Author: Peggy Coulombe

Buy your tickets now: Hawaiian Charity Luau – Nov. 14

/ Peggy Coulombe

While we wind down our racing season, we wind up our 2nd annual Charity Luau!

Please join us on Nov. 14 from 5-10 p.m. at Phoenix Ale Brewery, 3002 E. Washington St. Phoenix, 85034. (602)-275-5049. Entertainment  includes:

5:30 p.m. Dinner/Hula show; 6:15 p.m. Sistah Ui & The Unified Band; 7-9 p.m. Kush County.

PreSale Tickets: Adults $25 ($30 at the door). $15 Keiki (Children age 12 & under – $20 at the door). Free for Keiki 5 & under.  Contact carolducosin@rocketmail.com

Come join our Ohana for the best event of the season! If you miss out, remember that this is one of the best times of year to try outrigger canoe in Arizona. You don’t have to have experience, just bring your good mana to share. To find out what’s coming up: follow us on Facebook

A day of remembrance

/ Peggy Coulombe

This week we are thinking of our troops and everyone impacted by 9/11. We also kept our teammates on our coed and men’s crews  in our hearts as they took on the  Southern California Outrigger Racing Association Catalina Challenge on Sept. 12-13. Our coed crew took 4th place – a first for AZ – and our men’s crew was the first we’ve fielded since 2005. Big accomplishment for all our paddlers, most especially our novices!

Coming up, we remember old friends for the Okie O’Connor Hot Head Challenge on Tempe Town Lake on Oct. 3, and Another Dam Race  in Parker, AZ on Nov. 7, which honors co-founders Deb Robison and Larry Smith.

This is one of the best times of year to try outrigger canoe in Arizona. You don’t have to have experience, just bring your good mana to share. To find out what’s coming up: follow us on Facebook

Lakes do create winning outrigger crews!

/ Peggy Coulombe

Congratulations to our 2nd place masters coed crew  who competed at the Round the Rock Challenge -Alcatraz under the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, along with crews from NCOCA, Hawaii and Australia.

Coming up are change races for the Southern California Outrigger Racing Association‘s Oceanside race and the Catalina Challenge 9-man in Aug. and Sept.

Novice paddlers, there is also something for you! Outrigger in Arizona on Tempe Town Lake for the Okie O’Connor Hot Head Challenge on Tempe Town Lake on Oct. 3, and in Parker, AZ for Another Dam Race on Nov. 7. Come out and join in the fun!

We are always recruiting new outrigger canoe members. You don’t have to have experience, just an interest in joining with a fun community. To find out what’s coming up: follow us on Facebook

Outrigger races heating up

/ Peggy Coulombe

Aloha! While it’s pushing triple-digits in Arizona, our outrigger Ohana is chilling for summer. We are on the water training for the Round the Rock Challenge -Alcatraz under the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco on Aug. 8; change races for the Southern California Outrigger Racing Association‘s Oceanside race and the Catalina Challenge 9-man in Aug. and Sept., and other fun in Arizona, both on Tempe Town Lake for the Okie O’Connor Hot Head Challenge on Tempe Town Lake on Oct. 3, and in Parker, AZ for Another Dam Race on Nov. 7. Come out and join in the fun!

We are always recruiting new outrigger canoe members. You don’t have to have experience, just an interest in joining with a fun community. To find out what’s coming up: follow us on Facebook!

Remembering Deb and Larry

/ Peggy Coulombe

Aloha! We are sad to pass along news from Lake Havasu OCC that two leaders and friends in the Arizona paddling and biking community have passed away. Deb Robison and Larry Smith, co-founders of Another Dam Race and AZ Built, were killed in a tragic biking accident. Please join with us as we share our deepest sympathy with their family and friends. Deb and Larry made our lives so much richer through their contributions.

If you are in Havasu, there will be a Memorial Service for Deb Robison & Larry Smith Tuesday July 7th, 2015 @ 6:30 pm @ Mudshark Brewery located @ 210 Swanson Ave. Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403

For those of you in town, July 10-12 we will gather at Saguaro Lake for a weekend of paddling. Also coming up is the Round the Rock Challenge -Alcatraz under the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco on August 8, the Southern California Outrigger Racing Association‘s Catalina Challenge 9-man in Sept., the Okie O’Connor Hot Head Challenge on TTL in Oct., and Another Dam Race in Parker, AZ in Nov.

