KANUculture Vol 3 1997 by Kanu Culture / Batini Books

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KdntXCsdtiM PLANET OUTRIGGER'S HANDBOOK VOLUM E 3-1997

BatinijSA Books batini kanu

- Swahili (East Africa) meaning "Innermost thought"

- the German word for canoe was adopted in the language of Papua New Guinea as a result of contact with German missionaries. The word is officially incorporated into Neo-Melanesian or Pidgin English. CULTURE - a particular form, stage or type of intellectual development or civilization;

improvement by (mental or physical) training.

STEVE WEST Steve W est has had a love o f paddle sports since he was nine, paddling primarily sea kayaks. During the late seventies and early eighties he became an early pioneer o f professional sailboarding in Europe, involved with racing, demonstrating designing and promotion, leading to requests for freelance photographic and written contributions to magazines worldwide. Maintaining a love o f paddle sports, he became involved with outrigger canoe paddling in Australia in 1989 becoming a founding member o f Mooloolaba Outrigger Canoe Club and past Vice President and has involvement with the Australian Outrigger Canoe Racing Association. Steve is an active paddler and researches the sport and all its elements, on a full time basis, travelling extensively each year to gather information for Ka’nu Culture.

PUBLISHER Steve W est (Batini Books)

EDITORS Steve & Rosie W est

COPY EDITOR Rosie W est

CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS Kris Kjeldsen (N ew Zealand) Maui Kjeldsen (New Zealand) Al Ching (California USA)

FOOTNOTE Ka'nu Culture Volume I, 1995 article entitled, “The Paddling Stroke", was credited in its entirety to Jason Somerville-Kimlin. W e have since discovered this article was in fact based on a feature written by Jenny Rudquist a leading American C I and C2 paddler and published in a magazine we are unable to identify. W e apologise for this error as the article was published in good faith on the understanding from the contributor that it was indeed their work. Contributors please ensure articles for consideration are credited appropriately. Theft o f intellectual property is a serious matter and often in breach o f copyright Apart from any fair purposes of private study, o r research as permitted under the copyright act, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, o r transmitted in any form

Carol Hogan (Big Island - Hawaii) Nolan Hendricks / Peter Melyan (Guam USA) Jo Anne Van Tilburg (UCLA California USA) Ted Ralston (California USA) Suzy Hornby (England)

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Kns Kjeldsen, Sue Neil. Suzy Hornby, Calvin Chow Daphne Houghard, Ted Ralston Jo Anne Van Tilburg, Johannes Van Tilburg Tito Paoa, Mike Roberts, Katie Benedict Ben Enfield, Nlko Haoa, Peter Melyan, Molokai Photos Courtesy o f Bankoh Hawai’i

o r by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without written permission. Inquiries should be addressed to the publishers. All logo's remain the property of clubs, businesses o r organisations.

BIBLIOGRAPHY Haddon AC, Homell J, Canoes o f Oceania. Honolulu Bishop Museum Press 19 9 1, Toro "Andras" A, Canoeing - An Olympic Sport. 1986. Ka'nu-Culture is published on an annual basis at the beginning o f each year. Contributions in the form o f type written articles and photographs for consideration are most welcome Please address all correspondence to:

DESIGN & PRE-PRESS Steve & Rosie W e s t

PUBLISHING CO N SU LTAN T T o n y Izzard

PRINTING, FILM A N D SEPARATIONS PH Productions Pte Ltd, Singapore

M AHALO NUI LOA ALSO TO T o re y B row n and th e girls fro m C olum bia River O utrigger, W a lte r Guild, T o d d Bradley, Suzy H om by,

PO Box 506, M aro o ch ydo re S u n sh in e C o ast , A u stralia , Q ld 4558 T elephone & Fa x (07) 5479 1327 In t e r n a t io n a l # 61 7 5479 1327 Internet

John Griffiths, Keith Robinson, "T h e Poi Boys” w ith special thanks to Brian Mulvaney.

email: kanu@ozemail.com.au

S ite

COVER PHOTOGRAPH: D aphne Houghard. O lym pic kayak paddler Sheila C o n o ve r strokes fo r O ffS h ore in th e '96 Catalina race.

re California Wonfen’s Crew An interview with the most successful

and around the island of Guam. "photosnoun 65 Canada Breaking thedce,and pulling on warm ck irief visit in Rarotoni -difuH ir

of outrigger canoe paddling as jp B ly m p ic 88 World Wide Web of OutrinoJEanoe Pai Outrigger paddlers m a k e j^ is e lv e s hearc Directory Sites and th%pmrigger e-mail list 96 Adrift at Sea.Recouriffna an e x p e rie n c ^ ? 9 - Technique Searching for good te c h r t f ljl fe ^ % o lo and team technique, leg work, p a d « . . TEXTM AUIKJEOLSENANDSTEVEW ESTPHOTOSSTEVEWEST,D^J

120 Rigging An in-depth look at some c o n f l How to rig using a diamond weave m a j f l 138 Hamiliton Cup Australia A roundup of 1! TEXTANDPHOTOSSTEVEW EST

■53 Kalifornia Outrigger A s s o n ia M ^ ^ H i

of the 1996 Molokai Channel six person canoe races for Women and Men S lp e r Aito Solo Canoe Race. Tahiti Considered one of the toughest ocean marathon races without rudders, textandphotoskriskjeldsen BACK PAGES

ADVERTISING Your information source for the best in outrigger pi

/tloka and

Okana

We live in exciting times! With regard to the development of outrigger canoe paddling worldwide, so much is going on in so many different places, on so many different levels, that it is difficult to keep up, each one of us is contributing to this growth simply by being involved. At the individual level, amongst the hype of training and taking outrigger canoe racing so seriously, it would seem that there is, in some places, a need to consider taking the time to nurture fun and friendship - to appreciate this element of canoe paddling and to recognise what it offers at club, grass roots level. Time to experience the non-racing aspects of outrigger canoe paddling is vital to a fulfiling involvement with the sport. Create social activities centred around paddling, share knozoledge with others, learn about and respect the heritage of the outrigger canoe. In this way the true spirit of outrigger canoe paddling - aloha and ohana - will be nurtured locally, and, as the sport grows, spread globally. In this book you will meet many people whose love of and respect for the outrigger canoe shines through their desire to share with others. Mahalo to them for their support and contributions which assist in spreading the spirit of canoe culture around the planet. Thank you too for your support of this aim by buying our third volume ofKa'nu Culture. We trust that you will be inspired by what you read and see within. Mahalo nui loa Steve West and Rosie West

e - m a il W e receive a great deal of correspondence, so we thought to share some with you. E-mail is proving to be a particularly useful asset for our sport which is spread so far and wide. Mahalo to every one of our supporters and to those who took the tim e to send us words of encouragement and praise from all over the planet. W e trust that with your continued support, Ka’nu Culture will play an im portant role in the growth of outrigger canoe paddling. Send email to: kanu@ozemail.com.au Mime-Version: 1.0 Date: Thu, 5 Sep 1996 14:15:16 -1000 To: kanu@ozemail.com.au (Steve West) From: mberwind@maui.com (Michael W. Berwind) Subject: KA'NU CULTURE Aloha from Maui I wanted to write and let you know how much I have enjoyed your two volumes of Ka'nu Culture. Volume 1 was good but Volume 2 was great. If you top it with Volume 3 ,1will need a Valium to come down off the high! Rarely have I seen a sports publication that delivers this kind of quality and value. For those of us who are just getting started with paddling, your two volumes are a gift from the Gods. Regards, Michael W. Berwind (Mahalo nui loa for your heart-warming words.)

Date: Wed, 10 Jul 199619:23:59 -0500 From: Barry Thomas <bazzat@ozemail.com.au MIME-Version: 1.0 To: Steve West <kanu@ozemail.com.au> Subject: KANU CULTURE, VOLUME 2 Just purchased Kanu Culture Volume 2. My knowledge of the sport and its cultural heritage has just tripled in the past hour of reading. As outrigger canoeing spreads to ever more distant places, the sort of knowledge contained in Ka’nu Culture will be critical to maintaining the sport’s unique and addictive feel. Thankyou. Regards, Barry Thomas. (So pleased to know Kanu Culture is really making a difference)

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Date: Thu, 12 Sep 1996 07:54:59 -0700 From: lbie@ix.netcom.com (LISA BIE) Subject: 1995 ISSUE To: kanu@ozemail.com.au (Steve West)

// California

e-mail

Hi Steve! After I had sent you email, I attended the second annual Hokule'a Celebration at Chrissy Fields, San Francisco. At a booth selling her pictures along with your 1995 issue, was Daphne Houghard. I immediately purchased Ka’nu Culture along with my long distance race pictures. I have told all my teamates how beneficial your books are and also recommended that they purchase both issues. In fact, my sister has not yet returned my 1996 issue! I really appreciate the attention you and your staff has given to the sport and your customers. Thanks again and we will be waiting for the next issue! Aloha, Lori-Ann Saguindel (Mahalo from Rosie and myself as the ‘‘s ta ff’ at Batini Books.) Date: Mon, 28 Oct 1996 10:52:11 +0800 (HKT) From: Dr Anne Lytle <mnlytle@usthk.ust.hk> To: Steve West <kanu@ozemail.com.au> Subject: USED CANOE! X-X-Sender: mnlytle@ustcc3.ust.hk MIME-Version: 1.0

Hong Kong

Dear Steve Wow! I am so excited to have discovered this great community of people passionate about outrigging. Myself and several others have only been paddling outriggers (here in Asia, dragon boats tend to take the spotlight) for a little more than a year now, and we are totally hooked. There is nothing I would like more than to really spread enthusiasm for the sport across Hong Kong, and potentially into southern China. Of course, starting off such an endeavour is a bit difficult, which is why we want to find a used canoe to conserve on finances a bit until we get a larger base of people. I would so much appreciate any assistance that you could provide in helping us find one! My contacts in the outrigger world now are zero, but hopefully will grow with time! So please, we would value any assistance that you could provide to us in locating a canoe. Thank you so much and I look forward to hearing from you again! Regards, Anne Lytle (I am pleased to say we managed to purchase and send an OC6 to Hong Kong)

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From: NYOUTRIG@aol.com Date: Mon, 7 Oct 1996 14:52:49 -0400 To: kanu@ozemail.com.au cc: NYOUTRIG@aol.com Subject: OUTRIGGING IN NEW YORK CITY Hi Steve I first want to say your book is “Biblical” to the outrigger community, particularly in such outrigger desolate areas as New York City (but where this desolation is now changing). The first Hawaiian outrigger canoe to hit the shores of NYC is now at the 79th Street Boat Basin on the Westside, nine blocks from my apartment. With the (surprisingly enthusiastic) support of New York City Parks & Recreation, the Hawaiian Class Racer was hauled in on 10 May 1996. This marks the first year the East coast has enjoyed formal six person outrigger races. Virginia has a regatta as well as a Massachusetts. In 1997, races will be popping up in New York, New Jersey and Florida, as more athletes and supporters get involved. Presently there are eight canoes I know of on the East coast. Teams vary from top national and Olympic paddlers, to strong club teams, to total novices. For those who love outrigger canoe paddling, it is a very exciting time as the sport explodes onto the East coast. Even with all the newness of outrigger paddling, much of the sense of unity and tradition remains connected to the sport. Outrigger canoe paddling in the East, I feel, is not a trend but a beginning of something more permanent in our lives. As the captain of New York Outrigger, I have trained and organised a team of nationally ranked paddlers. We have garnished trophies in every race competed in on the East coast. Better yet, with the canoe in the heart of New York City, we are able to draw from a ten million population to cultivate a grassroots team of top local athletes, a team that will grow, train hard together and have strength, heart and commitment. New York Outrigger has a women’s team captained by Linda Santos a former coach from Guam. So here it is in its infancy. Every link to technique, strategy and philosophy of outrigger paddling is vital to us. The season comes to a close around the beginning of December. For three months thereafter, it is cross training and Concept 2 time trials. I will be busy also at that time with finding sponsors. I would be happy to share my sponsor proposals with others as well as learn how others have handled sponsorship, a possible topic for Volume 3? I am truly happy to be a part of the family of outrigger canoe paddlers! Thank you for Ka’nu Culture, it is indispensable. Aloha Roger Meyer

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Offshore California Women's Crew Interview with JoJo Toeppner, Mindy Clarke, Sheila Conover BY S TEV E W E S T PHOTOS S U E N E IL A N D D A P H N E H O U G H A R D

mbracing the very best in attitude towards the sport, whilst at the same time possessing commitment and a love o f the ocean, the OffShore California Open Women's team utilises their skills together with a dedication to be the very best they can be. In short they represent all that can be achieved in canoe paddling.

At the 1996 Bankoh Na Wahine 0 Ke Kai Moloka'i Channel race, Offshore California women's crew won - for the tenth time. In terms o f world ranking, no other women's team comes close to having dominated outrigger canoe racing in the same fashion. In this sense the OffShore California Open Women's crew has created a status which is legendary in proportions. The record books document unrivalled successes in not only the Moloka'i races but in all other major international events to which they have cared to commit their minds and bodies. I

met the crew for this interview, on Hamilton Island after their record breaking 1996

victory with only nine paddlers instead of the permitted ten. The most striking quality which grew clearer as the interview progressed, is that despite strong individuality, the group's focus on canoe paddling and their full commitment to each other as team mates is what sets them apart. What is more, the prevailing attitude is one of pure enjoyment. Their training, to some degree, goes against the grain o f what outrigger canoe paddling is fundamentally based on - time in the canoe together - as they tend only to come together on race days. There is complete faith in one another's commitment to training and to the sport. There is undeniable athleticism, technical skill and ability. There is love for the sport and each other. All this coming with the absence of destructive ego. These are the elements which combine to make this crew an awesome force. i

K a 'nu ( Z u L t u ie - Q jj-fj^ y koâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;i e (Z-a.Lijjoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;i n ia. Y O otnen Sheila Conover. Julie Wolfe. Cathy Whitford. Vicki M ills, 6/na Aubrey. M indy Clarke

I w ant to get your im pressions o f w hy women have been attracted to outrigger canoe paddling in such large numbers? JoJo: In Australia it seems to have taken off in a big way, whereas in California the growth seems to have levelled off. In Australia five years ago, there were a few women's teams but now there are probably ten times that and the number of women in each club is way more. Before, each club had one team of women. It is great to see the sport expanding and in talking to them the excitement just rubs off on you. Outrigging is a sport which is a great community gatherer. You build friendships all over the world while learning a lot about different people. Are there as many fem ale participants as there are male in California? Mindy: At a regatta there might be five or six canoes left on the beach for a women's race and none for the men. We have about thirty-five to forty women's crews right now and about forty to forty-eight men's crews - it is pretty close. During the ironman season, the girls' participation drops off a little. Does this mean there aren't so many women doing the distance races? Mindy: Not so many but then again the Moloka'i event has grown bigger and bigger as far as women's participation goes, which amazes me. It was climbing, then it took a dive for a while and now women's numbers are climbing all the time. JoJo, you've paddled one more M oloka'i than Mindy? Mindy wasn't with me for the first crossing in 1979 because she was in Australia. To w hat extent do you think that the founding o f the Na Wahine O Ke K ai (the women's M oloka'i) kick-started womens participation in the sport? JoJo: A lot. In fact the original women who did the crossing had to sneak in to the finish behind the men. They are the ones who run the race now. You have to have so much respect for what they achieved. It doesn't matter if you come first, if you can just get your canoe from Moloka'i to Oahu that is a feat in itself. The number of 2

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people who could actually achieve this is so small, that it makes the crossing an achievement in itself and if you have good showings in terms of competitors, you are just that much more excited about the race. Sheila: I was part of that 7 9 crew and I was only sixteen at the time. Outrigger Canoe Club was first and we were second, and I think that what seemed to happen was that for the Hawaiians, canoe racing had been about culture and tradition but then here was this California team, year after year coming over and finishing first, second or third. Now that we have had this long streak of good results, people have started to say, "Hey these paddlers are coming over and winning in our backyard!" Offshore Canoe Club and Outrigger Canoe Club Hawaii, have played a huge part in raising the level of competition in women's outrigger canoe paddling. Over time people saw us, trained athletes, coming over, jumping in a canoe and winning. Paddlers began thinking, we had better start putting out our cigarettes and quitting the junk food. It is no longer good enough to paddle just for the sake of culture and tradition. Now we should train and practice hard. As a result the level of women's paddling skills has jumped out of sight. JoJo: I would say our first team would be middle of the pack today which indicates how the level of skill and fitness has improved in the sport. OffShore has had to get better with each year to stay where we are. Mindy: To stay on top, we have to evolve our training, our technique and so on. Sheila: At the moment in Hawaii there is a huge resurgence of going back to their roots and the culture; teaching Hawaiian in schools and the old way. I think that an awareness of other facets such as health and fitness and competitiveness has helped 3

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increase the numbers as Mindy was saying. Now we have all these women thinking, "I want to cross that channel too!"

It seems to be very much the perception of Offshore - that it is comprised of a "dial-a-crew" made up of Olympic kayak paddlers. Was the first OffShore crew made up of kayak paddlers? JoJo: Not the first year. What happened was that as the crew evolved I was the only kayak paddler (although I was mainly a gymnast). Then Billy Whitford started encouraging paddlers to back-up their training with kayak paddling and asked if I would help coach Sheila. I had so much fun doing it that I thought I might as well do it again. A lot of our team has gotten into kayaking through starting with outrigging. So kayaking is our back-up sport. You can paddle on your own and it is sports specific. That is how we have evolved so we find it funny when people say, "Oh, they're just a bunch of kayakers." We know the truth, we are outrigger paddlers first.

Sheila: They call us "ringers ", but the truth is we started out as outrigger paddlers. You would consider yourselves outrigger paddlers first and foremost? Mindy: Yes and we always have been. Sheila: One of our girls was a rower and then she paddled outriggers for many years and now she just made the Olympic kayak team. So when people meet her in the future they are going to say, "Another Olympic kayaker". But she was paddling outrigger canoes years before she paddled kayaks. I suppose now you could say that kayaking is her bigger sport being in the Olympic team. She would be on this trip if she hadn't made it.

So what we are seeing now, as a result of outrigger racing expanding, is a greater cross-flow between paddle sports, especially kayaks. Maybe that simply is because kayak paddling is an Olympic sport which attracts top outrigger paddlers? JoJo: Yeah, each Olympic year some of us jump into a kayak and try out. Mindy: I think the thing is, most of us started with outrigger paddling and then went into kayak paddling. Along the way we have met kayak paddlers who then wanted to try outrigger paddling as it's more of a team sport.

From your perspective, how is team selection achieved with particular reference to Moloka'i? Mindy: Every year is different in terms of how we select crews. Depending on who is available. Right now we find it better not to do team trials but just select a team. It is simpler and we avoid opening a can of worms caused by having people in competition with each other.

