Good morning Paddlers

Southern California Outrigger Racing Association held their first race of the season at San Diego.  Hosted by Hanohano canoe club, it was well organized.  Every season the competition changes slightly and the atmosphere was charged with anticipation as to who was going to be the ones to beat this season.  The first race usually distinguishes the front-runners from the rest of the pack. 

Novices

The novices raced with their usual fiery disregard for endurance, flying and dying somewhere along the course.  The ones who suffered the most were probably the novice men who were placed in the coed crews.   Some of them complained of the women’s short and fast strokes, burning them out completely.   The men were completely shot before the finish.  Meanwhile back on the course, the collisions were as grand as train wrecks.  One steerswoman said, “It’s a good thing my coach told us to stay away from crowds, because a pile up occurred right in front of us and we managed to get away from it.” 

Open Women

The open women division was won by NAC who dominated the rest of the pack.  Congratulations to the women of NAC for an outstanding job.  Several of their women have been paddling the OC1s during the winter and the pay off is starting to show.  Splitting their crews and coming in second and third was Lanakila’s ladies.  They too have just finished their OC1 season and should be back.  Well done ladies.  The two clubs have been sharing a great rivalry lately with familiar faces across the water.   The women’s race started with very little wind.  After the race, when asked what was the weather like on the course, they shrugged and said, “Nothing to be concerned about.”  However the breeze picked up slowly as the men waited on shore and by the time the women finished, the tents at the finish were already flapping.  It was a sign.

Open Men

The men’s race started windy and finished windy.  It wasn’t that bad, just an annoying chop that kept the ama flying, bouncing and diving under.  The steersmen had to be attentive to the ama and the course direction, as the back of the canoe kept swinging wildly as the swells pushed it around in the wind.   It was a trying day for all steersmen…trying to keep that sucker straight. Team California won the open men division.  In a tight race, Lanakila took on too much water and waited a little too long before calling for bailing.  By then it was too late.   In the meantime, Team California held a slight lead most of the way with Lanakila surging and falling back.  The most anticipated run was the downhill run with Lanakila expecting to excel, but it never materialized and suddenly it was clear that Team California was running downhill to victory.   Congratulations Team California. 

Women Masters, Seniors
In the Master’s, the winners were NAC 1st, Lanakila 2nd, Imua 3rd.  The Senior Masters finished in order of Imua 1st, Dana 2nd and Oceanside outrigger 3rd.

Master Men,  Senior Masters, Golden Masters, 19/u. 
Masters’ men and 1st overall was Team California, 2nd and second overall was Lanakila. 3rd was Oceanside Outrigger. 
 Senior masters men were Dana Point 1st, Pale Kai 2nd, and Lanakila 3rd.  
Golden Masters were Hanohano 1st, Oceanside Outriggers 2nd and Hanohano 3rd.  19/under was Hokuloa in a very respectable time.   

The Senior Master’s division entered ten teams and the Golden Masters entered three.  That is a record for California.   All race entries are growing by leaps and bounds. 

The next race will be in Santa Barbara.   We hope to see you all there.

Mahalo  AL