We are always recruiting new outrigger canoe members. You don’t have to have experience, just come out to a practice and meet us – to find out what’s current: follow us on Facebook!

 

 

Taking time to thank our troops – AZ National Guard

/ Peggy Coulombe

Mahalo to the AZ National Guard for their service to the nation and to everyone who came out to support their outrigger canoe experience on June 13 at Tempe Town Lake. Lots of fun on the water, some racing and crossfit challenges. What a great time with a wonderful group of men and women. Photos coming soon!

Summer offers more Na Leo racing with the Southern California Outrigger Racing Association for sprints and change races. So don’t despair now that the Iron season is ending with Iron Champs. There is also the Round the Rock Challenge -Alcatraz under the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco on August 8, the Okie O’Connor Hot Head Challenge on TTL, and Another Dam Race in Parker AZ.

We are always recruiting new outrigger canoe members. You don’t have to have experience, just come out to a practice and meet us – but check our practice page first, as we travel some weekends during the race season, or follow us on Facebook!

Summer of outrigger love

/ Peggy Coulombe

Big Blue is calling you! While flat water in Arizona seems an unlikely place to build strong outrigger canoe competitors, one of our big advantages is consistent conditions to test and train. We get instant feedback on sustained efforts for the competitor and calmer water to build strong technical skills for the novice. Then off to the ocean in California for the Southern California Outrigger Racing Association season. Coming up next – Iron Champs! Then, the 38 mile  Na Pali Challenge along the coast of Kauai.

Thanks to everyone who supported our kalua pig fundraiser last month. We raised more than $1500 with your help. Make sure you have us on your calendar this fall/winter for our annual luau celebration on Nov. 14.

We are always recruiting new outrigger canoe members. You don’t have to have experience, just come out to a practice and meet us – but check our practice page first, as we travel some weekends during the race season, or follow us on Facebook!

Arizona outrigger goes to the beach

/ Peggy Coulombe

It’s hard to believe that the first race of the SCORA race season is May 9. That means no practice on Tempe Town Lake and lots of new experiences on the Pacific Ocean  in San Diego. Please come out to Mission Bay and cheer on all the Arizona teams, hosted by Hano Hano Canoe Club.

A big thank you to everyone who came out this weekend for our May 2 huli drill practice and BBQ. More than 73 of you flipped boats, got certified and enjoyed a day on Saguaro Lake with family and friends. Good times!

And congratulation to all our keiki and junior crew members who returned with medals from Shakafest on April 25th. Great job coaches, Kahea, Christel and Aunty Diane. We are so fortunate for your dedication and the commitment of our kids and parents.

We are always recruiting new outrigger canoe members. You don’t have to have experience, just come out to a practice and meet us – but check our practice page first, as we travel some weekends during the race season, or follow us on Facebook!

Pacific Paddler magazine features Arizona Outrigger

/ Peggy Coulombe

Wondering who our members are? Find out direct from our outrigger paddlers, who were interviewed for Pacific Paddler Magazine‘s 19th anniversary issue. Come join the fun and be part of our outrigger community in the desert. Cheehu!

Our next club event coming up is on May 2 . Na Leo O Ke Kai will host a Mandatory Huli Drill and Hawaiian BBQ at Butcher Jones Beach Park at Saguaro Lake. You don’t have to huli a canoe to join in starting at 9 a.m. Bring your SUP and small boats and enjoy the day with us. Don’t forget your Tonto Pass!

We are always recruiting new outrigger canoe members. You don’t have to have any experience, just come out to a practice and meet us – but check our practice page first, as we travel some weekends during the race season, or follow us on Facebook!

Have a great week, Arizona outrigger Ohana!

Outrigger and dragon boat paddlers unite!

/ Peggy Coulombe

This weekend is the Arizona Dragon Boat Festival on Tempe Town Lake! Teams from the U.S. and Canada will be there, with their best. Come to opening ceremonies and then root for the home teams (AZ Gilas, AZ Mutineers, SunGi), corporate teams and breast cancer survivor crews as our outrigger canoe and dragon boat paddlers sprint to the finish line.

Other fun events coming up: April 4 – mixed plate fun scrimmage with all the Arizona outrigger crews. May 2 – Na Leo O Ke Kai Mandatory Huli Drill and Hawaiian BBQ. Remember if you need to order a race jersey ($30) or place an order for a paddle, contact carolducosin@rocketmail.com. Have a great week, Arizona outrigger Ohana!