Hailing from the breathtaking island of Huahine in French Polynesia - a gem in the South Pacific, just 100 kilometers northwest of Tahiti - Iloha carries the soul of her homeland in every step she takes. 11 years ago, she traded turquoise lagoons for the bustling cities of France to pursue her studies. Since 2017, she fully embraced a life of motion - splitting her time between France, Tahiti, and racing worldwide.
Iloha is a daughter of the ocean. Whether she’s speeding toward a finish line or returning to the embrace of Polynesian waves, her journey is a testament to resilience, passion, and the unshakable call of home.
When did your passion for the ocean and paddling start?
My passion comes from a water-fuelled, active childhood in Huahine, an island surrounded by the ocean. My parents were into water sports, so we spent a lot of time swimming, surfing and wakeboarding, and making the most of island life every day. They taught me everything, and eventually paddling va’a entered the picture when I was 13, joining the Huahine Matairea Hoe 324 Club — I even competed in a 15 km long-distance race at this age, and that’s when I became hooked. I’m still with this club today and currently race with the Médoe Va’a 33 Club in France, which I’ve been with for 7 years.
What do you do when you’re not on the water?
After graduating as a physiotherapist, I practised weekly until a year ago because training, racing, coaching and travelling gradually took up 100% of my time. At the French Federation of Canoe-Kayak and Paddle Sports, I work on projects to improve the level of women in va’a. I also coach the French girls' V6 team, so I plan their training and travel to compete in world championships in locations like Tahiti and Hawaii.
Back home, I similarly work with the Tahitian Federation of Kayaking to develop the sport locally and work on major events like the world long-distance kayak race coming up in 2027 as part of the Pacific Games — I’ll be racing va’a and kayak at this, which I’m stoked about!
What’s your most outstanding sporting achievement so far?
I’d say it’s a combination of these 4 areas:
1. Reaching the physical and technical level I have today and being able to enjoy myself in challenging conditions anywhere in the world.
2. To share my years of technical paddling practice and ocean experience with the va’a team and other girls from France to Tahiti, because when you share your knowledge, it becomes so much more powerful, and that’s the beauty of our sport’s tradition and legacy.
3. To follow my dream from a young age and have the privilege of paddling and racing the va’a life. Adding kayak and SUP to my practice recently brings even more craft and skill variation, improving my abilities and knowledge, which I love.
4. Competition-wise recently:
Winning the 2024 V1 Sprint Va’a World Championship in Hilo, Hawaii and winning the prestigious 2024 V1 Te Aito in Tahiti.
Is there aspecific paddling memory or achievement that stands out to you?
When I’m with my girls’ va’a team, strategising, training or racing, we experience such good moments and memories, bonding and succeeding as a tight team and having fun both in and out of the water.
What does joining the Margen crew mean to you?
Working with the Margen team is great because they outfit me and the clubs, so we always collaborate closely. I’m currently helping with R&D for the expanding Margen women’s collection, giving feedback on fit and materials to elevate the gear's performance for paddling women worldwide.