Sheila: Mindy looks at attitude. How well are you going to match with the core. Mindy: There is a core which tends to remain the same, generally made up of all the girls from the year before, less the few who can't make it. Others come in and out 4

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every year. Sheila was in for a couple of years then went out kayaking for a couple of years. So you look around to see who is available to paddle with the core. We don't do single outriggers over and over trying to find the strongest paddlers because we are looking for girls to mesh with. A few years ago Sharon and Vicki were just starting out in firefighting and couldn't make the Moloka'i team, so we picked up Julie. Some years we don't have as many core paddlers. This year for example, it will be hard, as it will be right after the Olympics, lots of our paddlers will be trained up and ready to paddle back in the outriggers. Instead of having eight paddlers and looking for two, we are going to have fourteen who could all sit in the number one canoe. Sheila: Also I remember after one of our workouts, drinking coffee and eating muffins, we all decided that it was getting tough for everyone to come down and make every single outrigger workout on top of our individual training schedules. So we agreed that each do their own thing. We trust that each one of us is training and having that faith in each other allows us to get together and just go. That is what has 5

K a ' n u C l u i t u i e - O â&#x2013; fjfjd h o â&#x20AC;&#x2122;i e C lix ti'fo n n ia . Y O o m e n happened ever since. Mindy: That is our key and it works for us, but I don't think that it would work for most others, as we have the experience plus the excitement of new people. That seems to be the key to the whole structure of OffShore. We have evolved so much. Back in '86 we were doing two workouts a day, one seven to eleven am and one four to six pm and everybody made practice. Now we have gone our own ways. We realise that to get great athletes we have to throw it open and say, "You come down when you can make it, we're not going to put a time restriction on you." We understand that outrigger paddling means a big time commitment and to get six or twelve people together at one time is not easy. We do have times when the club works out, Tuesdays and Thursdays, and whoever makes that, makes it. ]o)o: What we do at the beginning of the season is to decide which of the races we can all turn up to. Sheila: We also mix up first, second, third crew paddlers in different canoes and it's not until race day that we all get together. In a way race days become our practice days to see how we are going! It seems that there are alw ays certain common threads. JoJo has alw ays been there, Mindy steering and Billy W hitford as coach. How im portant is it to you fo jo that Mindy has alw ays been a part o f the core? JoJo: If Mindy was not at the back it would be a hard thing. Billy is our Dumbo's Feather, he makes the magic and we go. We have total faith in him. He can do the weirdest off-the-wall things - like leave you in for hours - because he has the unique ability to read athletes. That is where our faith rests with him. It is not a question o f pulling paddlers out just because their time is up? Mindy: Yeah and that is important. I know they are doing their job and they know I am doing my job so we can focus on the task at hand. I don't have to worry about anything except steering while Billy takes care of the rest. The level of trust in each other is very high. We are not distracted thinking about whether the others are 6

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working hard enough or whatever. We all know that we will work hard to pull one another out and we all trust Billy to make sure that we have the right combinations. JoJo: It is amazing we can be out paddling through major traffic and unless Mindy says to look, I won't be looking up at all - just staring at the manu. If you can keep your head in the canoe, nine tenths of the battle is won. O f course we see the sam e trend with the top men's crews - steerers who remain the same year in year out, like Tommy Connors with Outrigger fo r many years, until recently. Sheila: One thing I have spoken about in the past, in regard to how to select a wom en's team, was not to rank them. If we ranked our team it would be detrimental. Going out and doing solo canoe time trials, run time trials, pull up contests every Monday or whenever, might destroy the uniqueness and respect that we have for each other. That is what I have told people about our team. We don't rank ourselves. Men maybe need ranking because of the nature of their egos. (A guy thing? Ed.) Giving each women a responsibility and making each equally important encourages respect for each other. We can sit in any seat. Every person on our team can steer, can sit at stroke or four. We know our responsibilities if the canoe flips. And of course we have practised a lot. I really think it is important for women, because of their nature, not to rank them as best, second best and so on. So i f you're ranked fifth paddler in a canoe, you don't feel comfortable? Mindy: Everyone knows that you could be pushed out at any time, which probably doesn't help either. And the paddler ranked number one in the canoe may get a little nonchalant? Sheila: It creates problems. In our club, because Mindy makes the final selection, it is done on the basis of attitude. A stronger paddler may not get selected because she 7

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does not mesh with the rest of the team. We take the weaker paddler who has potential and a great attitude over the paddler who is quicker but whose attitude is a problem.

Mindy: If we had someone we didn't get along with, would we have any fun? We do this for fun. We want to win sure, but we also have stressful jobs and we have to do this for fun. It must be convenient, not too difficult and not unpleasant. Otherwise we may as well be doing something else.

It seems it only takes one person to spoil a whole road trip away. I have seen it happen on support boats where maybe the changeovers aren't going to plan because the coach has decided to alter things and then this one paddler just gets really down and starts to pull everyone else down too. JoJo: We have been in workouts where we have this one girl who has a temper every now and then. If you put her in the fastest boat and she is in a temper, the boat will just not go. Everyone feels tentative.

Getting back to women being attracted to outrigger canoe racing, perhaps we could talk some more about this. Sheila: If we could talk about women in sport in general I think we can understand better why we have so many women now attracted to outrigger paddling. Women are really breaking new grounds, going faster, further, higher. Like Janet Evans in 1988 beat Mark Spitz's record for example. With women in sport just getting faster and better there is increased awareness of women's participation. In the past, sports commentary was always about how graceful or petite a woman was, now the commentary runs along the lines of women's athleticism or strength which portrays us in a very different light.

JoJo: There are now more female commentators. That is really important because only females have empathy as to what it is like to be a top woman athlete. These women are also better at understanding what it takes to perform at a high level you don't limit yourself to being concerned about a broken fingernail for example. You have to set new goals. We are only just scratching the surface. We don't know how far we can go yet.

In parts of the world where a strong beach culture exists, females have generally been seen to sit on the beach whilst the guys did their thing, whether it was surfing, windsurfing or whatever. Outrigger paddling is providing a fantastic opportunity for women to be involved in an open ocean sport. JoJo: I remember our first year in Australia. We brought the canoes with us by cutting them in thirds to get them in the plane, then the guys put them together. We (Newport Beach, California) raced against Newport Beach, Australia. They used every angle to promote it - men against women; they were in surf boats and we were in an outrigger canoe. 8

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When we were practising and getting our bronze medallions in order to compete against the men, we asked if the guys would let us out in the surf boats. There had never been women in the boats, and they had only just begun to allow women in surf clubs six months before. The girls on the beach told us that we could not ask to do that! But we couldn't see why not, after all they were going to get in our canoe! So that was our mind set right from the start. Since then things here have developed out of sight. There is a fa ir share o f w om en sports stars in volved w ith outriggers in Australia, a country which has relied on sport to m ake its mark on the rest o f the w orld. For exam ple, L isa Curry-Kenny has done a lo t to encourage women to take up outrigger canoe racing in Oz. Has this been the case with individuals in America? JoJo: Outrigging is such a small obscure sport within America given the country's size and population. You can do well and your neighbour won't even know you! Sheila: Lisa is a household name in Australia because of her achievements in swimming. It does seem that Australian athletes are promoted as role models and ambassadors - and put on the back of cereal packets! W hilst in the States it is the all male, major league sports stars (baseball, basketball and football) who are treated that way. To be recognised as a women athlete in USA you might do it as a gymnast or figure skater. ]o]o: All short term sports. M indy: Janet Evans is a good example of a women athlete who got recognition, but she would never come and paddle because the sport is too small. W hilst in A ustralia having the ironmen participating in outrigger canoe racing lifts the profile of the sport. In America most people wouldn't even know what an ironman was. 9

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DAPHNE HOUGHARD

JoJo Toeppner has spent the best part o f eighteen years paddling for OffShore Canoe Club. Newport Beach California and has lived most o f those years in Lake Tahoe eight hours drive away. She tra d lfo y herself on Donne r Lake in a timber constructed solo canoe her husband built, w ith additional training in the gym and pool. Starting in April. JoJo leaves Thursday mornings, driving the eight hours to Newport and team practice by 5.30pm. Saturdays and Sundays are spent racing followed by the return trip for work on Monday morning. Devotion or what!

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SUE N E IL

Top American ironmen are more popular in Australia than they are in their own country! So you must get a buzz when you travel to Hawaii, where you're zvell known . . . from obscurity to the bright lights? JoJo: It's fun! Everyone knows us. When we go home people ask "What do you do?" Mindy: "Outrigger canoeing? What's that? You row?" Have you done any exhibition paddling? ]o)o: In Montreal, Canada at the Kayak Worlds but that's all. What about junior paddling, do you fin d there are many girls taking part? Jojo: Billy Whitford started the Aquatic Centre in Newport Beach and we all helped him with that. It is how we have got young girls outrigger paddling. When they paddle their kayaks in the mornings we talk with them and Mindy helps coach them with Sheila and Sharon. They have come across to outrigger paddling from there. So we have a good junior team. It is a kick to see them paddling. Your training conditions in C alifornia are in relativ ely calm w aters, yet your M oloka'i results prove that you have the ability to handle rough, large seas. What is the secret? jojo: We go to Moloka'i to get the big water. When Billy was living in California, he did what he could to simulate rough water by loading down the motor boat and flying past us so as the water hit the ama. If there is ever a swell inside the jetties we always go and ride them. It has been hard, but with the team having been together for so long, we have become used to the Moloka'i conditions and we have hit it on and off a few times. Now I think it has ended up being our forte - catching and 10

K a 'n u (Z-ultuxe. - 0 ^ $ < ÂŁ > A ore C 3 aLifjotnia. T O o m e n

riding waves - which does seem weird as we come from a flat water area. Mindy: We scratch around to find anything to ride at home. When we get to Moloka'i there is so much to ride and it is like "Wow this is easy!" I don't think that living where we do, we are at any disadvantage. I have steered that race as much as any other girl has and it is not as if crews actually paddle across the channel for practice. The majority probably paddle away from big waves. I think 1 have probably paddled it more than most other girls and I have certainly done it in all conditions. Do you fe e l that other crews hope fo r rough w ater in the hope that OffShore may bomb out because o f it? JoJo: Well maybe they do but we know that we would not bomb out. Sheila: One year it was a glass-off. Outrigger went down to the ocean, they threw rocks in, beat it around and cursed it because they wanted big seas. We did get big seas. And we still beat them! Mindy: It has so much to do with experience on the water. The first seven years we did not win a race. As each year passed we chalked it down - gathered experience "We can't do this because this is what happens". We had to fine tune our racing in order that we would win, whether it was changeovers, technique, equipment or whatever, we learned what it takes to win. Having won, we know how to keep going back and winning. JoJo: It is definitely a case of those who make the least mistakes overall will tend to finish better. And we all make mistakes out there. We have had luck with some things we have pulled off. I remember one time Billy had his hands over his eyes as Mindy was coming down this wave in big water. There were three of us in the

K a 'nu C ^ u L t u ie - O - f i f j ^ k o t e (^ a L ifjo tn ia . Y O om en water and I ended up on the wrong side. The two others were getting in and I knew if I was fast enough I wouldn't flip it by being on the wrong side. In the meantime number five got flipped up in the air and by chance landed in her seat too. When Billy looked to see us all in our seats, he did not know how we did it. We didn't get to find out how until after the race. We definitely have had some luck!

You also create your own luck. If you weren't strong enough, fit enough, fast enough, experienced enough, some "luck" would never happen! Do you have a best and a worst Moloka'i? JoJo : Well the worst is easy. That is when we flipped the ama under and lost ten feet of the canoe. It took fourteen hours to tow us in. That was in 1982, paddling a Koa canoe. Mindy and I were just getting out and climbing the steps of the support boat when we saw this huge thing come out of the water. I thought it was whale, but what we were actually seeing was the canoe up in the air. A rogue wave, sucked them up and spat them out!

Mindy: The only thing we didn't know, being inexperienced, was that Koa canoes don't have flotation tanks.

JoJo: You need to get the water out and re-float it with scuba tanks. When did the front ten feet break away? Mindy: Not right away. When they decided to lift the front up onto the escort boat to get the water out, a wave smacked it and just broke the front end off and it was over. It was a sickening feeling.

How far into the race were you ? Sheila: About three hours - and we were ahead. JoJo: The saddest part for Mindy and me in the runner boat, was circling around picking up all the little bits of Koa. It was sad.

Mindy: The runner boat took us back and the big boat towed the canoe. We didn't get in until after dark. It was a shame as that would have been the first year we would have won.

Sheila: What is your favourite one? JoJo: It is hard to pick a favourite one. The last one is always the freshest in your mind. In '95 we broke the record and had everything going for us - current and seas. It was just a ripper with swells to ride the whole way. Not big, just jump on and go swells, so we would get fifteen or twenty feet of free ride every time. That was definitely a lot of fun. I just love it when the water is big - even huge. You are out in the middle of the channel and there are no rocks to bang your head. Some of the races I've been in you are underwater and you can still move your paddle! You just have to flare it and away you go. The girls can't believe that when you come back up from under, you are still in time. The more exciting races have been when the water is big, when you are way up high and having to lean out over 12

K a 1h u C Z u it u t e - O f y ^ h o i e (Z A tifo tn iA Y O otn en the gunwales to grab any water, then the next time you are submarined. There are different flavours to each race.

Sheila: Do you remember when we paddled through that school of dolphins! JoJo: Oh yeah! On the Governors wall in Hawaii there is this picture of us paddling with dolphins jumping right off our bow! Sheila: It was awesome!

JoJo: Everyone's heart rate shot up. Billy came up alongside and asked me what I was doing. "Dolphins Billy, dolphins!" I screamed out. He shouted that it was a

ninety-three and I would have to bring it down. It was so funny. No one had realised because we were just so stoked with the dolphins. To get focussed after that was a major feat.

Sheila: That was the first year we won. JoJo: A photographer got in the water and took the photo which then became a painting hanging in the Governor's office. It couldn't have been staged better. In the photo, there's the canoe, two dolphins jumping and me. In the background, there is a valley and a bird. You would not believe it!

Sheila: We live a charmed life. We often ask each other if there is anything else better we could be doing.

Many paddlers would find it hard to understand the number of times Offshore has now won Moloka'i. In particular individual paddlers like JoJo and Mindy. Mindy: I don't think they realise how difficult it is to come back year after year to defend your title. The few times that we have lost, it has been a big deal.

Billy said after last year's Moloka'i that you could not and would not go on winning - and of course time and the law of averages will take care of that. JoJo: Billy says that usually you cannot keep the ability to stay on top indefinitely and I guess time, as you say, will take care of that.

Mindy: One thing we never do is go into a race thinking we are going to win. Never! JoJo: The Outrigger guys laugh at us about the way we talk. They say it sounds like we are always fifth, sixth or tenth!

Is that the way Billy has taught you to think? Mindy: Never to think it is a done deal. Anything may and can happen with nature, even though it has paid off for us over most of the years.

JoJo: We had one race in our sixth year when we were about half way across and saying to ourselves "We're gonna do it! We're gonna do it!" Mother nature decided differently and one huge wave flipped us, ama under. That's when the nose broke off and we floated around watching the rest of the canoes go by. Sheila: One really good thing about our club, is that we believe whether we win, lose or draw, we are gonna race hard and we are gonna have fun. If we win, that is great. If we don't, that's OK. 13

K a 'n u ( Z u lt u t e - 0 ^ < 5>Aofi e ( Z a U ^ o m l a Y O o m en ]o]o: In this way, we make sure it is always a good race. It sounds to me like a positive and encouraging attitude. Mindy: We always think that we are going to be behind at the start. We do not expect to be in the lead right away so we don't panic and just do our best. JoJo: We are behind at the start quite often. It seems we take a while to warm up! You know I would say that the main strength existing in our canoe is the faith that we have in each other - you just know that we are all pulling our guts out. You focus on pulling just a little harder than anyone else! JoJo you sit at stroke fo r m ost o f the time? ]o]o: Because I am the tallest - 5'4" - ha, ha! Mindy: In this crew each one thinks that the others are better than they are. There is not one person who thinks that they are the best paddler. This comes from having so much respect for each other - knowing and believing that the other paddlers are such good athletes. Egos can pull a crew apart. JoJo: Mindy and I usually go to the men's Moloka'i and it is interesting to see the difference in Aloha between the women and the men. Before the women's race, after the prayers, we walk around to hug others and wish them a safe crossing. There is a genuine concern for others. The men are giving each other stink eye and would say nothing to another crew unless it was rude. It is neat to see the difference. I am sure glad I paddle with the women! Perhaps it brings out the warrior in men? JoJo: Yeah, they figure they are gonna attack. For us, it is "Have a safe crossing and we will see if we can go all out to get there before you."

K a 'nu (Z 'u L tu â&#x20AC;&#x2122;ie - O f y ^ k o i e ( Z a t i^ o tn ia . T O o m en

Being women the mind set is softer and more compassionate. . . Mindy: We can be that outside of the canoe on land, but not in the canoe! You are putting yourself in this situation whereby; to a greater or lesser extent, you must experience denial of some female qualities in order to deal with the challenge to overcome it? JoJo: To see us on the beach before a race compared with in the canoe on the start line - phew, completely different!

Sheila: You mentioned the warrior in men, well I don't think women are given enough credit for the warrior in them. We can be soft and compassionate and also strong and powerful.

Mindy: The 1996 Hamilton Cup has been amazing for us as it is the first time we have raced with men. It was great! We were ahead of guys and we were racing with the men's crews all the time, jostling with some for the whole race. They would come up on us and we would pull up on them. Some of the stuff they were saying to us was just terrible! Ordinarily we might be with one or two canoes only, but in this event, there were canoes everywhere. We amazed ourselves by passing men's teams coming around Pentecost.

Sheila: It was huge! It really kept everyone honest. How many guys thought they were going to be beaten by a girls crew? Everyone in our crew has said, "Are we gonna train hard for next year. We are gonna race those guys and beat them!"

You have gained the respect of many of those men that you beat. Some came in saying, "Have we got some work to do!" JoJo: We just don't give up! Mindy: We came into the finish at the Coke bottle with two men's crews, one on either side, going all out - and we beat them. They were going full throttle and we were going full throttle. And we beat them! It was the most exhilarating experience.

JoJo: They just did not think that we would stick at it and finish hard like that. Sheila: Because we are women does not mean that we are happy to finish as the first women over the line. No way! We wanted to beat those guys and we did.

JoJo: Billy always laughs because it takes us about an hour, or an hour and a half, just to warm up. So by the time we were coming up to Pentecost the canoe began to get up and move. A little late huh? After that it didn't matter who was in the canoe, it just came screaming back to Hamilton Island and the finish. That leg was the fastest that we had gone in the whole race.

Sheila: We kept thinking, "This race should be longer". It went so fast. I only made two changes. From before we rounded Dent Island to the open stretch to Pentecost, then in again at Pentecost to Plumb Pudding Island. We asked Sue in the support boat if we were half way when we were nearly finished!

The Hamilton Cup could be a regular event for you then? The prize money should 15

K a ' n u (Z u L tu te - O fj-fc S k o ie (Z A ii^otnia. TO om en help make it an easier choice? JoJo: We would love to. We also sell sweat shirts and t-shirts to raise money. Mindy: The prize money is a big incentive. To come and win pays for our tickets in combination with the sweat shirt and t-shirt sales. We covered about $400 for each person and our cost each to get here was around $795, so with the A$6000 prize money, we are fully covered. Sheila: We are so excited to be in Australia. Everyday I have heard Julie say, "Wow we're in Australia! Can you believe it?"

Can we expect a long winning streak from Offshore girls at Hamilton Island? JoJo: They have done tests on men which show that once they win they produce more testosterone which in turn helps to keep the winning streak happening. We are definitely going to get in better shape for next year. People were saying that we were hot - wait till we are in better shape! Sheila: That is exactly what I was thinking. I am gonna increase my mileage, do this, do that, to get in shape for Moloka'i. I also want to get a really good picture of the Hamilton Island race to stick on the wall and when I look at it, I will be thinking, "One more rim before I go to bed!"

There are obviously many other strong women's crews around the Pacific. Which ones do you have the most respect for? JoJo : First off, you have to respect any women's crew out there. We have most respect for the ones we are going to have the battles with, Panamuna in Australia, Outrigger, Kailua, Hui Nalu, Healani in Hawaii and on mainland USA, Lanikila and Dana Point. There is a ton of talent out there. I think it is just like football and basketball teams who might all be excellent athletes, it just depends on whether they have their act together. Sheila: In Hawaii, I would say I have a lot of respect for the humdrum teams who don't have club houses on the beach and a cast of thousands helping them out. A team like Kailua, who have been coming on really strong over recent years, they have been second and third doing really well. This wonderful group of women who train in solo canoes. I have a lot of respect for them as they are basically a backyard operation.

JoJo: At the start of the season we go and work on the canoes. We have a warehouse and Bud (Hohl) organises the fixing up of the canoes. It takes a lot of effort but it is a good feeling to know everyone is putting a lot of time and energy in. You could not do it without everyone's help. Sheila: We all learn to rig the canoes also. Billy showed us. The women race first and the men don't care about our rigging, we have to rig our own canoes. In many other clubs the men do a lot for the women but not in our club.

JoJo: We arrive at the race venue first and the men arrive later. So we take the canoes 16

K a 'n u C Z u itu .te - O f y ^ y k o t e ( Z AtL^oinLa. Y O o m en off the trailers and rig them up. Billy taught us how to rig in a very funny way. He said that if we wanted to do this sport we would have to learn how to rig the canoes. We were just talking to each other and thinking "Yeah, sure." He told us to watch closely and started rigging up while we kept on talking and laughing together. Later on, paddling around an island in our bay, we stopped to get water. When we came to paddle home, the canoes were unrigged and Billy was going off in a motor boat saying "I told you to watch!" We were all thinking "Oh my gosh! Did anyone pay any attention?"

