2022 RHKYC outrigger canoeing paddling season

2022 RHKYC outrigger canoeing paddling season: we are looking forward to it! OUTRIGGER CONTACT outrigger@rhkyc.org.hk

WORDS: MARTINA REDAELLI | PHOTOS: STANLEY LAM AND RHKYC MEMBERS

2022 hasn’t started the way we all hoped. Hong Kong is unfortunately dealing with a new wave of Covid-19 and the current restrictions haven’t yet allowed the Club to kick off the 2022 outrigger canoe season.

As we all know, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on sport at all levels. We have been on and off the water from club trainings for over two years now. We have witnessed the cancellation and postponement of global and local events, but we never lost our enthusiasm and our commitment to show up and do well.

While we are all looking forward to the Club’s training sessions on the water to begin it is also the right time to think about what our goals could be for the upcoming season (yes, let’s think that there will be one at some point!) and what’s the right strategy to achieve them. 2021 was a great year for the OC RHKYC team, therefore, let’s find out what made the year such a great one for the Club and how we can make 2022 another memorable one. There are two keywords that help to answer this question as they have played a main role in the last season: Community and Programming.

Community

It is well known that sport communities develop strong social bonds and build healthier, happier, and safer people. We also know that Hong Kong is not forever and for many of us 2021 saw a few key paddlers leave the city that they have called home and relocate elsewhere in the world for better professional or personal opportunities. Paddlers can come and go, but the strength of the community is always there and RHKYC has never lacked in community spirit. It’s been great to see people who inspire others to excel and those who lead whilst also building tomorrow's leaders.

Programming

It is also well known that sports coaching and programming is a way that individuals can impart values such as fairness and teamwork. Coaches, captains, volunteers, and experienced paddlers have all contributed to the development of the sport and to the strong sense of guidance. A solid training program allowed the team to strengthen skills and to move to a higher level of knowledge, reducing weak links within the team and making it easier to rely on others.

While we are looking forward to another stellar year, I would like to take the opportunity to thank all those people who worked behind the scenes to make the community of outrigger canoe a great place to develop and be competitive whilst having fun and being a team player.

See you on the water soon!

CONTACTS

Rowing Manager rowingmanager@rhkyc.org.hk Coastal Rowing coastalrowing@rhkyc.org.hk Shatin Men’s Racing shatinrowingmen@rhkyc.org. hk Shatin Women’s Racing shatinrowingladies@rhkyc.org.hk