outrigger

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

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!

 

Arizona Keiki paddlers working toward ShakaFest

/ Peggy Coulombe

What a great practice on Sunday with our keiki outrigger paddlers! A big welcome to our newest 14 and under paddlers, Jordan, Jerome and Zoie, and their parents. Everyone with our 14 and under and 19 and under crews, shared lots of time on the water with our coaches, including guest men’s coach, Rich Gorrill, and lots of learning from our Ohana. We have only three practices until our first race at ShakaFest – Apr. 25. Remember that Kaimi will be directing hula presentations for all who would like to participate.

Coming up this weekend is Saturday practice for adults at 8 a.m., followed by a club equipment day. Come help with our club spring cleaning.  Keep up with all our events and practices on Facebook.

 

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!