Sheila: If you wanna get home you have got to rig the canoe. He gave us one hint: "Do not get the line in the sand!" There we were, trying to figure it out. Which way does this go over? Or is it under or across? We did get it all together finally. It wasn't pretty but it got us home. After that day, we learned about rigging.

With the club's reputation for strong women's crews, how is it that you don't have strong men's crews? JoJo: There used to be. They have come and gone over the years. A few of the other clubs in the area have strong men's crews so the guys tend to swap over to them. Any of the guys we have had that were good are with other clubs now.

Mindy: We put a lot of emphasis on the women's crew. We do have novices or first year paddlers. So we really concentrate on the women and the women concentrate on the women. We know we have to take care of ourselves if we want to do well.

Sheila: Offshore male paddlers are not year round athletes. They tend to be seasonal. Sure they are athletic and they enjoy their paddling, but not full time like we do. You know we might get a few, maybe three, who want to go hard and train all year but then they end up in a canoe with three others who wanna drink beer and really just be social paddlers. So the good paddlers end up going to the more committed clubs that train all year round.

Mindy: The thing is we have found a recipe that works for us - for this team of women - maybe it wouldn't work for others. We have evolved around what suits us, in terms of our workouts and how we come together as a team.

Sheila: This has been since 1979. My very first canoe race was with JoJo and we were not even in the first canoe. There would always be lots of girls coming down and I was new to the club. There would be six or nine paddlers and we would be with a put-together team. We would be driven down the coast, dropped off at the beach then have to swim through the kelp beds. I remember swimming out to a fishing boat once and asking, "Excuse me, can you take us out there so we can get in that canoe?" because one crew had paddled to the turn buoy, jumped out and swam back, leaving us to swim out so we could paddle home.

Mindy you have paddled every women's Moloka'i except the first one? That was 1979 and we have won nine times - six in a row - then we lost one and we 17

K a 1n u (Z u L tu te - Q 'fjjjSko'ie (Zali-fiotnia TOom cn have won the last three. (Now four, making it ten times in all.) Over the years who have been some o f your best influences? JoJo: Billy Whitford of course, Bud Hohl, Sandy Kahanamoku and John Raider. We used to have what I called the "Black Triangle/'- made up of Bud, Billy and John Raider. Bud took care of the equipment, Raider raised all the money we needed and Billy trained us. Once they sucked you in, you couldn't leave! Mindy: There are many people who have supported us over the years. Kala Kukea, Walter Guild, Dale Hope in Hawaii. Dale was on the escort boat often, when we won the first couple of years, helping us with the course. Kala did also - he used to meet us at the end of the race on his surf ski and paddle back in with us. Do you ever paddle at the Liliuokalani Race? JoJo: A long time ago, but it is so close to Moloka'i and it is expensive to do both. Mindy: We also have Catalina the weekend after Liliuokalani and then two weeks later Moloka'i. It depends how serious we wanna be about Moloka'i. It is a real fun race and so rich in culture. Mindy: I have done the Kona race three times now, but I prefer the Hamilton Cup. How does Hamilton Cup compare with M oloka'i? Mindy: Hamilton is better. Moloka'i is prestigious, you definitely go there on a mission. You wanna do well and it is a hard core race. At the end of the race there is nothing in the way of festivities. We pull the canoes up on the beach followed by a lot of chit chat. Then everyone eats, crashes and leaves. There is no atmosphere, no function, no festivity. It is the last race of the year - and a big race too - and as a paddler, you really want something to happen. Hamilton Cup is colourful with plenty of festivities and things to do. You get to meet other paddlers. I don't know about anyone else, but I have won enough races that 1 don't do it to win anymore. I do it for the experience and to have fun with friends. I do not need to come over and win another race. Being in Australia and a part of all this hoopla is the best part, something to remember for a long time.

Offshore California Hamilton Cup 1996 Crew: Sheila Conover. Cathy Whitford. Gina Aubrey. JoJo Toeppner. Sharon Attelsey. Julie Wolfe. Vicki Mills. Rebecca Rusch. Mindy Clarke. 18

K a n u (Z u L t u ie - ÂŁLn$La.nd.

"What Ho! Hut Hoe!"

ell someone that outrigger canoe paddling is practised in England and they zvill probably react with a broad grin and say "You are kidding!" "Really!" or "Get outta here!" But it is true. A small number of enthusiasts (about ten or fifteen) have been involved with outrigger paddling for almost ten years. Admittedly, there are colder and stranger places where the sport is taking off - Canada and parts of the USA are definitely colder (they have to be crazier) and Texas is even stranger. When you think of it then, why not England? So how did outrigger canoe paddling come to be in England? Well it came about as a result of colonial ties with Hawaii, Captain Cook, that man 'Toots' Minvielle and the Honolulu Advertiser. Back in 1978, the bicentennial anniversary of Captain Cook's arrival in the Hawaiian Islands, 'Toots' Minvielle had the idea of sending a team of paddlers from Hawaii to Britain to paddle across the English Channel as

K a n u C l u l t u ’i c - f l n ^ L i n d

messengers of the spirit of Aloha. Well publicised by the Honolulu Advertiser and with USD 6000 raised by public donations, 'Toots' and seven others made the trip to England. They did what they set out to do, crossing the English Channel (tw enty-six m iles) in four hours and In the heart o f London, the Royal eleven minutes which created a great Canoe Club has a dedicated band o f amount of publicity. outrig ge r canoe paddlers. Seen here durin g the annual Great River Race The steerer for that historic crossing 1991 approaching Tower Bridge. made contact with Ka'nu Culture via Race rules state there must be a email:

passenger, hence the extra person.

“I read with interest and many pleasant memories your reporting on the Hawaiian paddlers who crossed from Calais, France to Dover, England and gifted their Malia canoe to the Captain Cook Museum. I was the steerer for the group. Our canoe was named the Wa’alele (Leaping or Dancing Canoe). I am sure the name has not been changed. It was a great adventure. We could not have had better team mates. It had been our hope that our efforts would promote Va'a paddling in Europe and that we might find canoe friends as we promote our sport to the IOC, the goal being recognition as an Olympic event. To this end the Wa’alele has done herself proud. I now live in Maui. Aloha Meryl Lyons” hana@ maui.net

The Making of the First Outrigger Canoes in the United Kingdom BY S U ZY H O R N B Y

e first heard about the M oloka'i race from a television prog ra m m e . Such

w a s the effect th a t in 1987 five B ritish paddlers competed in the men s Moloha'i race even th ough they had never seen an outrigger canoe before.

let alone paddled one! Life w as never to be the same again. Those paddlers

came bach fired w ith the enthusiasm w hich the sport in general, the event itself and the people involved help to generate, to do it again.

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They had been fortunate to meet the legendary T o o ts ’ M in vie lle ivho told them they could 'b o rro w ' the outrigger canoe w hich he had donated to the Captain Cook M useum in England after he crossed the English C h a n n e l." You tell them I said you could use it . ” were his a u th o rita tiv e w ords. “ W ell I am not sure about th a t.” said a nice lad y at the museum . “ I ’ll have to ash the d ire cto rs.” They said "Yes." When w e collected the canoe it w as sitting outside the museum looking sorry fo r itself. It w as going to take some w o rb to get a m ould o ff this. And so it w as tha t the next few m onths s a w us tra v e llin g a hundred miles tw o evenings a w eek to the Gaybo canoe fa c to ry to make a canoe. First prep a ring the o rigin al to make the mould fro m it. then cleaning the o rig in a l and fina lly m aking o ur canoe. The canoe 'Toots' had used w as a M a lia called

a 'a lele

(Leaping or Dancing Canoe) so

w e called our new canoe Keiki W a T lele or Child o f Dancing Canoe. She w as blessed and launched into the English Channel o ff Brighton Beach one cold sp rin g day in 1988. We made it four hundred pounds (M o lo ka 'i race w eig ht) to help our practice (som ething we have often regretted) and in tw o halves so th a t it could be transported easily. Since then one other canoe has been m ade from the m ould by W oodm ill Canoe Club.

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Concerted KI for solo tra in in g . Several

converted Kayaks fulfil an important role in the development o f o u trig g e r canoe paddling technique. Beloiv: Connective bulkheads used to join

the tu'o haloes of the M alia together.

w h ic h re p re s e n ts the p o te n tia l e x te n t o f racing me can do in Britain. So. w ith a tr a in in g canoe, o u r m e n's cre w competed in the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;88 and '89 Moloka'i. the la t t e r as M a s te rs and fin is h in g a b o u t sixth. It mas uu/ii/st supporting them on these trips that I m ade a promise th a t one d ay I w ou ld race in the w om en's M o io ka 'i.

In a September 1988 issue of Canoeist Magazine UK, John Griffith gives an amusing account of their trip. "Like all the best canoeing trips it all started in a bar in the depths of a British winter . . . more beer was ordered and within minutes details were finalised." All they had to go on was that . . the race was forty miles long and was likely to take between six and seven hours. The waves could be twenty feet high and it was going to cost a lot of money." The crew made the journey and paddled with two paddlers from California and two from Hawaii and 22

K a n u ( Z u itu 'ie - ^ L n z ta n d

made the crossing in 6:56:00, collecting the prize for being the crew who had travelled the farthest distance. In summing up, John goes on to thank their sponsors, Barclaycard and Access. The Royal Canoe Club is definitely worth a visit, not just for excellent facilities, but for the wonderful hospitality of which you are assured. If you are an outrigger canoe paddler, they want to meet you, suck your brains dry and talk story over several pints of wonderful warm ale while dreaming of far off places in the Pacific. That is a unique quality of the sport - it is so esoteric that you long to identify with others who understand your passion, when you live so far away from the action. K2 and Kl conversions My visit to the Royal Canoe Club was make perfectly made in August, when Britain often functional solo outrigger canoes. enjoys its best w eather. Located in Kensington, the Club occupies two pieces of land. Trowlock Island is a stone's throw from the river bank and home to a small number of residents. The island is accessed by an interesting floating pontoon, winched across the narrow divide. Here the residents enjoy a unique lifestyle, being lovers of river life as many residents along the Thames, one of the world's most 23

K a n u C ^ u C tu z e - CELn$L\nd famous rivers, have been for centuries. ~

,r r

Trowlock Island. The original site o f the Royal Canoe Club, the oldest

Occupying a sizeable slice of Trowlock . . . tU .. n b canoe club in the world. Island is the original "Royal" clubhouse, housing many snippets of memorabilia. Amongst the plaques and photographs is a letter of Royal Origin which formally permits the club to be known as "Royal" on account of having had royal membership and races at one time. Alongside the original clubhouse is a storage shed and racks of canoes and kayaks, but the club now has a spiffy new club house on the adjacent riverbank which has bar and dining facilities, showers and more paddle craft storage space on land recently purchased from British Petroleum. Dragon boat racing is a popular club activity and as it seems all over the world now, dragon boat paddlers are becoming interested in outrigger canoe paddling. This seems to have been the major base from which the "Royal's" outrigger enthusiasts have emanated. Two Malia canoes get regular use for training and from time to time for various other purpose. One is kept at the club, the other near Southampton on the south coast. The canoes are constructed in two sections in order that they can be more easily transported. They do fit, at a pinch, onto a car roof rack (size of car permitting) preferably two cars. Whilst I was there during this summer, a Londonbased restaurant called Blue Hawaii organised an outrigger competition using the two Malia canoes, involving eight other restaurants, also providing a barbeque and band. As long as it promotes the sport and the spirit of Aloha! In order to train at suitable times and to run time trials and technique sessions,

N ow some of you u rill relate to th/s w h ils t others simply c a n n o t. . . paddling fully clothed - hats, gloi'es and all. The in v ig o ra tin g brace of winter air.

K a n u ( Z uitu'ie - ÂŁLn<pta.nd

club paddlers have converted several K1 and K2's which are used by dragon boat paddlers for the same purpose. In talking with Suzy Hornby, husband John Griffith and Keith Robinson, tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; believe that the sport has more potential amongst newcomers tp, paddle (dragon boat paddlers excluded) than to those already participating in paddle sports. They also agreed that if the sport is to take off in Britain, it would start on the south coast, where the climate is temperate and where there is already an abundance of ocean sport activity. What is needed is the formation of at least two clubs with one canoe each in order to have inter-club racing thus providing a catalyst for more clubs, greater social activity and therefore more paddlers. Supply of canoes is a problem. Do they continue to make the Malia? Or does someone have to become motivated enough to acquire the mould of a more popular up-to-speed design? This would take money, faith and commitment in believing the sport would flourish. In this regard manufacture and promotion of solo outrigger canoes may be the place to start. Whilst in established outrigger canoe paddling areas the solo outrigger canoe has been popularised amongst six person canoes paddlers, the solo canoe as an introductory craft to new outrigger paddling areas would seem both practical and logical. Solo outrigger canoes are low cost and easily transported enabling the concept of outrigger canoe paddling, whether in Britain or any other part of the globe, to be more widely and rapidly promoted. 25

K a n u C l u l t u t e - ÂŁLn$Lan<{

With France and Italy now members of the IPCF, it may not place on a regular basis between European would benefit the sport enormously, and Tahiti is planning ^through Edward Maamatua) to send a canoe or mould to assist development there. Italy is keen to get started in solo outriggers and expand the sport from this basis. Meanwhile, back to paddling on the Thames River, which is definitely unusual if you are used to the blue Pacific Ocean. The Thames has a stillness and calm about it, not to mention a sort of brown tinge, whilst along the river bank, mown lawns, willow trees, pubs, ancient buildings and bridges named after monarchs and war heroes, constantly remind you that this is England - the very heart of it. Would you believe it, there is a pub called the Outrigger just along the way from the Royal Canoe Club, but it is not frequented by the "Royal's" outrigger fraternity. A favourite pastime amongst some of the various pub's patrons, is to sit on the river wall whistling or humming the Hawaii Five 0 tune as the outrigger glides by, to shouts of "Book 'im Danno." As always, an outrigger canoe in a new location gets all the attention it deserves! Paddling is not limited to the river with trips to the south coast and the ocean being a favourite. One of their major challenges is paddling around the Isle of Wight home to the Admirals Cup held at Cowes. This, taking around twelve hours, (preferably spread over two days) has been used as training for Moloka'i. 26

K a n u ( Z - u i t u u - C ÂŁ .n $ b m d

The women's crew practising Tor the firs t time in the ocean o ff the south coast of England d u rin g the sum m er fo r their Bankoh Na Wahine 0 Ke Kai race, 1994.

How the First British Crew Came to Paddle the Bankoh Na Wahini 0 Ke Kai BY S U ZY H O R N B Y

had o rig in a lly thought to join up w ith a foreign c r e w , hut I figured no cre w u/ould

w a n t a w om en fro m England w ith little experience in o u trig g e r canoe paddling. M y

w h ite w a t e r p a d d lin g frie n d s w e re s cattered a ll ouer the c o u n try so g e ttin g together a team w as going to be impossible. The a n sw e r to m y problem w as on m y

doorstep a t the Royal Canoe Club as we had a strong dragon boat team unbeaten as National Champions. I

introduced the idea and a nucleus o f enthusiasm m anifested and w as a done deal

by the time a slide show o f the men's race w as presented to them. And so began tw e n ty m onths o f p re p a ra tio n w h ich saw o ur num b er dim inish from seventeen to ten due to postings overseas, babies and injuries. But ten is w h a t w e needed to end up w ith so selection w as a piece o f cake!

Training We first paddled together in the w in te r o f February 1993 - it w as cold and snow w as fa llin g . Gloves and w o o lly hats w ere sta n da rd gear. D uring that year we trained la rg e ly on the River Thames focussing m a in ly on technique, based on w h a t o ur men's 27

K a n u ( Z u L t u t e - CELn^Land

1994 Moloka’i crew outside the Royal Canoe Club's original club house

crem had learned, and in racing Canadian canoes and w a tc h in g videos. O ver th a t w in te r w e fo llo w e d a s tre n g th tra in in g p ro g ra m m e

(im p ro v in g

our

bust

measurements no end) follow ed by a good sum m er season paddling on the riv e r. In June 1994 tue put to sea fo r the firs t tim e a t Calshot in the S olent. W ith sea tem peratures only 13°c me m ore u/etsuits and found the changeouers h a rd going, n o t m ade a n y e a s ie r by la u g h te r a nd "B eached W h a le " jo k e s. D espite a ll the chin-ups and g ym w ork, me needed more. O u r f in a l race p r e p a r a t i o n m as to compete in the Great River Race, a tw e n ty tw o m ile t r a d i t i o n a l c r a f t ra ce on the Thames fro m R ichm ond th ro u g h London to G re e n w ic h . We w a n te d to m in o u r diuision w ith the fastest time and me did in 2:33:00. The next day me mere on our m ay to H a w a ii.

Hawaii We a rriv e d six days before the race and based ourselves a t W aikiki, so as me could paddle the last p a rt o f the race for p rac tic e and f a m ilia ris e ourselves w i t h la n d m a r k s , re e fs a n d the s u r f lin e . I re m e m b e re d horn o u r m e n ’s team had come close to capsizing in 1989 ju s t before the fin is h as one o f W a i k i k i ' s fa m o u s rollers appeared. Their w h ite w a te r skills saved the day. M ike Tongg arra ng ed fo r us to paddle in the m o rnings from W a ik iki S u r f Club. The firs t thing me had to get used to mas the d if f e r e n t canoe, a H a m a iia n Class Racer w hich felt more tippy.

K a n u ( Z u it u t e ~ /4s it is fo r so m a n y w h o make it to the M o loka i race a fte r dedicated tra in in g and p re p a ra tio n - cold tra in in g , con trolle d eating and d rin k in g , endless phone calls and organisation, jug g lin g tim e tu ith fa m ily and friends - feelings o f a dream come true!

As we began paddling dow n the A\i Wai Canal to w a rd s the Pacific Ocean and our firs t paddle on the famous H a w a iia n wanes, m y heart stopped - the entrance w as fram ed by classic s u r f rolling in either side o f the channel markers. Surfers ripped and slashed in the e a rly m orn ing ligh t. The e n o rm ity o f it made me feel ouercome w ith anxiety! Here w e w ere about to launch ourselves into the Pacific Ocean, w ith no experience o f large seas. Were w e being reckless or s im p ly rising to the challenge? It w as the steerers w ho had the biggest challenge o f nerve but we soon settled into it and it w a s n 't long before shouts o f excitem ent rang out loud. We had a rriv e d and we w ere loving it! Our firs t training session ended w ith feelings o f exh ilaration at having paddled on a heaving ocean, tempered by caution and the responsibility that I felt tow ards the whole group. Fortunately oner the next few days the sw e ll dropped. We organised changeouer practices w ith our escort boat d riv e r. It turned out he had neuer done the race - and he had a b oa t fu ll o f M o lo k a 'i v irg in s on his hands! We m anaged to get together to practise and felt better after a few trial runs.

