Hawaiian

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!

 

Bon Voyage Coach Peggy!

/ Peggy Coulombe

Happy Holidays and New Year, Ohana! Thanks to everyone who made 2015 special. Our year was filled with good times, from OC6 medals in Alcatraz and Catalina and small boat wins in the California winter series races, to luaus, keiki competitions, concerts and kalua pig fundraisers.  This year was memorable too for racing our new beautiful Pure unlimited canoe and bringing us to new places not just in competition, but in experience and fellowship. Great adventures ahead in 2016!

We also bid bon voyage, but not goodbye, to our head coach, Margaret (Peggy) Coulombe, who was invited to coach Na Leo ‘O Ke Kai’s women’s crew by Uncle Lono in 2005 and who went on to lead the club as head coach and women’s coach from 2007 to 2015. Under her leadership, Na Leo women’s crews consistently achieved top 10 finishes in their OC6  race categories and Na Leo’s men’s and women’s crews excelled locally as well as medalled for the first times in CA. She took the first crew from Arizona to compete in IVF World Sprints in Calgary, Canada in 2012 and led a women’s crew to a silver medal win at World’s in Brazil in 2014. Coach Peggy was also a driving force, expanding our relationships, recruitment, training and skills, web presence and equipment, including acquisition of new OC6 canoes and donation of the first small boats to the club. While she goes forward to more adventures and we won’t see her like clockwork on the docks as before, we know how much she values (and has valued) her time with Na Leo and wishes great things for all of us in 2016 and beyond! Cheehu!!

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