Task Force Hydro1

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!

03/31/2026

🌊 Mission Accomplished: Inaugural TFH1 Mental Health & Resiliency Surfing + Outrigger Canoe Retreat 🌊

This weekend, Task Force Hydro1 proudly hosted our very first mental health and resiliency retreat for Special Operations Veterans — bringing together Green Berets, Navy SEALs, and Tier 1 operators in coordination with Task Force Dagger.

TFH1 delivered powerful “Blue Mind” Hydrotherapy through surfing and outrigger canoe surfing, along with therapeutic massages, Wim Hof breathing sessions, healthy nutrition, deep connection, and genuine healing through the power of the ocean.

This retreat has been a dream since the very beginning of our organization — and now it’s no longer just a goal… it’s a reality.

This was the first of many more to come.
What made this retreat especially meaningful? Five warriors from the same ODA were with us — including our Director Ricky and their Company Commander. We were also joined by longtime brothers from 1st Special Forces Group who we’ve known for decades. We were blessed to have a Frogman participating right alongside everyone — keeping a watchful eye on the water to make sure no one drowned, JK.

A huge thank you to our incredible partners and volunteers:
• Task Force Dagger
• Surf Instructors: Jeff Taylor, Chris Degnan, and Eddie Zileman
• Marcella for her unlimited logistical support
• Big Daddy Eric for providing breakfast
Your time, expertise, heart, and support made this possible.

Looking ahead: With the help of Task Force Dagger, our participants will be working with ALLO Performance Medicine.
ALLO Health begins with a deep intake and performance review that consolidates your full history — key events, exposures, stress patterns, and symptom evolution — so you don’t have to keep retelling your story across fragmented care teams.

From there, they quantify your systems biology using performance biomarkers and targeted functional lab testing to identify the primary constraints driving dysfunction. Instead of reacting to isolated symptoms, they map patterns and prioritize the highest-impact levers first — so progress is focused, efficient, and free from overwhelm.

We’re also planning to send our alumni to compete against other veteran surf organizations across the country, and we’re dreaming even bigger with future international surf retreats.

We are our brothers’ keepers. We are deeply thankful that God has blessed us with the talents and life experiences to serve our brothers in this way — all for His glory.

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” (1 Peter 4:10)

The ocean heals. Brotherhood endures. Healing continues.

03/19/2026

Perfect Saturday vibes incoming: 80° and sunny with 3-4 ft waves + light offshore winds? That’s prime time to hit the water! 🚀🌊

Grab your board (or don’t— we’ve got you covered) and join the Task Force Hydro1 crew for some stoke, surf, and good company. All skill levels welcome—whether you’re charging The Poles or just dipping in for the first time.

This Saturday: 8 AM - 12 PM at Dolphin Plaza in Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park (The Poles area). Family-friendly, community-focused, and all about healing through the water.

No gear? No worries—we’ll hook you up. Come paddle, surf, laugh, and connect with fellow vets, first responders, service members, and Ohana.
See you in the lineup! 🇺🇸🤙

03/07/2026

🌊 Operation North and South – Mission Accomplished! 🌊

Task Force Hydro1 rolled deep today!
Our Paddle Platoon deployed south to Fort Pierce, Florida, crushing it at the races: a grueling six-man long course on Saturday and sprints on Sunday. Proving once again that our warriors bring the fight (and the stoke) to the water—no matter the distance!

Up north, our Surf Squad held it down right here in St. John’s County at Vilano Beach with an epic Stoke session on Saturday—our first Friday vibes turning into pure healing and connection on the waves.

Shoutout to EVERY volunteer who makes this magic happen—your time, energy, and aloha keep our rally point strong. You’re the backbone of TFH1!

To all our veterans, first responders, active duty, and families: today we expanded our operational reach, showed the power of the paddle, and reminded everyone—water saves lives, and so does community.

Paddle on, brothers and sisters. 💪🤙
FirstResponders WaterSavesLives OutriggerCanoe StAugustine FortPierce VilanoBeach MentalHealthMatters

To our amazing sponsors

02/20/2026

11/21/2025

In the spirit of true leadership, let’s talk about embracing mistakes as part of growth. As 1 Corinthians 1:27 reminds us, “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” It’s a powerful nudge that strength often comes from what seems weak or imperfect—like our slip-ups.
Most of us are mistake-based learners. It’s okay to mess up; what’s not okay is letting those moments define you without extracting the gold from them. Learn, adapt, and pass that wisdom forward to lift others up.

In our Task Force Hydro1 Community, we live this out on the water. We’ve Hulid (flipped) canoes in public turning quick paddles into hours-long recoveries, drifted too close to pilings and scratched hulls, or pushed limits that led to unexpected challenges. But our priority, is not dwelling on the error or letting it breed risk-aversion. Instead, we embrace it, learn fast, and share the lessons through our military-inspired After Action Reviews (AARs):

• Issue: What went wrong?
• Discussion: Why did it happen? What were the factors?
• Recommendation: How do we fix it and prevent repeats?

We kick off with our “rules of the road”: If you’ve got thin skin, head to Ace Hardware and grab some thicker stuff! We speak truth with kindness and honesty—no sugarcoating, but always aimed at building each other up for the benefit of the club and our Ohana.

We’re not a zero-defect organization. We want you to make mistakes, push the envelope in surfing, paddling, and life. Mediocrity? Not our vibe. When errors happen, fix ’em sooner rather than later—the quicker you address a problem, the faster you level up.

How about you? When you make a mistake in life, do you dwell on it and let it hold you back? Or do you evaluate, learn, and ensure it doesn’t repeat? Share your approach below—let’s learn from each other! 🌊💪

11/11/2025

Dear Alumni of Task Force Hydro1 (TFH1),

On this Veterans Day, I want to extend my deepest, most heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you. Thank you for your unwavering service in defending our nation and upholding its place as the greatest country on earth. Your courage, dedication, and selflessness have shaped the freedoms we cherish today, and for that, I am eternally grateful.

I recognize and honor the profound sacrifices you’ve made—spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally. These are not taken lightly; they are the foundation of the peace and security we enjoy. You’ve given so much, often in ways that words can scarcely capture, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

It has been an incredible privilege to be part of this amazing ohana with you. You’ve stepped up time and again when it mattered most, embodying the true spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood that makes TFH1 so special. Your bonds, forged in challenge and triumph, inspire us all.

With profound respect and aloha,

Ricky