Moloka'i M o loh a 'i is a b eautiful island. Add to this the unique energy th a t descends on it for the race and you are le ft intoxicated forever. Leaving a day early, we boarded the plane w ith other crew s, adding to o u r excitem ent w hich intensified on a rriv a l. We had to get o ur canoe rig g e d , b u t by the tim e w e a rriv e d a t Hale 0 Lono. M ik e Tongg and N a p p y Napolean had v irtu a lly completed the task fo r us. The fo llo w in g m o rn ing a t 4.30am we assembled in the d a rk - some chatty, some reflective. As d a w n broke oner the h arb o ur, we held hands for the traditional blessing. For a b rie f mom ent I allow ed m y s e lf the lu x u ry o f reflecting on the journey to this point. There had been personal sacrifices, h ard w ork, shared experiences, personal problem s and sorro w s to bear oner the tw e n ty m onths or preparation. Ceremony over, w e found and launched our canoe then set o ff for the s ta rt line. The sta rt line w as huge. Lined up am a to am a ju s t rig h t o f centre, then suddenly we 29

K a n u ( C u lt u r e - ÂŁ L n $ ta .n d w ere off. Our tactics were simple - go as hard as we could fo r as long as we could. I w as amazed a t h ow close w e w ere to other canoes, it w as im possible to avoid contact. Sue did a w on d e rfu l job steering and by the first change we were about h a lfw a y in the field. N a r r o w ly avoiding a collision and huli. w e paddled out into the K a iw i Channel past Lauu Point leaving M oloka'i behind us. Changes were scheduled every th irty m inutes and Sue our steerer w as to change every sixty or ninety minutes w ith m y s e lf or Linda. All three o f us were apprehensive o f the responsibility o f steering. We had a fte r a ll only ever steered on the Thames or on the chop o f the Solent. The hardest p a rt w as steering into the w a itin g paddlers in the w a te r d u rin g changeovers. The cre w changeover list had been a n ig h tm a re to create as not all could paddle in all seats, a mistake we w ill not repeat. Soon we could see Diam ond Head w hich made an easy reference for steering. W ith increasing breeze, w e increased the stroke rate and reached out long to gain speed. Changeovers w ere altered to tw e n ty minutes, w hich took its toll over the next tw o hours. Our stroke. Hannah, did a one hour stint. When she climbed into the support boat asking to stay out fo r a double shift, the a nsw e r w as a firm "no!" Seasickness w as a problem and four o f paddlers ended up this w a y despite having taken tablets. We had joked about sharks, but this turned out to be no joke as a message came over the radio tha t a pack o f H am m erhead sharks were follow ing not fa r behind. Just as w ell we d id n 't get to hear about this until ^ fter the race. I had noticed h ow q uickly w e w ere being pulled from the w a te r and how close the boat w as w hen the paddlers jum pe d in for the change. Had w e know n we w ould have paddled iron for the rest o f it! The Oahu coastline loomed closer. The stretch from Koko Head to Diamond Head w as to prove tric k y. Up until n o w the w in d had been pushing the canoe rig h t, so m ost o f the steering had been done on the left. Along this stretch we were running dow n large waves

/\bove. the m en's crew , practising changeovers o ff Brighton in southern England and below, race day in Hawaii, a glass o ff - hot and still.

K a n u C ^ u l t u r e - J E ln ^ ta n d and being turned left. It w as d ifficult to d ra w the canoe back on course because it m eant poking on the rig h t w hich lifted the ama. Towards the end o f the race, w e all began to feel that the experience w as e ve rythin g we had dream ed it w o u ld be. We w ere w a y dow n on the w in n e rs, b ut tha t w as not im p o rta n t. We had done the race, survived and become the firs t British w om en cre w to do it. Applause and cheers welcom ed us along w ith Lei. hugs and kisses. This w as the m om ent we had w orked for. The rest o f the cre w joined us from the sup po rt boat and we sai'oured feelings o f triu m ph , satisfaction, respect and love for each other's efforts. We knew our lives w ou ld never be the same. John Griffith and Suzy Hornby can be contacted at the following address: 2 Victoria Close, West Molesey, Surrey KT81SQ, England UK. Phone/Fax: 0181 941 2714

The Royal Canoe Club Men's cre w 1989. practising off Waikiki - D iam ond Head behind and to w e r blocks of Waikiki lining the beach. 31

NU! JO ANN VAN TILBURG

Easter Island M o a i standing on the slopes of Rano Raraku quarry.

K a nu (Zu.it u te - â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;R apa. N u l

Old Ways and New Beginnings

ust as the great voyaging canoes of the historic Polynesian eastward migration served to connect each individual island culture, so does the outrigger canoe of today evoke the accomplishments of the past. This grand sense of lokahi is the inspiration for the rediscovery o f traditional Polynesian culture through the outrigger canoe. What is the appeal of the outrigger canoe to Polynesians and non-Polynesians alike? What feelings does the canoe evoke of adventure and allure? Why is it so important to the rediscovery of traditions o f the Pacific? The Polynesian outrigger and in particular the Hawaiian configuration has been an object of admiration to mariners from the Western world since first contact. The swiftness, agility, seaworthiness and construction finesse have inspired great appreciation for the creators of these nimble and capable watercraft. The functional form, pleasant tapering of the hull, graceful closeout of the bow and stem and continuous but subtle curvature of all surfaces has a great appeal to the eye as well as to the senses of technical performance, function and durability. However, the basic shaping of the major components - the hull, the iako, the ama

- is tied right back to the nature through the shape of the raw material as it grows in the upland forests. The outrigger canoe is thus at once a work of art and a great technical achievement; at once a product of human directed intelligence and of nature. A1 Ching describes it this way: The outrigger is a time machine, connecting the

present to the past and the past to the future - a Pacific artifact for all the world, equally at home in the museum, on the water, or in our dreams as we project forward into the future. The outrigger today connects people of all the Oceanic cultures through participation in outrigger racing just as its ancestor, the voyaging canoe, once connected populations through transport. Add to the functional elegance of this craft a well-tuned crew of six - thinking together, pulling together, acting as one - supporting the canoe as they support each other - and the canoe connects six individuals into a team. Ted Ralston shares his first recollection of an outrigger canoe through the eyes of a child. "I had seen canoes stored on the beach, had seen them in the canoe shed, but I was startled when I first saw a canoe underway. It came into my very young field of view from a widow overlooking Honolulu Harbor, the darkening sunset painting both koa and paddlers with a coat of bronze. Immediately, the dynamics of the scene made supreme logical sense, even to a child. The taper of the hull perfectly fitted the paddlers; the ama perfectly skimmed the water; the manu shape was perfectly majestic, sweeping down to a subtly curved mo'o; and the effortless swing of the paddlers was in perfect harmony. The canoe 33

K a â&#x20AC;&#x2122;nu (Zuttuze - "Tiapa A ! ui glided across the water causing no disturbance, leaving no wake. Every element had a purpose, there was no waste, no awkwardness in design. All lines were smooth, fine and functional. From that point on, the canoe ceased to be simply static or utilitarian. It was elegant and revered." Later, young Ted helped Lanikai fathers and older kids build their first canoe. "That Koa log drew attention from near and far and was the centre of social and physical activity for what seemed like forever, with people putting in great time, effort and sweat. The pungent, sweet smell of green Koa filled every weekend. I was amazed at the power of that log to focus so many for so long on something which had no apparent reward. There was a sense of purpose in the air as the beautifully grained and shaped Kehukai emerged out of the chips and sanding dust." For Ted, "this magical, mystical hold of the outrigger has never slackened. The experience has been life-giving in a personal way, both in the most important facets of my life and in the satisfaction and rejuvenation still felt when paddling, fixing, writing or planning around the canoe. So it must be for thousands of others, reaching back ten thousand years, across ten thousand islands and forward in time to thousands yet unborn."

Outrigger canoeing is a technical topic, a cultural touchstone, a sport; as it once supported society now society supports it. The canoe is a perfect partner to the ocean - it leaves no wake, does not rip the ocean in half like powerboats do, makes no smoke and leaves no residue. It simply conforms to the shape of the ocean, rolling as the ocean rolls, snuggled into the surface as a baby in arms, enjoying the protection of those arms. The sense of harmony between canoe, ocean and paddlers must be a small proportion of the grander sense of mutual stewardship with the ocean felt by voyagers of the past. One cannot be in a canoe and have a feeling of conquering the ocean. The feeling is clearly more one of coexistence, working with the ocean's motion and moods, yet with an objective in mind. "I got a glimpse of this grander harmony once," recalls Ted, describing an experience in the Catalina race some years ago. "We were far south of the pack, so far south that no other crew or escort boat could be seen. We had the ocean to ourselves. The sea was smooth, its surface rolling - slowly undulating as the swell rose and fell. The change boat, so far out ahead that the canoe had been lost to sight. Isolation and stillness invoked a great sense of calm as the change crew waited, quietly, surrounded by blue-green sea and bright sky. The approaching canoe first appeared as a dot, becoming larger until the dot began to emerge out of the sea. Soon it resolved into identifiable hull and ama with the sun's glint on wet paddles speaking of motion and life. Then spaces grew to separate the bodies of paddlers. But the canoe still low on the horizon, appeared as 34

K a nu (Zuitute -

AJui

an object of the sea rather than one upon the surface. About the time that the motions of individual paddlers and steering corrections could be discerned, the scene clarified into a graphic explanation, an awareness, of the timelessness of the outrigger canoe. This canoe was fibreglass , but could have been wood. The ocean was California, but could have been Tahiti. The rigging was dacron, but could have been sennit. The paddlers were Anglo-Polynesian but could have been Pacific-Polynesian. The time could have been past or future. The deep ocean, with power to do anything to those bn its surface, this day was friendly and quiet, slowly rolling and heaving from horizon to horizon in a smooth, steady undulation. The relatively tiny canoe, alive in its own right, rolling as the sea rolled, working with the motion not fighting nor besting it, reverent and respectful of the ocean but holding a steady course. The paddlers, six working as one, speaking as one with the one-word language, hut! Paddlers of the canoe but separate from the canoe. Canoe of the ocean but separate from it. Steerer, of the crew but separate from it, holding the course for an unseen destination beyond the horizon. Awareness dawned on me that the developing diarama explained much. The progression in scale, the ordered sequence, the structured dependence, the placed trust (all emerging in greater detail as the canoe approached) is the set of relationships that enables the apparently insurmountable barrier of open ocean to be a part of human experience - whether for the voyagers of expanding Polynesia or for the outrigger racer today. The barrier becomes the avenue and the canoe a connective link to the horizon and beyond." The navigation feats of the Polynesians are now coming to be appreciated on a broader stage as the pioneering Hokule'a and her spawned voyaging canoes from other island groups once again ply the Pacific. Similarities between the Polynesian voyaging experience and the pioneering space voyagers of today have been recognised by Dan Goldin head of

n a sa :

"We and the Polynesians are basically

doing the same thing," said Dan, "the only difference being we go seven thousand miles per hour and they go seven." At the Century of the Pacific Seminar held in conjunction with the visit of Hokule'a to Long Beach, California, NASA space specialists and the Hokule'a crew discovered more similarities than differences in their endeavours, whether voyaging navigation, craft construction, or their relation to society in general. Astronaut Bill Shepherd pointed out that the needs of society that voyaging filled were probably similar to the needs in our society that are fulfiled by the space program. However, to the voyaging Polynesians the risk was higher and the consequence of errors or loss to the community much greater. Tony Taylor and Chad Babayan discovered to the wonderment of all in attendance that the basic principles of navigating a spacecraft through the solar system or a voyaging canoe through a set of islands are the same. 35

K d'nu Clultu'ie - 7 Rapa. A )ui

The experimental voyaging developed by Hokule'a allows active participation in a field of discovery previously accessible only to traditional academic practitioners. The interest of NASA brings to voyaging a whole world of remote sensing data capability with discoveries yet unmade. The popular interest in an endeavour so daring but so logical has awakened worldwide interest in the Polynesian past. Cultural re-connections inspired by Hokule'a throughout the Pacific is leading to social discoveries and valued experiences, thereby improving personal well-being. Throughout, the outrigger canoe is a timeless symbol at the centre. Through Hokule'a, the outrigger canoe once again touches the far reaches of Polynesia, Easter Island.

The Loss of the Outrigger Canoe on Easter Island Since the middle of last century, Easter Island has been know as Rapa Nui and it has been part of Chile since 1888. The people of Easter Island are Polynesian and speak a language called Rapanui. It is related to, but more archaic than, Hawaiian, Maori, or other Polynesian languages. The island was discovered and settled through voyaging canoes, but the ancestors also used outrigger canoes. Easter Island is without a reef and the coast is rock-bound and treacherous, yet the outrigger canoe was, as everywhere in the Pacific, used to make the most of Easter Island's marginal natural ocean environment. Sometime after 1868, the outrigger canoe disappeared from Rapa Nui waters. It ceased to be built and used ceased to exist. With it went much history, knowledge of canoe construction and 36

K a nu (ZuLtute - 'Tiapd Aim-

experience in steering and paddling, however, not all that was lost. The earliest known drawing of an outrigger canoe on Rapa Nui is a pen and ink sketch made by Johann Reinhold Forster on Captain Cook's 1774 voyage. Two Rapa Nui men are shown, each with a composite paddle on the port side, the ama being on the starboard side. The canoe is described as a very wretched thing, patched together of several pieces, the head & stern high & the middle low; there was an outrigger fixed to it, & each of the men had a paddle made of more than one piece. Subsequent Europeans described outrigger canoes in similar ways. Most, about ten to twelve feet long and accommodating up to five people, were made of wood pieces and planks with edges bevelled or rabbetted for close fitting. Each individual piece of wood was sewn to another by plant fibre cordage that passed through holes pieced along the margins of the wood. Spaces between the wood pieces were caulked with moss. Imperfections in the wood were mended with small patches inserted with pegs.

Rapa Nui plank canoe iv ith outrigger as seen in 1786 by La Perouse expedition. After Metraux 1940. 37

K a nu (futtute - Tiapa A)uL Some canoes were narrow, carrying two to four people. A French observer in 1786, described a canoe with the outrigger on the port side, saying that the distal ends of the two slender booms are attached to gunwales. An ethnographer, A Metraux thought that direct attachment of booms to floats meant the Rapa Nui outrigger was comparable to canoes in Hawai'i, the outer Tuamotus, Rimatara and others of the Austral Islands, the Cook Islands (except Aitutaki), Tutuila in Samoa and the Marquesas. The forked termination of the booms is unique in Polynesia. The raised ends of the Rapa Nui outrigger canoe compare with those of Tuamotus, the Marquesas, New Zealand, Hawai'i and Mangareva. Similar outriggers were seen in 1822. In 1868, the outrigger canoe was drawn by John Linton Palmer, an Englishman aboard

hms to paz

Very soon after that, the outrigger canoe disappeared on Rapa

Nui. Only a few, battered remnants were kept and used as coffins in burial caves. Like the giant stone statues called moai that have softened and eroded with time, the loss of the outrigger canoe left a lot of unanswered questions. H o w and w h y th e o u trig g er can oe d isap p eared from E aster Island is a lon g, sad story. W e w ish to sh are w ith you n o w a h ap p y ep ilo g u e to th at story. K eep in g w ith E aster Islan d trad itio n , w h ere th ere are no w o rd s su ch as

"once upon a time"

to b eg in , w e w ill ju st lau n ch in to it an d let th e w ord s flow .

Easter Island, the Dutch and the First Paddler: A South Pacific tale The first Europeans to set eyes on the island were Dutch. Led by Admiral Jacob Roggeveen in a fleet of three vessels, they were in search of riches and fame. It was Easter Sunday, 1722, and the island was named in honour of the day. The three ships lay about two miles off the coast waiting for thunder, sheet lightning and showers to abate before sending a landing party. Out of the mist surrounding a ship, a lone man emerged in a small outrigger canoe made of patched and caulked wood boards sewn together with stout cord. He was anxious to board the ship to meet the newcomers. The Dutch vessel, which was about a hundred feet long with twentyfour cannon and eighty men, fascinated him. He showed great interest in everything, taking special notice of the tautness of the spars, the stoutness of the rigging and running gear, the sails and guns. Finally, his curiosity satisfied, he accepted a glass of wine and some trinkets, including two strings of blue beads, a mirror and a pair of scissors. Swinging down off the ship, he boarded his canoe, waved goodbye and was gone. Within hours, the ships were able to anchor about a quarter mile from the surging surf and rocky coastline. The water churned with swimmers and a great many outrigger canoes which the people called vaka, and which were about ten feet 38

K a nu (Z u it u u - l^ApA AJul long with high, pointed stem and stem pieces called vaero. On shore a huge crowd of shouting, gesturing people eagerly waited for the one hundred and thirty four men, armed with muskets, pistols and cutlass, to put to shore. As they disembarked, the Dutch moved slowly forward into the crowd in close formation, not knowing what to expect. Within minutes, a young man snatched a sailor's hat, another laid hands on a musket carried by one of Roggeveen's assistant pilots, who, terrified, struck the man. Immediately, others in the crowd picked up stones as if to pelt the foreigners. In the confusion, and with adrenaline pumping, the Dutch fired into the crowd, wounding or killing nearly a dozen people. When the smoke cleared, the paddler who had braved choppy seas to board the ship lay dead. More than two hundred years later, archaeologists digging on the north coast of Easter Island unearthed a small blue trade bead. While many other such beads probably found their way into the hand of people on Easter Island over many years of contact with Europeans, it is tempting to think that it this is the remnant of that string of beads given to the paddler by the Dutch. In 1989, th e m em o ry of th at u n n am ed p ad d ler w as h o n o u red w ith th e fo u n d in g o f

Mata Hoe Vaka Kahu Kahu 0 Hera Rapa Nui (R ap a N u i O u trig g er

C lu b ), th e first o rgan ised o u trig g er can o e club ev er on E aster Island .

Rapa Nui: Discovered, Settled and then Marooned Lying isolated in the East Pacific, in an extreme windward position, Rapa Nui is the last outpost of Polynesia, the easternmost of two hundred and eighty-seven islands contained within the "Polynesian Triangle" (Hawai'i and Aotearoa/New Zealand being the other two points of the triangle). Easter Island is only 160 square kilometers in area (about 62 square miles). It was formed about three million years ago by submarine volcanoes. Rapa Nui has no reef and is known as a "high island". It is smaller than either Hawai'i or Aotearoa, but larger by far than its nearest neighbouring island of Pitcairn (4.5 square kilometers and also volcanic). Other relatively close islands include Mangareva (four volcanic islands with twenty-two smaller islands and atolls totalling 24 square miles) or Henderson (37 square kilometres and an elevated limestone island). Each of these islands, including Rapa Nui, has a marginal marine and land environment with limited natural resources. Each was either settled or used by prehistoric Polynesians. The home island of the Rapanui people is not known, but voyaging simulation studies indicate that it may have been Pitcairn. Archaeologist Geoffrey Irwin suggests that a voyage from Pitcairn to Rapa nui would have taken about 21 days and, if it did occur, probably took place during the Southern Hemisphere winter. Anthropologist Ben Finney has suggested three possible routes to Rapa Nui. Henderson and Pitcairn are only about 100 sea miles apart and both were inhabited 39

n u ( Z a U m c - T^ApA A ! a L

and then abandoned prehistorically. Pitcairn and Mangareva are separated by about 375 miles. Rapa Nui is another 1,000 sea miles away. Rapa Nui was settled sometime before a d 800 possibly as early as a d 300-400. An interactive sphere of limited but vital resource exchange and regular communication existed between HendÂ erson, Pitcairn, MangÂ areva and probably the Tuamotus from about a d 700-800 to the abandonment of long distance voyaging in this part of the Pacific about a d 1500. Archaeologist Marshall Weisler has shown that fine-grained basalt and black-lipped pearl shell (and probably many other things as well) were traded between Henderson and Mangareva. Rapanui oral traditions tell us that Easter Island was discovered by an exploratory party of six men sailing a canoe called Te Oraora-miro (The Living Wood). A settlement party then followed, led by the mythic hero Hotu Matu'a (Great Parent). He set sail from a place called Marae-renga or Maraw-toe-hau in a great canoe, each hull of which was ninety feet long and six feet deep, or two individual canoes of similar dimensions. With him was his wife, family, friends and extended family. The settlers endured an arduous voyage and finally sighted land with the help of great clouds of migratory sea birds (probably following schools of tuna and other pelagic fish). The voyagers came ashore at Anakena on the north coast, the island's most hospitable landing place. Hotu Matu'a established residence there on the land called I te Kona mo te ariki (The country for the king). Within a short time, the settlers had explored the island. They began clearing stands of upland and lowland palm and other trees to create agricultural land. In their place they planted the trees and plants they had brought with them. They harvested sea urchins and other marine animals of coastal tide pools, hunted sea birds and exotic land birds such as parrots (now extinct). They built homes and sacred structures called ahu. On some of the ahu they erected statues called moai. The moai marked lineage lands and over time were made 40

Reconstructed Easter Island M o ai from Ahu Vinapu. D ra w in g s by Cristian Arevalo Pakarati - Courtesy o f Jo Anne Van Tilburg

Kctnu. (L u lt u ’ic - <R a p a N u i bigger and heavier. For at least five hundred years there was enough timber to construct canoes big enough to bring in dolphin, turtles and (tuna. These same canoes would have been capable of voyaging. Upon his death, Hotu Matu'a divided the island between his surviving sons. He said to the eldest, "You are Kotuu, of Matainui and your descendants shall multiply li^g the shells of the sea and the reeds of the -jcrater and the pebbles of the beach." And that - ■ '■ , « » • ' is just what they did. Over time, the v,!/ population grew and their territory expanded. •V W iKotuu and his line claimed the north and west portions of the island and produced the paramount chief. The descendants of the youngest son of Hotu Matua, Hotu Iti, also prospered and gradually came to challenge the leadership of their higher-ranked kin. Hotu Iti ; > ' J |p was given the eastern part, the locale of the great volcano Rano Raraku. In the quarries of Rano Raraku, \ generations of master artisans carved nearly a thousand of the haunting and magnificent m oai. In the ancient , g § . | tradition of master craftsmen, they ..v. *i.v y | ; | j passe(j on the secrets of their trade for many generations. With precision and accuracy, the stone was measured and cut to repeatedly reproduce the statues with only minor changes in proportion or style. Certainly some of their M construction knowledge was from canoe building techniques. By the time the Dutch arrived in 1722, ‘ti& p r & fc z the island had been virtually denuded of i g - - J trees and the only vessels seen were smaller outrigger canoes.

