Women in Outrigger Canoeing

Outrigger canoeing has traditionally been a male dominated sport with, up until the late 1970’s, women still being excluded from certain large international races. However, the last decade has seen a positive shift in focus towards women in paddling with an increasing number of sponsored female athletes. The Yacht Club is leading the way on this front with women currently making up 35% of its outrigger member base. Here we talk to two women from the Outrigger Canoe Steering Sub Committee about their plans for the section and what makes them (paddle)-tick!

Melissa Davis, Head Coach for both the Outrigger and Dragon Boat sections

How did you get into the sport of Outrigger Canoeing and coaching?

I had always been involved in water sports growing up in Brisbane. Namely, women’s water polo teams and swimming. My father was also a keen ‘boatie’ so we were always out on the water in some shape or form. I was a member of the club back in 2009 and I’d always wanted to try dragon boat. However, I ended up ‘falling into’ outrigger canoe at the same time! Coaching was a knock-on effect from being passionate about both water sports and paddle sports and I found myself obtaining certifications and experience to allow me to coach at the club.

observe great competitiveness in ‘fighting for a seat’ at the top level and intense commitment and determination by paddlers to reach their own goals but who, at the same time, celebrate their peers’ achievements as if they were their own.

Martina Redaelli, Women’s Captain

What is your philosophy as Captain?

I think it’s important that everybody, whether novice or experienced paddlers, be given the opportunity and support to fulfill their goals and potential. For many of us, paddling is not just a sport but also a lifestyle, so being happy with your club, training plan and teammates is extremely important. I hope that all our members consider us family in the same way that I do!

outrigger@rhkyc.org.hk

It was very rewarding to have crews win one of gold, silver or bronze across all categories in all 2022 local races including the Around Lamma Race, the Around Po Toi Race and of course the Yacht Club’s very own Around The Island Race. We were also very lucky to be able to compete in the Singapore Ocean Cup last year, our first overseas race in 3 years, from which the section brought back multiple gold and silver medals from both team and individual races.

What are your goals for the team this year?

My goal is to increase the general standard of paddling throughout the section with the aim of targeting some of the bigger international races. I would also like to help newer paddlers, especially women, become more comfortable on the small canoes and encourage them to participate in local races in the one-person boats. We will have a busy year ahead with Hong Kong opening up and the racing calendar resuming back to its normal jampacked schedule. I am very excited about what we can achieve as a team and a section and am very much looking forward to getting back on the water when the weather warms up!

What is your coaching style and philosophy?

Be both honest and encouraging.

What are your coaching goals for 2023?

Aside from podium success in outrigger canoe at all racing events, I would love to see more skills development in all paddlers. Over the years, I have witnessed incredible comebacks from people, and fast progression in rookies who a year or two ago had never seen a paddle before! I have also been lucky enough to

What were some of your highlights as Captain in 2022?

Because of the social distancing restrictions at the beginning of the year, our training calendar was cut short. But this didn’t stop everyone from putting in the extra effort required to make up for lost time as soon as training resumed. It made me so proud to have both new and experienced paddlers committing so much time and energy to the sport.