arizona

Canoe blessing and Havasu Heat

/ Peggy Coulombe

Nā Leo celebrated one of the founders and core members who helped found the club, including Louise Navarro, Diane Escalante, Art Keanini and others. New members – many met at the Aloha Festival – and OGs gathered for the canoe blessing and paddle out for Lono Navarro, held in conjunction with the Nā Leo’s Open House at Tempe Town Lake. Lots of Aloha to close out the month of March, and open April’s first race of the year, Havasu Heat! Nā Leo took crews to race short course and long course, including “Boto” men’s crew (with Melissa!), “Team Phoenix” wahine going to World Sprints in Hilo, and the “Baby Goats,” Nā Leo’s breast cancer survivor crew. All took first place, but most importantly, had a wonderful time shared with Arizona’s Va’a Ohana. And if you are wondering what’s coming up next, don’t forget our Kalua Pig Fundraiser. Get your orders in by April 17: $10 per 8 oz. bag, cooking in traditional Imu (Hawaiian underground oven). We do it right! Email orders to: NaLeoOKeKai@gmail.com, with subject line: Kalua Pig order. Can pay by Venmo (@NaLeoOKeKai) or Zelle (NaLeoOKeKai@gmail.com).

Unlimited canoeing

/ Peggy Coulombe

Paddling in the Southern California Outrigger Racing Association’s  competitions, Na Leo O Ke Kai Men’s Iron crew represents not only what hard training, teamwork and commitment can do on the water, but also who invests in their upward progress as an unlimited outrigger canoe crew. Special thanks here goes to our sponsors, Psychojock, Rogue, FieldFit, Eascor, Athletes Brand and Riverbound Sports, as well as the women, men and keiki in our Ohana for their support. Congrats to the guys for their awesome finish at Marina. One more step up the ladder!

What’s coming up in June? For six-man, there is the Iron Outrigger Championships in San Diego and Congrats to our OC1 paddlers who raced in the CAL100 (finishing 100 miles in 12 hours 39 min.). Then, bring on the 9-man races in Dana Point, Oceanside, Newport Beach and Avalon, CA!

Want to be part of a club that blends aloha with competition year-round? Come check us out: John Gallaudet – johngallaudet@gmail.com or 602-550-0287.

Please join our FaceBook page for updates!

 

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

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!

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!

 

Join outrigger at Aloha Festival

/ Peggy Coulombe

Aloha! Looking for adventure and Ohana? Come join the top crew in Arizona and explore outrigger canoe, from Arizona to California, Hawaii to IVF World Sprints. We are recruiting this weekend at the Arizona Aloha Festival on Saturday and Sunday. Look for our Na Leo ‘O Ke Kai flag and come see our new Pure unlimited outrigger canoe, We will also be volunteering at the Paradise Hawaiian BBQ tent. Come help support us.

If you can’t make it this weekend, come to Tempe Town Lake on Saturday, March 14 at 8 a.m. to join with our adult crews or Sunday, March 15 to meet our winning keiki crew, coached by a great coaching staff from Hawaii. Lot’s of fun for the family! Find out all the details about events and practices on FaceBook or just come out on Mondays (men), Tuesdays (women), Thursday and Saturdays and Sunday (kids team). We meet us under the white umbrellas to the left of the boat ramp.

Kicking off Arizona Outrigger Canoe in 2015

/ Peggy Coulombe

Come join the top crew in Arizona, winning medals and forging new challenges from Alcatraz to Napali and IVF World Sprints. We are recruiting and have crews forming up at all levels, novice to expert, keiki to adult. We would also like to invite you to meet the newest member to our family – a Pure unlimited outrigger canoe. A beauty in Na Leo green!

unlimited canoe

Thanks to everyone who joined our Ohana, our new board of directors and officers for our canoe blessing on Sunday, February 22nd at Tempe Town Lake. We will also host a workshop by club member and Olympian Kamini Jain in March.

Check us out on FaceBook or just come out on Mondays (men), Tuesdays (women), Thursday and Saturdays (everybody) and Sunday (kids team). We meet us under the white umbrellas to the left of the boat ramp. Good luck to all our canoe paddlers competing in the Socal Winter Series in OC1, OC2 and SUP!