(Z u itu tc - â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;R a p a

A)ui

The Rapa Nui Double Canoe and the Isolation Factor Without the trees necessary to build large canoes, fishermen were less able to go far out in search of big fish and food shortages became a problem. Before this problem arose however, voyaging canoes could have been built to transport people to any place in Eastern Polynesia, Sala y Gomez, or even to mainland South America. For years it has been written that the trees on Rapa Nui were used in statue transport. Why should that be so? The biggest of the moni are still in stone quarries and the average size is only a little bigger and a little heavier than the average double hull canoe. Moving a moni required strong direction, traditional knowledge, flexibility to find new ways of accomplishing the task and a kin group of about seventy-five people. Nothing to keep the average Polynesian chief from success. In fact, it is typical of work projects on many islands. There are many other assumptions about Rapa Nui that need rethinking. For example, it has been assumed that Rapa Nui, once settled, remained in isolation until that day in April when the Dutch ships appeared on the horizon. Certainly, Rapa Nui is geographically isolated and the navigation challenge presented is great. Ben Finney, Nainoah Thompson and others have long believed that the original settlers actually found the island by fortuitous accident. That may be the case, but once there, they certainly would not have abandoned or lost what they had learned along the way. If anything can be learned from the moni carvers, it is that 42

n u ( Z u lt u t e - R .a p a

AJu i

the people of Rapa Nui had a tenacious hold on knowledge, keeping it and passing it on in organised schools or learning. Importantly as well, what we are beginning to learn about inter-island voyaging in the East Pacific tells us that, from about a d 800 until about a d 1500, there is at least a possibility that Rapa Nui may have been contacted by other Polynesian people. There are only hints of such contact and no hard evidence, but the hints are enough to be taken seriously. One such hint was recognised by archaeologist Ed Ferdon Jr in 1981. He suggested that a unique thatched shelter on Rapa Nui was related to a very similar structure used as a deck cabin on Tuamotua double-ender canoes. In 1975, a petroglyph of a double canoe that was originally recorded by French archaeologist Henri Lavachery some thirty years earlier was examined in detail by Bob Koll, a volunteer working with American archaeologist William Mulloy. Recently, Herb Kawainu Kane cast his expert eye over KolTs documentation, corrected Mulloy's misinterpretation of its form and suggested that the petroglyph represented a different type of double canoe, more typical of other parts of East Polynesia. These are tantalising clues. Do they mean that canoes from more than one part of East Polynesia were known or sighted on Rapa Nui? Over the years, several kinds of historic ships are recorded in petroglyphs, so to immortalise a double canoe would not be so strange. So far, evidence is inconclusive, but stay tuned. Over time in East Polynesia, inter-island voyaging gradually decreased. This area never had the enormous hardwood trees as known in Hawai'i for example, and canoe construction is always limited to available timber. Furthermore, as resources in marginal environments were consumed, islands were abandoned. As Polynesians withdrew from east to west, Rapa Nui became increasingly isolated. Henderson and Pitcairn remained in mutual support until both were abandoned at about the same time. In the words of Geoff Irwin, "One can imagine the lights of settlement flickering out in this stretch of the Pacific and only Easter Island's was left burning alone, perhaps less brightly."

Rapa Nui Outrigger Club: It Started With Hokule'a Twenty years ago the great replica Hawai'ian voyaging canoe H okule'a began the cultural reunification of the Polynesian islands. Outrigger canoe paddling and competition has steadily expanded. In 1989, University of Hawaii anthropologist Ben Finney, intimately involved with the H okule'a project since its inception, visited Rapa Nui. He talked in the school auditorium about H okule'a and about the place of Rapa Nui in Polynesian voyaging history. He emphasised that there were still many unanswered questions and also suggested that the theories of Thor Heyerdahl about the settlement of the Pacific by Peruvians might not be accurate. There were 43

K a n u (Z u -itu u - â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Rapa. A\u.l

murmurs or protest and surprise among the audience of children and adults. In talking later with Jo Anne Van Tilburg and Sergio Rapu, the Governor of Rapa Nui, it became clear that information about voyaging would be welcomed in the school program after Ben suggested bringing Hokule'a to the island. Y o u n g p eop le seem ed to n eed an d w an t so m eth in g n ew an d fun in th e ir lives, so B en su ggested an o u trigg er clu b as a w a y to in volve y o u th in cu ltu ral red isco v ery and to ren ew som e P o ly n esian cu ltu ral lin k s in p rep aratio n fo r the arrival of

Hokule'a or

an o th er v o y ag in g p rogram .

There were two main issues to be resolved before founding an outrigger club on Rapa Nui. The first was to promise that the organisation would always be islanddirected. This was crucial to the success of the project. The second was to work with someone who had a successful program already going, with a strong hand and the ability to work well with young people. This was necessary for the outrigger club to reach out to young people and to be welcome in the community. After Jo Anne met with several small groups of interested people, it was agreed that there was one person who fit the bill. Rodrigo Paoa is Director of the Masters of Culture program of the island, Corporation de Resguardo Cultural Mata Nui A Hotu A Matu'a 0 Kahu 0 Hera. This organisation which has men and women of all ages as members, creates and takes part in projects of cultural renewal in many fields, including arts and sports. After much discussion with the group, thirty of the one hundred and fifty Corporation members opted to form an outrigger club called Mata Hoe Vaka (rnoc ), with Rodrigo as President and Jo Anne as Advisor. A club logo was designed by Cristian Arevalo Pakarati. Jo Anne, despite spending much of her life on islands, has never been much at home on the water. " . . . b ein g A d v iso r to a can oe clu b m ean t th at I w as ab o u t to learn a lot. M y w o rk d o cu m en tin g th e m o ai h ad con v in ced m e th at the statues w ere created b y 'm asters o f cu ltu re ' - a rtisan s w h o w ere so w ell org an ised th at th ey w ere ab le to p ass d ow n th e secrets o f statu e d esig n n early u nch an g ed for th irty-tw o g en eratio n s. In th at w ay th ey w ere ju st lik e o th er m aster artisan s on o th er islan d s of P oly n esia w h o h ad carv ed an d co n stru cted th e gian t d ou b le

canoe culture w ou ld len d an statue culture of R ap a N u i." More to the point, a canoe club seemed like a godsend to youngsters without much to engage their attention or energy. Over the next three or four years, each time Jo Anne returned for field work, she would meet with rnoc to share ideas and make plans. The club's direction was always set by the membership and cautiously. During that time, a small outrigger was donated to the island from Tahiti which, although inadequate for the rough seas of Rapa Nui, was a welcome and exciting introduction to outrigger canoe paddling. Eventually it was agreed that outside help can oes. I b eliev ed th at a b e tte r u n d erstan d in g o f

in sig h t in to th e an cien t

n u (Z u itu te - â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;R a p a A J u i

was needed so the idea of reaching out to honorary members as a means of fund raising was put into action and Curt Johnson who had a heartfelt attachment to Rapa Nui after he had worked there with Jo Anne as field crew in 1989, became Treasurer of RNOC.

Slowly and carefully rnoc gained momentum on the island. Each time Jo Anne returned, youngsters would ask "When is the canoe coming?" It was not until 1991 though, that it seemed like that question would be answered "Very soon - one way or another." In that year, something special happened. Rapa Nui is a dreamlike place of visions. Lots of people claim to see ufo ' s, even more say they commune with spirits. Whether any of these things is true or not is anyone's guess, but the star-filled skies and empty horizons do lend themselves well to the imaginative, creative mind. W alk in g h o m e w ith frien d s one m isty n ig h t of lo w sk ies an d g rey clou d s, Jo A n n e saw a w h ite o u trigg er can oe sh oot ou t o f the fo g an d o v er th e w h ite su rf lin e at H an ga P ik o. "I sto p p ed d ead in m y track s and w atch ed as it slow ed an d th en d isap p eared in to th e d ark n ess w ith o u t lan d in g. O th ers, w h o k n ew the sea w ell, d id n ot see th e can o e, b u t saw a w ak e. It seem ed an o m en , b u t of w h at? It d id n ot lan d - d id th at m ean th at w e w o u ld n o t be su ccessfu l in ou r e ffo rts ? "

Four years later in 1995, the mana of Hokule'a initiated a chain of events that finally answered all our questions and culminated in the arrival on Rapa Nui of Tahatai, r n o c ' s Hawaiian Class Racer outrigger canoe. It all started when plans were announced for Hokule'a to visit southern California. The community of Hawaiians living on the mainland came alive with excitement and everyone wanted to be involved organising a warm welcome. Komike Hokule'a was formed to urge support for the West Coast Voyage of Discovery and Ka'ala Pang chaired the Komike. An open letter of invitation was sent out to the community and a core group of dedicated people gathered. The Mainland Council of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, headed by Kaiwi Pang, Kalifornia Outrigger Association and several other organisations joined together. The theme was Polynesian Voyaging Heritage Week and one goal of Komike Hokule'a was to foster interest in Polynesian culture in the larger southern California community. Another goal was to encourage voyaging heritage awareness among school children and the Hawaiian community. As the days and weeks stretched into months, a hundred ideas were tried and tested, to be rejected or accepted. The meetings were a joyful sharing of creative and imaginative ideas and the energy generated was enormous. In the best Hawaiian spirit, everyone and every idea was welcomed with open minds and when heated discussion or disagreement took place, issued were resolved in time-honoured and traditional ways. Komike Hokule'a moved forward ho'omoe wai kahi ke kao'o (like water flowing in one direction). 45

K a h u ( 2 attune - 'R a p a

A !ui

The task of planning and considering was enormous. There are as many as eight different Polynesian groups in the area, all of which have special needs; the First Nation groups into whose territory Hokulc'n would be intruding; paddlers, surfers, hula halaus - all with different points of view; politicians and city officials; and the media. Then there was the care for the crew of H okule'a, their needs and families as well. And finally, to consider H okule'a, her safety and her upkeep. The challenge in bringing all these elements together was staggering . . . not to mention that all of the people involved continued with their jobs in the real world too. At the end of a long Saturday spent in agonised discussion, with the planning bogged to a halt and the task seeming insurmountable, a sudden realisation brought a connection with the past. Jo Anne recalls: "Here we were, stressed out, trying to plan an event involving a canoe voyage two years away, and it looked impossible. We just felt that we would not be able to do it. There were too many considerations and issues to be resolved. Even with all the resources we had, it was not going to work, it seemed. Then seeing how similar this situation must have been to that of say one thousand years ago, preparing for a voyage and the encountering of immense barriers. Their problems would have been similar to ours - considering conflicting viewpoints, the cost of building and provisions, uncertainty as to what lay ahead, the continuing demands of daily life. Not much has changed over time." To provide a forum for the many interests and points of view that surrounded the visit of H okule'a, the Century of the Pacific seminar was created. Scholars, space scientists, civil servants, H okule'a crew, paddlers and many other interested people shared the symposium room and alternated presentations on issues ranging from

(Zuituu - â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;TR.a.jpti A )ui

health to international policy, canoe navigation, reef archaeology and life on the canoe. The audience was awe-struck by the warm and sincere appreciation that the various disciplines developed for each other and all benefited from the two days well spent. In the evening, Talk Story sessions allowed another form of expression. H okule'a Navigator, Chad Babayan, summed it up best: "The knowledge available, if we listen to each other, is invaluable, but knowledge must be passed on to be most useful."

Plans were made for a great welcome at sea when H okule'a entered Long Beach Harbour. Ted Ralston took on the task of organising a fleet of outriggers as a welcoming committee. They would be joined by power and sailboats in escort, fire boats would belch streams of water and the Queen Mary, berthed nearby, would sound her horn. All of the other Polynesian communities would be invited to join the celebration and an outrigger regatta was planned. In a burst of enthusiasm, everyone agreed that members of rnoc should be invited. Ted agreed to join Jo Anne as Advisor to rnoc and a strong swell of support began to build, rnoc was moving to become realiti/. Just as a swell builds to a wave and accelerates the canoe, a long ride for RNOC was beginning! Against the odds, funds were raised for Rodrigo Paoa, Niko Haoa (Director of M ata H oe V aka- rnoc), Cristian Arevalo Pakarati and five other members of rnoc to go to Long Beach. Kahakai Outrigger Canoe Club paddler Frank Spina (who speaks Spanish) volunteered to spend several weeks perfecting the paddling technique of the rnoc members. With equipment donated by Kahakai, two hour training sessions took place three times a week. Ted had the opportunity to spend time with the rnoc paddlers rigging the canoes, a skill that RNOC would need when they had a canoe of their own. In the process, it became clear that the terms for canoe parts in Rapa Nui are very similar to the Hawaiian. No great surprise from an academic point of view, perhaps, but a wonderful experience to have first hand - a validation of the links and connection Tiuo "H a w a iia n Class Racers" lashed together, paddle out of Long Beach to meet w ith the Hokule'a

K a â&#x20AC;&#x2122;nu (Zuituie - â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;R apa A }ui engendered by the outrigger canoe. But, when calling changes, rnoc favoured their own Ekahi! Elua! to HutlHo! Merina Paoa, Tito Paoa and Renee Edmunds, Rapa Nui people living in southern California, extended hospitality to rnoc . Frank Spina and the Rapa Nui paddlers bonded during this time and when he journeyed to Rapa Nui later that year in December, he had a memorable few weeks with them, seeing the sights and making new friends. When Hokule'n sailed into Long Beach Harbour on 12 July 1995, RNOC crew headed by Niko Haoa were in one of the sixteen welcoming outrigger canoes. After Chad Babayan, Mike Tongg and Gordon Pi'ianaia and crew navigated the throng of outrigger canoes and surfers on long boards, Hokule'n docked in the Polynesian village set up in her honour, rnoc members in full ceremonial body paint joined eight other Pacific nations and host Gabrieleno-Tongva and Chumash (First Nation) tribes, in traditional welcoming ceremonies. The call of the conch shell echoed, the pu and palm sounded and the Ke leo heahea rang out, inviting the canoe to land. Absolute silence held nearly four thousand spectators enraptured as David Kapahulehua, first captain of Hokule'a and her crew came ashore. Uncle David Nu'uhiwa offered a Christian prayer and Kualana Chang spoke of the historical and cultural importance of the West Coast voyage. Keli'e Chang spoke the Mele koihonua, a genealogical chant naming lineages and places found both in Hawai'i and throughout Polynesia. Ho'okupu were presented. The width and breadth of the Polynesian triangle were represented that day, in brilliant

K a hu C^uttute - ‘Raya AJui

M em bers o f RNOC with Chad Babayan Long Beach California 1995.

H o 'o h jp u - G ift Giving Ceremony to the Hofcu/e'a crew .

RNOC in Long Beach - July 1995. Nasa Space Station Com m ander and Hokule’a crew m em ber. Bill Shepherd, back ro w , second from rig h t. 49

K a n u ( Z u i t u â&#x20AC;&#x2122;u - â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;R a p a Aim traditional garb and under a bright sky distant and linked groups were all drawn together as one by the maini of Hokule'a. A few days later, on 15 July 1995, rnoc was accepted into the International Polynesian Canoe Federation ( ipcf ) by President Michael Tongg at a special reception hosted jointly by RNOC, Kahakai OCC and koa. California paddlers joined the celebration to meet their new international friends, warm words of welcome were spoken and gifts exchanged. Joining the crowd was NASA astronaut and Hokule'a crew member Bill Shepherd and officials from the Long Beach-Valparaiso Sister Cities program. A connection that would prove vital to rnoc . California paddling kahu, Sandy Kahanamoku, expressed sincere and heartfelt aloha when he discovered that he and Rodrigo and others shared the same family name of Paoa. Earlier in the day, rnoc paddlers raced against another canoe paddled by members of Hokule'a crew. The Hokule'a team had a half-canoe length advantage at the start and held it but rnoc stood proud in their first race ever. Each rnoc paddler was awarded a special medal in commemoration of the race. At the end of the week, Niko Haoa, Rodrigo Paoa, along with Jo Anne and other rnoc paddlers and a mass of others in the Hokule'a family, including Long Beach elected officials, boarded Hokule'a to sail partway on her departing voyage. Jo Anne recalls: "In our excitement we could imagine Hokule'a pulling into Hanga Roa Otai (Rapa Nui) on her most challenging voyage ever." There wasn't a dry eye as the week-long event came to an end. One lonely, symbolic outrigger canoe and one surfer on a longboard escorted Hokule'a as she pulled away. After putting off those who were not going to make the journey to San Diego, she hoisted sail and suddenly, was gone. In her wake she left an ohana of committed people, all promising to work with r n o c to get an outrigger canoe to Rapa Nui. She also left a dream: Hokule'a on Rapa Nui.

Working together: Rapa Nui Outrigger Club and Tahatai The support for RNOC created through the mam of Hokule'a never dissipated. The week following the Long Beach celebrations was spent by rnoc members in Hawai'i. They were met by Ben Finney and Gerry De Benedetti at Honolulu and introduced 50

nu ( 3 uitute -

A Jut

to local paddlers and enthusiasts. They attended racing events and the club captain of the Outrigger Canoe Club donated two steering and racing paddles. Rodrigo and the other members of rnoc returned to Rapa Nui with renewed desire to acquire a canoe and the youngsters were impressed with all their stories. A few months later, an historic meeting of the Outrigger Canoe Club was attended by Jo Anne who introduced the idea and goals of rnoc to a "W ho's W h o " of Hawaiian outrigger canoeing. In the meantime, Ted Ralston was talking story about rnoc to anyone who would listen and funds were slowly beginning to accumulate. Richard Kelton, who has a long-standing interest in Polynesia and is a sailor himself, arranged a generous donation from the Kelton Foundation which enabled rnoc to begin in earnest, the hunt for a suitable canoe. Anticipation building on the island was answered when Ted located a used, but never named, Hawaiian Class Racer for sale in Marina del Rey, California. The canoe was simply "Â§74", but she had a history of her own. "N u m ber sev en ty -fou râ&#x20AC;? was just what we were looking for. A stout Classic, in good shape, clean, well maintained and (critical in the rough waters of Rapa Nui) with spray covers. The canoe had raced well in California and would be heading for the South Pacific - i f we could raise the money, i f no other buyer showed up, i f w e could arrange transport .. . With funds way short and holding our breaths, the deal was sealed with about a month to make up the shortage. Into the breech stepped three people with energy and vision. Aldo Olmedo and Jan Schwartz, joined later by Allan Tebbetts, introduced to rnoc during the visit of H okule'a. Aldo, born and raised in Chile, was astonished at the interest and enthusiasm which rnoc had inspired. He and Jan suggested that rnoc join the Trade Mission to Chile being organised at that time by the Long Beach Sister Cities Program. As the cultural component of the Trade Mission, rnoc would be a part of a major outreach and educational effort. Through

n u ( 3 u ltu ie - â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Rapa.

