What is your funniest team memory?
"A funny memory I will absolutely never forget was during our trip to Sarasota, Florida for the Sunshine Invitational Regatta. So, usually, the format in a race is to do a start-sprint for 250 meters, settle and make moves for 1,500-ish meters, then sprint in the last 250 to 150 of the race. This race was different. The entire time down the course we were neck and neck with another crew, stroke for stroke. One stroke we would be up, the next we would be down, the entire time. It was at the 500-meters-to-go mark when Emily Navin, our coxswain, decided 'sprint now or regret not giving it our all', so we did. We surged for 500 meters. 500. While this is one of my funniest memories now, at the time, I did not consider it funny at all. My thoughts were closer to, 'what have you done, why are we sprinting now!?'. I knew why we were but the thought of it was not pleasant. Regardless, I don't like losing so if Emily says sprint, we sprint. I have never been in so much pain in my life but that final surge got us through the line ahead and I had never been so proud of the girls in my boat than in that moment. It's amazing what you can put your body through when you tell it to keep going. To this day whenever we have a hard practice, I still joke with Emily about how it could never be as painful as her screaming at us to surge for 500 meters straight. 'SURGE, SURGE, SURGE!'"
Who inspires you?
"My parents inspire me. They have pushed me to be the best version of myself and I'd like to thank them for their unwavering support in whatever I pursue. I cannot stress how much it means to me for them to come and watch me race. When it comes to traveling to Alabama, or even anywhere in the states for that matter, Alaska feels like it's on the opposite side of the globe, so the fact that they would travel all that way down here to watch me race for seven minutes is such a great feeling. I am so blessed to have parents like them, and without them I wouldn't be anywhere near the person I am today. I would also like to give a little shout-out to my brothers Kannen and Forrest, as well as one of my best friends, Maggie Koplin for always supporting me and bringing so much joy into my life. I love you guys and thank you."
Do you have a life motto?
"'If you'll not settle for anything less than your best, you will be amazed at what you can accomplish in your lives.' — Vince Lombardi."
Where is your favorite place to compete at?
"I really enjoyed competing in Sacramento but I would have to say Boston just because of the atmosphere. At the course, the number of people that line the banks of the river is unreal and they all truly care about rowing. Going under the bridges with hundreds of people standing over you cheering is an exhilarating feeling that cannot be found anywhere else."
What advice would you give to your freshman self if you had the chance?
"Time flies! Meet as many people as you can, learn as much as you can, be confident in who you are and don't forget to call your parents!"
Any closing comments?
"I am so lucky to have such a huge support system from my entire family as well as from my friends, trainers and teachers and I would like to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for always being there for me. Row Tide and God bless!"
