competition

Ocean adventures

/ Peggy Coulombe

Na Leo O Ke Kai paddlers traveled to California in Feb. to meet up with Oceanside OCC, who generously loaned canoes and shared wonderful mana. These experiences contribute to our paddlers’ ocean skills and sets everyone up for competition in the 2024 SCORA races series (photo gallery below).

In addition to building distance and ocean skills, Na Leo paddlers are in month six of training to represent the mainland U.S. for the International Va’a Federation World Sprint Races in Hilo this coming August. Na Leo club member Alicia Lin Kee serves as coach for Team Phoenix (an all Arizona group that brings together competitive paddlers from Na Leo O Ke Kai, Team Arizona OCC, AZDBA and others from Havasu OCC, Oregon and California). Team Phoenix racers qualified last Oct. and we have Na Leo paddlers in the USA elite crew, in addition to Team Phoenix representing in club crew in women’s open, 40s, 50s, 60s and men’s open, 40s and 50s. Team Phoenix continues Na Leo O Ke Kai tradition over the last decade of representing the USA internationally with IVF (including a silver medal win in V12 500M sprints at IVF in Rio de Janiero in 2014).

Na Leo O Ke Kai and Oceanside OCC paddling adventure
On the water with Na Leo O Ke Kai and Oceanside OCC

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!