Ala i

their efforts and with major corporate financial contributions coming from UFX Logistics, ETS Transport, Douglas Aircraft Co., Grey Owl Paddles of Canada and many others - together with all the kokua and aloha from individual members from around the world - rnoc was able to close the books at the necessary purchase price and become the proud owners of an outrigger canoe. Aldo also called upon personal friendship to arrange for the canoe's transportation to Rapa Nui. Without the kind support and interest from so many people, this story would have ended now. On a cold and rainy southern California Saturday in February 1996, nearly three hundred people gathered on the beach near Valparaiso Park in Long Beach to name and bless the canoe. Paddled by rnoc members, Curt Johnson, Johannes Van Tilburg, Aldo Olmedo, Margie Ralston, Connie Edmondson and steered by Ted Ralston, the unnamed, flower-filled outrigger canoe approached the shore and the waiting crowd. She was escorted by Kahakai occ canoes and the tall ships, Californian and Haiuaiian Chieftan. The hushed crowd waited in anticipation and the only sound was the steady rain on jackets and umbrellas, then the crunch of sand as the canoe was dragged ashore and the strong voice of Kumu Clarice Wahineali'i Nui as she chanted a traditional oli. Ka'ala Pang welcomed everyone and Kaiwi Pang spoke on behalf of Hawaiian Civic Clubs. The canoe was given the name Tahatai, the Rapanui variant of Kahakai, in honour of the tie forged between the two canoe clubs. Jo Anne sprinkled red sand from the Rapa Nui beach of Ovahe onto the wet, grey sands of Long Beach and Hawaiian sea water was passed from hand to hand in the calabash to be sprinkled on the canoe. Some said the continuous, cold California rain was, in fact, a blessing. In the Rapanui rongorongo tradition, voices raised in chant become part of the wind and sounds echo down the years of history. Words enfold and enwrap people and objects, holding them safe and preserving them. In keeping with these traditions, Treasurer Curt Johnson read the name of every single person, every organisation and every corporation that contributed to making the RNOC 52

K a nu (Z utilize - ‘R apa A }ui dream a reality. In that way, all these names became a part of the new history of Tahatai, increasing and sharing her maria, to be carried with her on the journey to distant Rapa Nui. The following weekend, a second, more private cere mony, was held for Tahatai. Uncle David Nu'uhiwa gave the blessing and Thomas Kalama spoke on behalf of Uncle Noah Kalama, Founder of koa. Ho'okupu of lei, ti leaves, books and educational materials were placed inside Tahatai. Cords for rigging were donated from Hokule'a and jackets and hats for the paddlers given by Patagonia Company. The entire assembly joined hands to share the blessing and then partook of traditional Hawaiian foods.Uncle David, troubled by something he sensed in Tahatai, returned twice to bless her in the week following. When he was finally satisfied that Tahatai was released of any ill sense by transferring it to his own body, she was ready to enter her new sea. Volunteers then created the world's longest box to encase Tahatai for her departure from Long Beach in the hold of c s a v SudAmericana de Vapores (Chilean Lines) Buenaventura. Tito Paoa assumed a major role at this point and would be a key player in the events that followed. Aldo Olmedo demonstrated yet another skill as he orchestrated the assembly of the shipping crate in the UFX Logistics warehouse. Tahatai would be well protected for her six thousand mile journey. Two months later, Tahatai was officially handed off from Chilean Lines to the Admiral in Chief, First Naval Zone, Armada de Chile. According to Mr Victor Pino T, President of CSAV and Admiral Busch, a wonderful ceremony and reception were held in Valparaiso in honour of Tahatai. One side of the crate was removed as an honour guard stood by. Pictures were taken, hands shaken and the crate re scaled. Tahatai was featured in the Valpairaso newspaper. With the involvement of Chilean Lines and the Chilean Navy, we hope to generate interest in outrigger in mainland Chile. Finally, on April 20,1996 (Jo Anne's birthday) Tahatai was lashed on deck aboard a small Armada de Chile boat of her very own and departed for Rapa Nui.

K a nu C^uttuie - ‘T^a.'pa A )ui

Coming home: Tahatai arrives on Rapa Nui Seven days after departure, the Armade de Chile vessel arrived in Hanga Piko. The surf was rough and heavy, so they moved off to Hanga Roa Otai. rnoc members, led by Niko Haoa, boarded the navy ship and before the paper work was even finished, rigged and off-loaded Tahatai, paddling her in to shore in triumph. When she touched the sand, Tahatai ushered in renewal of a special and honoured aspect of Polynesian culture for Rapa Nui. Tito Paoa, who went back to Rapa Nui especially for the ceremonies, talked to his family about the choice of landing place and about Jo Anne's long-ago sighting of a phantom canoe at Hanga Piko. They told him it meant that Talmtai was never meant to land at Hanga Piko and was always destined to arrive at Hanga Roa Otai. But why? Why was Tahatai destined to come ashore in that special place? Could it be because Hanga Roa Otai is the place where the first Rapanui paddler, felled so long ago in a hail of Dutch powder and shot, lay down his life? We all would like to think that, in some way, Tahatai is setting history back on track. As so often on Rapa Nui, history and fantasy, legend and reality meet in dynamic ways. Tahatai is housed snugly in her very own hare vaka hard by Hanga Roa Otai. On 18 May 1996, excited members of rnoc, the fishing community, island leaders, Allan and m m ■ofxho&si/cs my out pmous Bonnie Tebbetts rep (m m ms /m m of, m u f,rs m w u cm m iw m resenting the Long Beach Mcmm&siM a Sister Cities and officers of the Chilean Navy gathered while Governor Jacobo Hey and Mayor Petero Edmunds spoke words of official welcome. Father Navarrete, the island priest, gave the blessing. Tito spoke for all the members of rnoc telling everyone of the hard work and dedication that had been put into this project 54

from the start, by so many. Felicita Hucke placed a lei of native California flowers, sent for the occasion from Jo Anne's garden, round the bow of Tahatai. A special iimu

tahu was prepared. This is an ancient tradition, a ceremony reserved for the honourable completion of good work. The first food from the mnu was served to ko Pate and Fellipe Teao, honoured Rapanui elders. It was Fellipe and a brave of Rapanui fishermen who successfully navigated an open boat to Tahiti thirty ago without the use of instruments. In so honouring these venerable men, the trength of the famjhal link they

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to the sea. ungâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;mixed crews all had the the same oriui o u t r ig j^ iiijjf i ^rffiTis a born youngsters into new and un

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Fie got up. on the stage, sat in a chair and' imaginary ranoes.,Vfdeo tapes and big storyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; PoiyhesiarfAdvaging, and the young people .fabled landing place of Plotu Matu'a,

rnoc

had

Food, fujiand lots of opportunity to paddle Tahatai anc Tahitian canoe, rnoc members and long-time island resf Weber, paddled the Tahitian canoe for the first time ever and much to the amusement of friends and neighbours. There are now four teams from the local school involved in training with Rodrigo in a padding program. There are four teams, two of each boys and girls aged fourteen to eighteen and six teams of adults of several ages. Instructors are Rodrigo Paoa, C Madriaga, Uri Tepano and Kio Teao and training is on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Sometimes a lot_of .paddlers show up, sometimes only a few. All are interested, but Tahatai has no competition on the island to make a race.

Recently a freak accident caused the sad loss of the Tahitian canoe. Never really fit for Rapa Nui waters, she was being brought around from Anakena to Hanga Roa Otai by some inexperienced paddlers. They met with severe, cold squalls, low visibility and, terrified of being blown too far from the island, abandoned her on the Rapa Nui shoreline. So what is next? Eventually, a second canoe will have to make its way to Rapa Nui. What role

rnoc

will play in that event, if any, is not yet decided. As this is an

island-directed program there is a lot of discussion going on about next steps. Others have the idea of starting another cj^g^yhich would get some great competitive energy going.

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With Rodrigo and some of the other paddlers, I helped paddle Tahatai out toward the setting sun. It is an unbelievable experience to sit so low in the water, looking out at some of the highest surf I have ever seen, then turning to ride in toward green hills and long, black shadows of the magnificent, standing moai. As the blades of paddles broke the water in perfect unison, each paddler responding at once to the steerer, I could imagine what it must have been like in the ancient days, when statues were cut from the living rock with the same unified, precise strokes and at the urging of artisans. Polynesian voyaging, outrigger canoe paddling and the giant m oai all teach us that, working together, as one, in harmony, "no jo b is too big when done by all."

At the beginning of this tale, you learned about the early explorers and accounts of the Rapa Nui outrigger canoe. There is some confusion about on which side the ama was rigged. Forster, a reliable observer, saw a canoe with the ama on the starboard side, while others said it was on the port. Herb Kawainui Kane, an acknowledged authority on Polynesian culture, says that starboard placement is virtually unknown in east Polynesia, but suggests that alternate placement of the ama is a clever solution in challenging seas. When Tito Paoa was on the island, he helped rig Tahatai with the ama on the starboard side after first checking the ocean conditions and deciding that it was smarter and safer that way. It seems that this was a part of the old Rapanui ways too, a sure sign that important knowledge ad common sense are often one and the same in Polynesian traditions. On Rapa Nui, history sometimes seems obscured or lost. Most of the time, it is merely silent.

Tahatai, white against the sea and skimming along like a bird, is fully at home in Rapa Nui waters, for the first time in over one hundred years, a strong, capable vessel with all of the m a m of a worldwide family of friends can travel the coastline of Rapa Nui with grace and speed. Just as loving parents give their children wings, all of us who worked on this project have given Tahatai hers. In turn, she will teach us about the past and carry Rapanui children and into their future.

To become a member of Mata Hoe Vaka Kahu Kahu 0 Hera (RNOC) send US$25 to: Curtiss H. Johnson (Treasurer), 711 Montezuma Court, Ontario, CA 91762. Membership fee is tax deductible and includes a yearly newsletter â&#x20AC;&#x153; Rongoâ&#x20AC;?

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RNOC m em bers on Anakena Beach, Easter Island 1996

K a 'n u ( Z u l t u ’ie - / H ic v o n e s ia

icronesia, hundreds of tiny islands located in the western Pacific, is blessed with optimal canoe conditions — clean tropical waters, sandy beaches, favourable trade winds and people who have used the ocean as a commercial highway for thousands of years. It is no wonder then, that modern canoe culture throughout the region has seen an explosive upsurge in popularity in Guam and Saipan. Other islands, such as the Palau, Pohnpei, and the low lying outer islands of Chuuk — Puluwat, Pulusuk, and Pulap — have also witnessed modest growth.

Leading the pack in outrigger canoeing and kayaking is the Guam Kayak and Outrigger Canoe Federation — known locally as p ro a and named after the sleek Mariana Islands canoe — which was formed in 1993. Recognized by the International Olympic Committee family of sports, p r o a serves to educate the public about the region's rich and colorful canoe traditions, as well as develop a better understanding of the inherent canoe building techniques unique to this region. And, because p r o a is a member in good standing with the International Polynesian Canoe Federation (IPCF) canoe culture networking throughout the insular Pacific, is thriving. 59

K a 'n u ( Z u t t u i e - / J X lc t o n e s ia As a result of proa' s initiative three years ago, a second canoe club, though not aligned with ipcf nor the ioc, was formed on Guam — the Marianas Paddlesport & Racing Association, proa is also reaching out to the other Micronesian islands to help develop and inculcate standards needed for internationally sanctioned events. Conservative estimates of canoe participants throughout the region tops two thousand; more people and clubs are expected on the horizon.

Historical Traditions The Micronesian islands have a justifiable reputation as leaders in sea-faring technology that has spanned several thousand intermittent years. Westerners first caught a glimpse of the sleekness of Mariana Islands' boat-building skills when the intrepid Portuguese captain-general Ferdinand Magellan first 'discovered' Guam in 1521. Magellan's chronicler, Antonio Pigafetta, describes in his journal that first meeting of two worlds: Chamorro boats resemble fucelere, but are narrower, and some are black, some white, others red. At the side opposite the sail, they have a large piece of wood pointed at the top, with poles laid across it and resting on the water, in order that the boats may sail more safely. The sail is made from palm leaves sewn together and shaped like a lateen sail. For rudders, they use a certain blade resembling a hearth shovel which has a piece of wood at the end. They change stern and bow at will and those boats resemble the dolphins which leap in the water from wave to wave. Chamorro sailors rep ortedly manoeuvred easily around the bulky Spanish galleon ships, but due to cultural differences and the Spanish desire to explore and lay claim to lands for the church and crown, blood shed was spilled. A mere century later, Spain had virtually subjugated all Chamorro and laid waste to many of the cultural traditions, including nav igation and canoe building. Lost to history was the "flying proa," as it was First ever Guam tuomens outrigger team known four hundred years at the South PaciFic Games Tahiti 1995 60

K a 'n u ( Z u i t u i e - / h ic t o n e s ia

Guam paddlers at Noumea, Neu> Caledonia IPCF W orld Sprint Titles 1996. Left to rig h t: Doug Cousineau. Kelly Dames. Gene Odom. Spring Cousineau.

Jenny ChargualaT. Jorgi Strandhagen. Bianca Cushing. Marilou Parinasan. Chris Taniguchi. Bianca was a finalist a t these sprints (under 16). Kelly Dawes reached the semi finals and Chris Taniguchi (under 16) reached the quarter finals. Right: Matapang Beach Race January 1996. Junior team 61

Kcx n u (Z u it.u r c - / H .ic'io n csla

ago, and five other canoe types used by Chamorro to fulfill a variety of ocean-going tasks. Following the collapse of Spain as a worldwide empire at the end of the nineteenth century, a succession of colonial powers (Germany, Japan and America) coupled with the devastation of World War II, relegated Mariana Islands ocean technology to historic documents. A cultural renaissance has gained momentum in the last decade, due in small part to world decolonization, but more importantly, through the resurrection of pride in cultural traditions. Countless hours of research about the once formidable sea-faring technology of the Chamorro have helped lay a foundation for better understanding of proa building techniques and navigation skills. Much of this research has led to a modified version of the proa that is suited for the region. p ro a first put its version of the proa to the test in the 1994 Micronesian Games, a regional festival of sports that witnessed canoe technology and skills at its finest. Guam earned a gold medal and the respect of competing islanders. The stage was set after the Guam victory for other such internationally recognized events as the ipc f World Sprints, Queen Lili'uokalani Long Distance Canoe Races and the South Pacific Games. Because the enthusiasm for canoe and kayak racing is still growing, pro a administrators are looking forward to the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

K a n u C ^ u L tu 'ic - / K ic t o n c s L a

Guam O u trig ge r Team on a day o ff in Tahiti d u rin g the 1995 South Pacific Games. M oorea

Shane Black (second from rig h t) w as Guam's youngest pad dle r a t the South Pacific Games, pad dlin g w ith a local Tahitian cre w . Papeete H arbo ur. PROA sanctioned events for 1996-97

A number of PROA-sponsored races will be held in Guam's waters over the next year to prepare paddlers for international events. Some of the series people can look forward to include: Chief Mata'pang Challenge Race Series, Kareran East Coast Open Ocean Race, Dos Amantes Race, Labor Day Race. In addition to a wide array of outrigger canoe races, P R O A will hold clinics to train and educate youth, as well as venture into more remote islands of Micronesia to help foster kayak and canoe culture for the twenty-first century. 63

K a 1n u Cf u t tu ’ie - /I'lic'ionesLa Doug Cous/neau (foreground) - Chief Gadao Race Series to select a team for the IPCF W orld Sprints in Noumea. Neu> Caledonia.

I V

To find out more about Micronesia's canoe culture, contact proa Guam Kayak and Outrigger Canoe Federation P.O. Box 21809 GMF, Guam 96921 Telephone Office: (671) 475-4662, Home: (671) 789-1567 Facsimile GNOC: (671) 472-4273, PROA: (671) 734-6824 Internet: melscot@kuentos.guam.net

South Pacific Games Tahiti 1995. Open Men’s first team. 64

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P h o to g ra p h e d on the m o rn in g a fte r the Ice B re a k e r Race p u t on b y the Lotus S p o rts C lub, V a n c o u v e r, BC Canada. These p h o to s s h o w p a d d le rs fro m -y > M o u n ta in H om e Canoe C lub O reg on h a v in g a la s t p a d d le to be fo llo w e d ' - ^ Z ? b y a v is it to Deep Cove - a p la ce w e a re to ld , h as the w o r ld 's b est d o n u ts .

V 65

K a n u (Z u L t u ie - (C a n a d a

th a t u/e don t ever have iht to w hin e about how cold s. You have o ur re s p e c tjo u brave, dedicated st>uf4 harsh and I have i t on good a u th o rity th a t they have igeover practice in this s tu ff et-suited up to the eyeballs), races are staged as double woe events to elim ina te any p ossib ility o f capsize!

K a 'n u (Z 'U -L tu te - ( 3 o o k ^ s ta n d s

Kia Ora from Rarotonga. A Day in Paradise PHOTOS AND TEXT S T E V E W E S T

y six week sojourn in the UK and Hawaii had come to an end. Although my original intention was to spend two days in Rarotonga (the Cook Islands) I had cancelled because it was time to get back home. It seems that the gods had another plan in store. . . The Cook Islands group was first inhabited between 500 and 1000AD, chiefly from the Society Islands but also apparently with close New Zealand associations. Although Captain James Cook never did step ashore on these islands, he did make three visits and it remains the only Pacific area named after him, even though he was not the first European to happen upon these islands. The principal island, Rarotonga often simply called "Raro", is located midway between Australia and Rapa Nui (Easter Islands). Fifteen islands make up the Cook group over a distance of some 1000 miles (1600km). Closest neighbours are the Society Islands 400 miles (640km) to the north-east, Niue 580 miles (930km) to the west, and the Austral or Tubuai Islands some 300 miles (480km) to the south-east. These distances are ironically less than some distances between the island of the Cook group themselves, yet total land mass of the islands barely covers 93 square miles (242km). The Cook Islands is divided into a northern and southern group. The northern group is principally no more than coral atolls, rising less than ten feet above sea level with poor soil and low rainfall. Whilst the islands of the southern group which include Rarotonga, Mangaia, Atiu, Aitutaki, Mauke, Mitiaro, Takutea and Manuae are larger volcanic islands with rugged interiors and whose higher rainfalls have encouraged growth of tropical vegetation. Rarotonga is 21 miles in periphery (34km) with its highest peak at 2140 feet (652m). The first European to sight the islands was a Spaniard named Alvara de Mendana and between 1773 and 1823 Europeans were regular visitors. With much the same timing of the Boston Missionaries to the Hawaiian Islands in 1820, the London Missionary Society came to Rarotonga to establish missions on Aitutaki in 1821 and Rarotonga in 1827. As in other places around the globe, this led to the decline of traditional customs, ritual and practices of the local inhabitants. 67

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• Rarotonga Manga ia

New Zealand. Cook Islanders were naturally skilled

fisherman, seafarers and canoe builders and shared many of the beliefs, customs, as well as language of their Polynesian neighbours from the Society Islands. Early European reports noted that both double canoes and outrigger canoes were in use. Double canoes were similar to those of Hawaii and the Society Islands, being used for similar purposes, namely warfare, deep-sea voyaging between islands and as cargo vessels. Smaller outrigger canoes were used for fishing and 68

K a 'n u ( Z u it u ie - (3 o o k i s l a n d s short coastal trips and usually accommodated only one or two paddlers. In terms of Cook Island canoe designs, it has been concluded that similarities exist between canoes of the M arquesas Islands and New Zealand, with modifications most probably made by immigrants from Samoa and Tonga. For example, the form of the dugout underbody in canoes found in the island of Mangaia and in Rarotonga were and remain identical to those found in Tahiti. A raised ornamental stern post sometimes added to canoes, as high as five feet, resembled those as seen on Maori canoes, often being disproportionate in relation to canoe length. Canoes with single outriggers, had two iako (locally called kiato as in Maori). These were always rigged out on the left, resting across the gunwale and attached by sennet lashings passed through paired holes either side and below. Attachment to the ama was direct by curved elbow or forked branch which slotted into a bored hole on the ama. In Aitutaki the attachment of iako to ama was indirect, using instead a Y-shaped stanchion fixed into a hole on the ama with the iako braced between the forks and lashed with sennet. Some original canoes with single outrigger were up to forty feet in length, approximately one foot four inches wide at either end and up to two foot wide in the middle, similar to contemporary racing outrigger canoes. Seating up to a dozen crew and generally no less than five, the canoe was often made from a single log that was beautifully ornamented. Often the rear iako was positioned close to the stern, the forward one relatively farther aft, so that they were wide apart. The ama was and remains generally straight and cylindrical. Like most regions of the Pacific, neighbouring islands often had a variance in methods of attaching iako to ama as well as of raw materials and canoe design generally. This was due not only to variable vegetation but also sea conditions, even for islands in close proximity. Some canoes were only used in lagoons where the water was shallow and always calm. These variances are evident throughout the Cook Islands where environmental differences occur, even if the fundamental design principles remain similar. Today, designs are rather impolitely referred to as degenerate variations of the original, being smaller, less ornate and with a general lack of attention to detail. This can be said of many canoes around the Pacific which have been made purely for utilitarian purposes. In short, the Cook Islands has a rich history of association with the outrigger canoe, which makes their participation in and w illingness to be a part of contemporary outrigger canoe racing all the more relevant and important.

K a 'n u (Z uttuze - (Zook is la n d s

ood carving, the skill and art which developed in the manufacture of canoes, was traditionally the domain o f expert craftsmen, or Ta'unga as they are known in the Cook Islands. Michael Tavioni is such a man, with whom I met for the first time on my visit when the plane's landing gear packed in, leaving me stranded for a day on Rarotonga. As luck would have it, I was in the company of Kris Kjeldsen of Moana Nui, New Zealand, both of us returning home from the Queen Lili'uokalani Race at Kona in Hawaii. Armed with a Rarotonga phone book we found two Tavioni names (the odds were looking good) and quickly hooked up with the right number to be told how to find Mike - just along the beach from the Edgewater Hotel where we were roughing it in style. After a sumptuous breakfast courtesy of Air New Zealand, we jumped on an island bus and headed a short way along the road to one of two of Mike's wood carving huts, located amongst the trees not far from the airport. The other workshop is in the main town of Avarua. Somewhat surprisingly, rather than island music drifting from under the thatched roof creating a tropical ambiance, "techno" blared for the handful of young wood carvers working on tiki figures and bone amulets. "Perhaps it speeds the work," I thought. Down the side of the hut lay a double canoe with enormous stern posts. A little beyond, an array of canoe shaped dugouts of differing sizes. Mike was out on lunch so Kris wandered off, soon to return on the back of Mike's moped. (No mean feat I can tell you.) Shaking Michael Tavioni's hand, I was relieved to meet a man who wouldn't go for techno music. Despite having his lunch interrupted, he was clearly happy to meet Cast aside dugouts - even master mood with us. Visitors with an interest in canoes careers haoe their rejects. These waiting to are always welcome here. be transformed into ama or kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; canoes. We naturally fell into conversation 70

K a 'nu (ZuLtuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ie - ( 3 ook 3 stands

Michael Taihoni - Ta'unga - committed to development of outrigger canoe paddling in the Cook Islands, by using u>ood carvin g skills in the making of paddles and canoes. 71

K a 'nu (Z u ttu â&#x20AC;&#x2122;ie - (Zook is la n d s about canoes and canoeing and when he realised we were on the island for only a few hours, he talked fast and showed us as much as he could. It was explained that the dugouts down the side of the hut were all part of an experimental process. Some were way too small and probably would end up being modified into ama for larger canoes or solo canoes. Mike first became interested in canoe paddling in 1985 when two six person

In one of Rarotonga's tranquil lagoons Hue solo canoes sunbathe on their canoe platform.

Above, the canoe closest is made from Breadfruit tree. Attachment o fia k o to canoe is via raised spreaders (in common with Tahiti) and attached w ith rubbers. The cureed timber iako arch ouer and attach to a peg that is driven into the am a. Note the small ama. w hich requires fine balance as it submerges easily. Below, from left, one Breadfruit canoe, the others are fibreglass - the firs t to be made in the Cook Islands. In the background, an Au (Hau) tree th a t prouides for so m any rau> m ate ria ls fo r paddle and canoe construction. particularly iako and paddles.

K a 'nu (Z u ttu ’ie - (Zook is la n d s

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A double hull sailing canoe of traditional design. The large stern posts are ornamental and have origins in design which relate back’ to cultural associations with Aotearoa. (New Zealand) In the background. Mike Tavioni’s work place. Below, the canoe looking towards the bow.

K a 'nu ( Z u l t u â&#x20AC;&#x2122;ie - C ^ o o k ^ s t a n d s

Mike's paddles have become something of a passion since he began making them back in 1987. This paddle made from A uor Hau as it's know n in H a w a ii (Sea M angrove) and African Tulip tree.

Ornamental stern posts added to tfi/s double hulled sailing canoe have links with

Maori canoes as contact between the Cook Islands and Aotearoa w as common, leading to a similarity of canoe concepts. This canoe seen outside the carving shed.

canoes were brought by paddlers from Tahiti. These canoes are now rather run down and in constant need of repair. During the following year, the Cook Islands Canoeing Association was formed with Mike being president until 1995. The current president is Paul Turepu. In the late eighties Mike began making paddles because no one else was and they had been coming from Tahiti. Being a wood carver by trade amongst other things (sketch artist and agricultural officer), paddle making came reasonably easy being simply a matter of experimentation. Mike has established himself as one of the driving forces behind outrigger canoe paddling in the islands, establishing the first of the four canoe clubs on Rarotonga, Itimanuka. The name he believes, brings the club good fortune, associated with a legend which tells of a woman who whilst paddling from one island to another, 74

K a 'nu (ZuLtuie - (Zook 3 stands This paddle Mike made for his daughter for the South Pacific Games in Tahiti, in w hich the Cook Islands participated.

James, w ho has w orked as a wood carving apprentice since he was thirteen. is a devoted canoe paddler and has made it his special project to work on the production of fibreglass solo canoes and solo canoes in general.

capsizes in rough seas. Her canoe sinks but she is taken to land by the ltimanuka, a mythical sea creature. Whilst both the making and repairing of traditional canoes has always been of interest, recently Mike has turned his hand to building canoes which can be used for contemporary racing. Together with long time apprentice James, he has been working on a project to construct fibreglass solo outrigger canoes so local paddlers can begin learning and practising the skills required for competitive outrigger canoe racing. The best way to show us what they had come up with was to take us down along the beach to where the canoes were stored on a canoe platform fronting a glassy turquoise lagoon. Beyond, a fringing reef pounded by huge ocean waves and 75

K a'n u C u L tu u - (Zook Zstands in the distance the cobalt blue of the Pacific Ocean. Mike explained that they had considerable problems in getting things going to produce competitive canoes on any scale because of a lack of finance and the skills of fibreglass construction. The latest efforts have involved shaping a solo outrigger from dugout timber, using that as a basic mould from which to make four fibreglass canoes. Although not perfect, the canoes are remarkably quick. It was agreed after a paddle around the lagoon however, that the ama needed to be larger with a greater degree of flotation as it tended to "submarine" on you. Nonetheless, it has been a bonus to have these canoes finished. Much credit goes to James for all the work he has put in, being his special project. James is not only an accomplished canoe paddler who has a great love of the sport, but through his talents he will be regarded as an im portant part of the growth of outrigger canoe paddling in the Cook Islands, I am sure. We also got to paddle a dugout M ike and James have used what is known as the indirect m ethod o f attachm ent o f Breadfruit tree canoe, which was really a treat. The feel of paddling an all organic iako to am a. A peg is driven into the ama canoe is something special and its as a fixed item and the iako is attached to the peg. in this case by rubber. crudeness only adds to the enjoyment and Traditionally in the Cook Islands, the challenge of paddling such a craft. It was island of Aitutaki w as the only island interesting to note the indirect method of where this method w as used. Other attaching ama to iako having a separate islands used the direct method o f peg driven into the ama, with the iako then being attached to it using rubber attachm ent, whereby the iako curved over and w as driuen d ire c tly into the am a. inner tube. This indirect method was traditionally used only on the island of Using this ind ire ct method, the iako can be affixed a t v a ryin g heights to trim the Aitutaki where most of the paddling done canoe relative to conditions, how euer it is was in shallow lagoon areas. Mike's innovative nature has also lead interesting to note tha t the canoes used in him to delve back to traditional Cook A itu ta ki are used in flat lagoon conditions. 76

K a 'nu (Zu-Ltuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ie - (Zook is la n d s

Top. M y daughter Alana (6) paddling the Breadfruit canoe. In M a rch 1996 Rarotonga held its first junior regatta u /ith the youngest paddlers being five. Beloiu. a fibreglass canoe which t ravelled remarkably quickly over the glassy lagoon. As a first attempt Mike and James have done a great job and the fibreglass canoes will certainly make a positive contribution to the growth of the sport in the Cook Islands.

Island paddle designs. A favourite is the Mangaia design so named after the island of Mangaia which has been influential in canoe and paddle design throughout the southern Cook Islands. Though similar to the Teardrop design of Tahiti, the Mangaia paddle has a more pronounced shape, like a diamond with pointed tip, the widest part of the blade being two thirds up the length. The blade is concave or scooped with a belief that the paddle tip entry is smoother having the effect of less air being taken down with the blade as with square tips. A cleaner entry and anchor with maximum width being higher up the blade, pulling is made easier. It takes around eight hours to produce a finished paddle, using largely An (Hau 77

K a 'n u ( Z n i t w i t - (Z o o k i s la n d s Sea Mangrove) favouring it, as in Tahiti, for its lightness and strength. The green tinge and complex markings he sees as a bonus, producing an aesthetically pleasing paddle. Also used for paddle making is African Tulip tree and Flame Tree. Flame tree timber is used sometimes for the handle and shaft whilst Au (Hau) is used for blade lamination. These local timbers take approximately three years to cure before use. If used before curing adequately they will split as the sap continues to dry out. There are also two six person canoes, donated as far back as 1985, which are used by four different canoe clubs on the island. This has fostered strong ties with Tahiti. Getting enough interest in canoe paddling is not the problem, lack of canoes is and it is in this respect that there needs to be an improvement. Ironically, government support seems to find its way into traditional Western sports such as rugby and rugby league. This seems insensitive to the cultural needs of Cook Island people who should be given every opportunity to rekindle a â&#x20AC;? significant cultural pastime, not only to bring residents of the Cook Islands together but also to allow sharing with others of the Pacific and Pacific Rim. Despite the problems, what they have lacked in gear has been made up for in heart and enthusiasm. In 1988 a team made its first appearance at the IPCF World Sprint Championships in Hawaii, with Mike as coach and paddler, going on to make the semi finals. In 1994 Cook Island paddlers competed in Samoa during their flag day celebrations and came back with nine trophies. In 1995 a women's team won the 2500m sprint event in Tahiti at the South Pacific Games and finished fourth in the marathon despite being swamped and having to stop and bail. A goal is to send a team to the Moloka'i races once finances are better. Plans are being made to stage a dugout canoe race around Rarotonga to be known as the Rarotonga Race. This would be along the lines of the Moloka'i and 78

K a 'nu (ZuLtuie - (Zook 3 stands W ater, as tra nspa re nt as air. m eadow s o f coral carpet below. Kris Kjeldsen tests the organic B re ad fru it canoe for s ta b ility . Shill w as needed, even in the lagoon's fla t w ater, to prevent the am a subm erging. There are plans to resolue this u>ith la rg e r am a.

Hawaiki Nui races, but to keep the traditional theme strong invitations to Pacific island nations would be extended with all equipment supplied. On the local scene, paddlers train three times a week. For the past decade or so, local races have been held using the two canoes donated from Tahiti. In March 1996, races in the new solo outriggers were staged for age groups from five to thirteen. Winners of each division received paddles shaped by Mike. This encouragement and promotion is seen as essential to the future of Cook Island participation in the sport at all levels, as well as to cultural revival. As it is for so many Polynesian people, Mike Tavioni feels a sense of pride in being associated with and involved in canoe paddling. Through it he stays in touch with Cook Island and Polynesian heritage, as well as sharing wood carving skills. After paddling around the lagoon and talking story, we headed back to our hotel, only to be met later at the airport where Mike presented Kris and I with a paddle each and Alana, a hand carved whalebone turtle. The gods had been kind this day in making our meeting and exchange of Aloha possible. I left with a feeling of how wonderfully universal the canoe is throughout the Pacific and how it connects us all if we take an interest in its heritage. If ever you are passing through Rarotonga contact Mike Tavioni or Paul Turepu by writing to: PO Box 65, Rarotonga, Cook Islands. 79

K a'nu (Zuitute - Olympic S t a t u s

Olympic Status for Outrigger Canoe Racing Reality or Fantasy? BY STEVE W EST

s time marches inexorably on towards the year 2000 and another Olympic Games, many sporting disciplines seemingly worthy o f inclusion, will not feature and K

M recent criticism has been made of some current Olympic events which interest only fringe groups and have all the appeal of watching paint dry, whilst other more

exciting sports, still struggle for credibility. At the same time, many sports fans and participants accept that the respective world championship or world cup events of certain sports (for example soccer) already represent the pinnacle o f achievement in that sport and in this resect, does the significance and inclusion of such a sport in the Olympics, really come to mean all that it should? As hard a pill as it may be to swallow, it should be acknowledged that whilst outrigger canoe racing may not be as tame as synchronised swimming in athletic or spectator terms, it is nonetheless a minority sport in terms o f participants worldwide, and it will remain so for a long time. The bottom line is that minority sports are simply not eligible for inclusion in the Olympics however worthy we may believe our sport to be. The International Polynesian Canoe Federation

( ip c f )

charter includes the goal to have

outrigger canoe racing accepted as an Olympic sport. It is from this organisation that the push for Olympic status emanates. However, there are enormous challenges to overcome before the International Olympic Committee would even begin to consider outrigger canoe racing as an Olympic sport. Many of these challenges revolve around the prerequisites that any sport must meet in order to be given Olympic status. One of the ioc prerequisites is that the i p c f must gain acceptance by and membership to the International Canoe Federation (i c f ) . This would be no small feat because under current ic f

design rulings, the outrigger canoe for six people does not qualify as a "canoe". It is just

this sort of issue which represents the tip of the iceberg in terms of having outrigger canoe racing accepted as an Olympic event. 80

K a 1n u ( Z u L t u t e - O ly m p ic S t a t u s This is not an easy subject, but I make no apology for trying to convey some home truths. Paddlers around the world need to appreciate the enormity of the challenges which the i p c f faces in achieving their goal of Olympic status due to various peculiarities of the sport which will have an effect on the quest. My initial reaction in considering outrigger canoeing striving for Olympic status is that it seems to be diametrically opposed to other aims of the i p c f charter, namely, fostering the powerful cultural elements of outrigger canoe racing as well as bringing together the peoples of Oceania. Olympic competitors are elite athletes whose success is largely determined by availability of training facilities and money. Not only do you need to be the best, but you need big bucks to represent your country at the Olympics. Money which comes from grants, scholarships, government funds or personal wealth is gobbled up over years of training, racing, travelling and equipment purchases. Which begs the question, where would a small, sparsely populated nation, such as those island regions who paddle, find this sort of cash to support them ? Taken a step further, which nations would win the majority of medals? In terms of outrigger canoe racing, is it safe to say that traditional "canoe" countries, who pride themselves on being the caretakers and original participants of the sport, may not be able to compete at this level, with those nations having the ludicrous amounts of money necessary to bring home medals? Assume that crews from mainland America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand (and eventually Europe) will be dominant and Fiji, Samoa, Tonga et al, will not even get a look in. Countries with larger populations or bigger budgets will, as always, dominate. T h erein lies th e d ich otom y. A P acific island sp o rt in trod u ced to th e w o rld v ia th e O lym p ics an d th ose cu ltu res w h o really w an t to stan d up to be cou n ted for p ro w ess in a sp o rt th a t is fu n d a m e n ta lly th e ir o w n , w ill b e o u tg u n n ed b y th e p layers w ith m ore m o n ey , b etter facilities and b ig g er gen e pools.

Furthermore, is it possible that we would see a greater watering-down of the cultural elements of the sport - a dilution of what it means to the cultures of Oceania? Outrigger canoe racing presented to the world, not as the originators would want it to be, but as the media and the rest of the world would have it? I threw some of these concerns out on the Internet and a few of the responses were enlightening. Some ideas relate to the legacy of western imperialism and colonialism that island nations of the Pacific continue to carry . . . Your question regarding outrigger canoe racing and the Olympics is quite thought provoking. My initial problem with the idea of outrigger canoe racing being an Olympic Sport is who the participants will be. Outrigger canoe racing today is quite technological yet it is rooted in the cultures 81

K a 'nu (Z'ultu.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;iz - Olympic S t a t u s of the peoples of the Pacific. The problem I see lies in the legacy of colonialism. Many of the indigenous peoples of Oceania are still subjects of Western powers. Therefore many of the native people of the Pacific are not free to paddle under their own flag. For example Tahitians and other French Polynesians would have to paddle under the French flag due to ioc rules. The same is true of Native Hawaiians who would have to compete under the banner of the United States of America. Despite these reservations I think outrigger canoe racing becoming an Olympic sport would increase the exposure o f the sport and greatly enhance its competitiveness. If outrigger canoe racing were to become an Olympic sport I have a feeling that Europeans, Australians, Canadians and Americans would do evenly well in the sprints. The reason being that these nations have the money, training facilities and the technological resources to be competitive. Marathon or distance racing is a different story. I think that the nations who have a history of being water sportspeople would have the advantage, namely Australia, New Zealand, USA etcetera. My step-father (who is Native Hawaiian) and I often discuss whether or not outrigger canoe racing is essentially cultural or purely for speed. What we basically agree on is that it is a combination of the two. When you are out in the water you are definitely trying to go faster than the other crews out there. Going faster is greatly enhanced by the many new technological inventions in the sport. You are not thinking about any historic or cultural implications. However, one cannot overlook the mana that a four hundred pound Koa canoe has. Rigging a Koa canoe is a cultural thing, because these were the vehicles of transportation for the peoples of the Pacific. Moreover, these cultural feelings are also felt during the regatta season watching the keiki's (children) race and seeing their ohana (family) there to meet them on shore with leis and hugs. I think that paddling is already an expensive sport, without it being an Olympic sport. Paddles, canoes, entry fees, travel expenses and everything else make outrigger canoe racing an expensive sport. The top crews need to have both time and money to compete at the highest level - in addition to athletic ability. Amongst paddling friends of mine we joke that the people best qualified to paddle are people with no jobs because they have the time, and wealthy people because they can make the time and have the money it takes. If you are just an average person you sacrifice time with your family and loved ones and suffer financially. In closing I would say that I support the idea of outrigger canoe racing as an Olympic sport but with provision to be made for the indigenous peoples of the Pacific. It would not dilute the sport culturally any more than it already is. M alam a p o n o K am ak an i M ark h am , H ilo , H aw ai'i

K a rn u (Z u ttu te - O ly m p ic S t a t u s Kamakani is someone who (like many canoe paddlers of Hawaii) has made the sport very much a part of his life and in doing so has spent many hours considering just what it means to be a part of all that this sport represents. His observation of the legacy of colonialism is an enlightening concept about which many others are comfortably numb. What it serves to remind us of, is not only of the rather unpleasant past but also of the complexities of that remaining legacy and what it means ultimately to the cultural identity of this sport at the Olympic level. So if y o u are T ah itian , y o u w ill b e rep resen tin g F ran ce an d if you are N ative H a w a iia n , y o u w ill b e re p re s e n tin g th e U S A , a n d so on . T h e c o lo n ia l le g a c y c o n tin u e s . T h e c u ltu ra l h e rita g e , w h ic h n a tu ra l b o rn ca n o e p a d d le rs h o ld as p ro u d and w arrio r-lik e, w o u ld b e lu m p ed -in w ith cu ltu res th at h ave no b earin g on , n o r asso ciatio n w ith th e h eritage o f th e o u trig g er can oe an d its p eop les. T h e reality is th at p ro v isio n is n o t m ad e b y th e

IO C

fo r cu ltu ral sen sitiv ities an d n eeds.

T h is m u st rep resen t a ch allen ge to o v erco m e fo r th e

ip c f

In terms of cultural dilution, there would seem to be an acceptance that this has already occurred - and certainly it has in terms of ritual and custom. However, fundamental deep-rooted, spiritual and cultural values are still very much inherent in the sport. These are manifested and kept alive by many of the participants, spurned on by an understanding that this is one of the toughest sports on the planet, particularly in relation to long distance, open ocean racing which forces you to search deep within to overcome physical pain and fear in order to be the best you can and at one with the elements. This next letter from the world's most unlikely outrigger growth area, Texas USA, emphasises expansion of the sport and a belief that outrigger canoe racing should strive to be included in the Olympics. I absolutely feel it should be an Olympic event. The sport has grown and is expanding into new frontiers every year. Heck, even here in Texas we are getting rolling with one club, maybe more! I don't think it would take away the cultural aspects because there is such a deep-rooted spiritual side to the sport. Sure it's fun, sure it's competitive, but it is also about coming together to accomplish a singular goal. More so than any of the other team sports outrigger canoe racing involves an almost communal commitment from it's paddlers. It is their commitment and mental toughness that separates crews even more so than fitness and technique. How else could you explain the success of some of the recent "throw-together" crews? To make the canoe "fly" everyone needs to be in sync mentally as well as physically. There hasn't been a singular technique proven to be the best. The strongest team doesn't always win, and the fittest team does not guarantee victory. 83

K a 'nu (Z'uLtuze - Olympic S ta tu s It is a spiritual event that only paddlers can truly relate to. I believe you must have both the long distance and the sprints to get a true picture of outrigger canoeing. The sprints facilitate a spectator friendly event whereas distance spotlight the ruggedness of the sport. With this combination is the possibility to draw a wide audience as well as some big dollar sponsors. I disagree with the sentiment that the Olympics have lost their ideals. The Dream Team may be farce, but fo r the other athletes and events the Olympics is the ultimate pinnacle of success in sport. Winning a gold medal in the Olympics signifies being the best in the world at your sport. Money and fame can't take away from that. But at the same time it is more than that. In the words of an Army recruitment poster, "To be all that you can be." That's the Olympic ideal. For many the arrival at the games is the biggest hurdle, and in that there is triumph even in the face of defeat. One does not need to win a medal to earn the respect of being one of the best and to be a proud representative. That is the Olympic ideal at its fin est, to be the best you can be and also be a fine representative of your sport and country/ F ran k H ooton , L on e S tar O u trig g er C anoe C lub

Clearly a pro-Olympic response with a belief that the Olympic ideals are still in good shape. One of my questions, (has) the Olympics lost the plot in terms of its ideals, is a question we should all be asking ourselves, including the

ip c f .

Just how valid is

the Olympic Games as a sporting event? There is cynicism and suspicion roused by commercial hype, abuse of drugs, terrorism and the absurd and almost obscene amount of money invested in medal winning (''buying" medals). Public confidence in the validity of the Olympics would seem to have been eroded, to some extent. So, just what is it that Olympic status can do for the sport of outrigger canoe racing? I suggest that it will not improve the level of cotnpetition over what is currently experienced at the World Sprint Championships, Moloka'i and Hawaiki Nui Va'a distance events. Currently the Moloka'i distance races for men and women attract elite crews from all over and are widely accepted as the "World Distance Championships" of sport. By virtue of the nature of the Kaiwi Channel, the stretch of open ocean separating Moloka'i and Oahu, a distance race at an artificial Olympic venue would seem lame in comparison. There is only one Moloka'i and only one Hawaiki Nui Va'a! In considering some of the obstacles facing the ip c f in achieving this goal, here are a few sobering thoughts. Firstly, the politics. According to their Charter, only certain sporting bodies are recognised by the International Olympic Committee (ioc) - the 84

K a 'n u ( Z uLtute - O l y m p i c S t a t u s

International Canoe Federation (icf) being one of them. This means that the ipcf has to be a member of the International Canoe Federation. In this way, it is the icf which holds the key to outrigger canoe racing's acceptance by the IOC. However, the outrigger canoe is not even recognised as a "canoe" by the statutes of the ICF, SO any IPCF effort whilst these statutes remain in force would seem futile. One suggestion in overcoming this, is that individual outrigger associations or federations should join their national canoeing associations or federations which are already associated with the icf and in this way gain possible "backdoor" entry to the icf. This would still not gain acceptance however, as icf design requirements preclude outrigger canoes from being seen as canoes. It seems a great irony that outrigger canoes, representing one of the most significant contributions to maritime history and the development of canoe architecture, are not even recognised as canoes by the single most powerful and influential canoeing federation on the planet.

If they aren't canoes, what the hell are they? In my understanding, whether a seacraft is a canoe or not, relates to a beam-to-length ratio in the order of six to one, or in other words, narrow and much longer than they are wide. There I was all those years, along with all you other suckers, thinking they were canoes. Well they are not it seems, so get used to it. Question is, what should we call them? Taking another look at this deal consider some alternatives. Clearly the icf ideals have already been contaminated, from the purist's point of view, with the inclusion of kayak in the ici^s smorgasbord of paddle craft, as kayaking cannot be

K a 'n u C ? u l t u â&#x20AC;&#x2122;ie - O l y m p i c S t a t u s

by any stretch of the imagination, as canoeing. Ask the Eskimo if you are unsure. Rowers, on the other hand, seem to have the right idea with the formation of the International Rowing Federation. Rowing is a paddle (or oar) sport as the craft is propelled through the water by means of a leverage device and biomechanical application. My point being, why should we struggle for membership of the ICF when clearly that body does not have the interests of outrigger canoe racing at heart or compassion for its cultural needs? The ICF has actually suggested that once outrigger associations and federations have joined their respective national canoeing association or federation, that every effort should be made to encourage outrigger paddlers to swap to kayak paddling! Does this sound like a crafty recruitment plan or what? To give an example, the Australian Canoe Federation (acf) went through a stage of hounding the Australian Outrigger Canoe Racing Association to become members. When it got down to the nitty gritty it became clear that whilst outrigger canoe paddlers would add some two and a half thousand members to the acf and proportionally increase the amount of government funding, as far as distribution of those funds, outrigger would receive a mere token with the bulk of the money going to recognised Olympic sports. This was, also the case in New Zealand. So getting back to my point, wH^^^accept the fact that outrigger canoe paddling is unique with special needs and peculiar equipment which precludes it from being J^ | h e 4^F?'3urely rth!*bold thing to do is for the ipcf to strive for as a :Stan.^-alone federation. Whilst this process may take â&#x2013; autonomy for and control of the sport. | advantages. On a national level, if outrigger canoe racing can be accepted as unique within each country, being separate from main stream Ignf, then acceptance by extraneous bodies such as the icf or that countries ayak body, would be a non-issue and attracting government Tfthe case in New Zealand where the national iian Canoe Sporting Federation (Nga Kaihoe tearoa Inc), has established that outrigger canoe paddling is unique with as such and funded individually, to first ygar and looking to expand this to some $300000 fh die Nej^ Zealand Canoeing Federation or the ICF. utrigger canoe racing has expanded enough (en and if it is, there will be a further time period of seven yearsjrom acceptance to the first games in which the sport makes its dcbuti'furth'ermdre, to be mchi< in the Olympic Games any sport must be at leg^tvseventy-five ci Erics on four continents (this being for men imi set to increase to one hundred c [tries after the year 2000) with forty countries 86

K a ' n u ( Z u l t u z e - O tifin p L c S t a t u s and three continents (presently required for women). In the light of these requirements, let us consider where we are at present. (Time for a reality check.) When we look at the membership list of the IPCF, American Samoa, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Guam and Marianas Islands would fall under the flag of the United States. Rapa Nui (Easter Islands) would race under the banner of Chile. Hong Kong would be with China. Canada, Stahlo and the Native Participation Committee would be part of Canada. France, Tahiti, Wallis Futuna and New Caledonia would be recognised as France. Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, New Zealand, Western Samoa, Italy and the United Kingdom would stand alone. This gives a total of thirteen countries - a shortfall of sixty-two countries for men and twenty-seven for women, before the new ruling come into effect. International Canoe Federation representative Andy Toro attended the

ip c f

meeting after the 1996 Moloka'i to give insight into future prospects of outrigger canoe racing being accepted as an Olympic sport. He confirmed what many of us already know but have a hard time accepting, and that is, it is increasingly difficult to gain Olympic status. In order to realise the enormity of the

ip c f

task we must acknowledge all the

implications. It is important to protect the uniqueness of the sport, being sensitive to its peculiarities both culturally and geographically, and to accept that Olympic status, however achieved, may come at too high a cost. There are many who believe that the ip c f would do better to concentrate its efforts on development worldwide to achieve the number of participating nations required before making a bid for stand-alone acceptance by the IOC. Reaching beyond the sparse, fragmented population of Oceania into mainland America and Europe, outrigger canoe racing surely will, given time, attract the numbers to gain strength, credibility and acceptance as a unique and popular sport in its own right. A viable alternative to striving for Olympic status would seem to be for the

ipc f

to focus on existing international events that already attract the world's best paddlers and are, officially or unofficially, regarded as "world championships". Importantly, these events would be more representative of all participating canoe cultures. In terms of both money and competition, they would be within reach of the greatest number of paddlers from the greatest number of participating nations. Furthermore, bringing competitors from around the globe could only be of financial benefit to organisers and the nations of Oceania. Many venues within Oceania, apart from being ideally suited to outrigger canoe racing, evoke all that the sport represents physically, culturally and spiritually. It is here that there is a recognition and honouring of canoe culture and a valuing of the cultural links engendered by the canoe, fostering the powerful cultural elements of outrigger canoe racing, as well as bringing together the outrigger Ohana. 87

K a 'nu (f^uLtuie - Outziffiez YOeb ÂŁfites

The World Wide Web of Outrigger Canoe Paddling BY STEVE W EST

f you are the sort of person who breaks out in a nervous sweat just using an atm or finds programming the video machine an intellectual challenge o f epic proportions, then chances are messing around with the Internet and computers probably sends you into a similar condition. Well here's a good reason to get over your paranoia, because the Internet has become a way cool place to hang out and explore the many outrigger related sites that are beginning to festoon cyber space.

Paddling the Net" is definitely becoming a way to keep in touch with what's going on out there on Planet Outrigger and beyond. Snooping around the outrigger Web Sites (What the hell's a Web Site? you may be asking) you will learn a heap of stuff you never knew. There is the Outrigger List, which has well over four hundred members all over the world who regularly e-mail messages to one another individually, or to all in one hit. In a sport rapidly becoming spread out across the globe, yet one that is, for many of us, a minority, esoteric preoccupation, being online and using the Web as a resource makes economic sense for knowledge-hungry paddlers. First of all, it is with humility, that I can claim to be eminently qualified to write this piece regarding the World Wide Web, e-mail and all things cyber. This is because (no idle boast) I have found that the best way to have techno stuff like this downloaded to you is by people like myself. People who once were techno-phobic. People who once did not know the difference between a quadruped ram (featuring m outh at one end and bum at the other) and com p u ter ram . H ow ever I acknowledge that the more computer literate amongst you may feel that what I have to say is like a child's introduction to the subject - to you, my apologies. Be that as it may, this is not meant as a lesson in Internet or com puter technology. Rather, in plain English, it explains how the Internet can be your path to a more fulfiling outrigger paddling experience if you can spend time on the Web exploring Outrigger Sites and sending e-mail to fellow paddlers. Basically the World Wide Web is a massive reference book full of pages of sites (or places) to visit via a computer which is set up to do so, having special software and a modem - an electronic device like a telephone, which links your computer to others. The technology is not overly expensive and can be purchased as part of a 88

K a 'n u C ^ u it u M ~ O u t l i n e * TOeb ÂŁ>ltes regular PC package. Ask your sales person to explain more. Moving rapidly away from hardware and software needs, Web Sites are designed and created by seriously enthusiastic individuals who spend late nights and early mornings hammering away at their creations (me included). All done in the vain hope that what they have to say is unbelievably relevant, important and altogether a creation bordering on genius, that humankind simply cannot be without. This is the great thing about Web Sites. They are unendingly varied and provide an absolute plethora (a lot) of information, some of it very useful. With so much information and from so many sources, there is a danger of being swamped, but the potential to be informed far outweighs the risks. Web sites include graphics and photos, text (of course) and importantly, links to other sites. The quality of the design is in the hands of the creator â&#x20AC;&#x201D; some are good and some are decidedly bad, due largely to poor layout and inappropriate use or over-use of graphics. By simply clicking on the name of a related site, your modem is off searching and in seconds you have moved from Maui to Australia or Texas. It blows you away. When the novelty of the technology wears off, the need to know and communicate keeps you going back. Each site has a unique Web Page address or in more unfriendly terms a Universal Resource Locator

( u r l ).

Our address at Ka'nu Culture is a typical

example: h t t p :// w w w .o z e m a i l .c o m .a u / ~ k a n u . Essentially it is a whole lotta abbreviations which serve to distinguish one site from the others. Typing the address into your Web Browser (software that searches for Web Site addresses) you will arrive at our site. The time for something to appear on the screen depends on a host of things, often on the speed of your modem (spend more bucks and get the fastest - trust me, you'll save on phone bills). The amount of graphics contained in the Web Site you are downloading (retrieving) will also affect the time it takes. There are other software applications which are dedicated to searching out key words. For example type in "outrigger" and wait to see what comes up. This can take up to a minute (relative to modem speed etcetera) and you will end up with a list of outrigger-related sites to select from, but will also include Sites such as the outrigger hotels. It must be stressed that the Web and e-m ail are two different things each requiring separate software packages. As for e-mail, well that's pretty simple. The "e" stands for electronic, hence "electronic mail". A separate e-mail address is allocated to you, part of which you choose. For example, the Ka'nu Culture e-mail address is: k a n u @ o z e m a il.c o m .a u , with the word "kanu" being our choice. The symbol @ means "at" and "ozemail" is our "service provider" (the big guns to whom we pay a m onthly fee for being online). The w ord "co m " means 89

K a 'n u ( Z u L t u ie - O u t i i ^ e t YOeb S i t e s "commercial" and "au" is the standard abbreviation for Australia. So armed with a personal e-mail address and all the goodies needed to be online you can then send messages to fellow paddlers all over the globe - instantly and way cheaper than a fax or phone call. Regular mail via your local post office, is known to e-mail users as Snailmail because of the comparatively ludicrous time it takes to travel even short distances, if it makes it at all. Consequently e-mail users tend to be impatient beings. Those of us who w ant it all and want it now! Information rage (akin to road rage) is not uncommon. The faster we know the more informed and up to the absolute second we feel. So that's e-mail. You'll never have to buy an eight hundred page book on the subject, because your favourite, multi-topical outrigger publication, has answered all those nagging questions for you. Right? Let's get away from all this rivetting, but nonetheless essential intro material and get on down to the meaty part. What is out there in cyber space that you as an outrigger paddler just cannot live without? Plenty. And the amount of information that is being added to the World Wide Web on a monthly (and even daily) basis regarding outrigger canoeing is really exciting. So rapid is its growth that whatever we include here now will have undoubtedly increased by the time you read these words. So let's take a look at a good place to start, The Outrigger List.

Outrigger List - outrigger@europa.com Created by Brian Mulvaney, from Oregon USA. Brian is an outrigger paddler and one who can boast of being genuinely computer literate, selling software for a living. He has an interest in all paddlesports and his Web Site reflects this. He also has a love of Oregon going into a quasi-tourist trip around that impressive state to make his site all the more compelling and interesting.

Outrigger List has had mixed reactions. It is the singular best way on the planet for outriggers to stay informed - even too informed! Sometimes you have to put up with extraneous material whether you want it or not, which is the downside previously mentioned. Some complain about junk mail but these are in the minority. Four hundred or so addressees on the list are interconnected, so when you send a message to o u trigg er@ eu ro p a.co m it will be sent on a bulk basis to all those. Once e-mail has been received this way, if you wish to reply individually to the sender, their address can be identified. For those wanting to keep updated with international outrigger race results, the

Outrigger List is proving to be the best source. Like all information, it is only as good as what goes in - rubbish in, rubbish out. Generally speaking however, the quality of the information is informative and rarely dreary. This site has proved useful as an 90

K a 'n u ( Z u L t u t e - O u t r i ^ e ^ YOeb £ > ite s open forum, with discussions ranging from, paddle design, solo canoe design, airfares, coaching and paddling techniques, and as a means for tracking down equipment, people and race information. Some subscribers are more active than others, always ready with an opinion, whilst the vast majority are voyeurs - peeking from behind the micro chips without revealing themselves or contributing. It can be frustrating when input is required and the response is poor. Increasing numbers of subscribers will doubtlessly add to the number of active participants. Results from around the world of major (and some not so major) events can be at hand as fast as someone cares to key them in and post them on the Outrigger List or via some other web site. For example, Danny Toye runs a web site specialising in Hawaiian ocean sports. He hooked up his lap top via mobile phone and put himself in a support boat to cross the Kaiwi Channel following this year's Moloka'i races, then posted regular updates as to the progress of the race. So you could be sitting, as I was for the women's race, in your home thousands of miles away, receiving updates every half hour or so via e-mail. Funky! If this seems like the way to go for you, read on to find out how to arrange it. The following is a transcript of what appears when you request to become part of the list.

Aloha. Welcome to the outrigger e-m all list. The outrigger list is an unmoderated e -m a il forum for the discussion and dissemination o f information on all aspects o f outrigger paddling and canoe culture. Requests to post messages, reply to previous postings and join or leave the list are autom atically handled by e -m a il listserver software known as majordomo. Topics may include, but are by no means limited to: A Race results A Race schedules ▲ Club announcements A Paddling tips and techniques A Equipment wanted or for sale A

Information in p rin t or on the web A Discussion o f outrigger history and culture

A Analysis of race results A New products A “ Where do I find?” questions, etcetera. . . 1 To Post Messages fo r d is trib u tio n to the lis t, send e -m a il to the fo llo w in g address: outrigger@europa.com 2 To subscribe to the list send e-m ail to: majordomo@europa.com Leaue the subject line blank. In the body o f the message put: subscribe outrigger 3 To unsubscribe from the list send e-m a il to: majordomo@europa.com Leaue the subject line blank. In the body of the message put: unsubscribe outrigger. [Do not send unsubscribed messages to outrigger@europa.com as this w ill not do anything but irritate other subscribers]

4 To get help w ith majordomo commands, like who is on the list or w hat lists are on the server, send e-m ail to majordomo@europa.com w ith the word “ help” in the body o f the message. 5 Save this message 6 I f you haue receiued this message and you did not send a subscribe com m and to 91

K a 'nu (2'U-Ltuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ie - OufiLffiez YOeb ÂŁ>ites majordomo@europa.com it probably means that the list owner belieues you to be an outrigger paddler and has taken the liberty o f subscribing you to the list. Hopefully this meets w ith your approval. I f not, please follow the instructions on unsubscribing and accept an apology in the paddling spirit. The Outrigger List is sponsored by Brian Mulvaney: mulvaney@europa.com o f the Columbia River Outrigger Canoe Club in Portland, Oregon. The listseri/er is hosted by Europa Internet Sendees in Portland. Oregon. More information on the majordomo listseri/er program is available at: http//www.greatcircle.com. A digest version o f the outrigger list is now available. The digest comes out three times a week: Monday: Wednesday: Saturday. All postings to outrigger@europa.com since the last digest are compiled into a single e-m ail message and sent to subscribers o f a companion, receive-only list called outrigger-digest. This means that w ith only three e-m ail messages a week you can reduce inbox clutter, yet stay on top o f happenings in the outrigger world. To sign up for outrigger-digest, send an e-m ail message to majordomo@europa.com. In the body o f the message put: subscribe outrigger-digest, unsubscribe outrigger The second line (unsubscribe outrigger) w ill take you o ff the regular list so that you won't continue to receive individual postings in addition to the digest. The info file for the Outrigger List has been updated to reflect the addition o f the digest version. I f you w ant to get a copy o f the latest outrigger info file send e-m ail to majordomo@europa.com w ith "info outrigger" in the body of the message. M o st activity is from m ain lan d A m erica. It is a real b u zz as th e glob al g row th of th e sp ort can b e seen b y th e am ou n t o f activity on th e In tern et. B rian h as sin ce m o v ed to th e U K b u t w ill m ain tain th is list and h is w eb site an d w ill no d ou b t b e creatin g a U K o u trigg er site. Ed

Web Sites The type of information offered by Web Sites can be divided into Club and Association, Commercial, Education and General Information. Some Web Sites are devoted to race results and race promotion whilst others provide a mix. Most provide links with other sites, in the the interests of making their site multi-purpose and therefore of more value. The few commercial sites existing at the time of going to print, promote and sell products such as paddles, fine art and books (Kanu Culture for example). This type of site is bound to increase in number. Some of the Web Sites promote the sport on a general level as well as being a powerful means of making available much needed information to newcomers or other paddle sport enthusiasts keen to know more. In

K a 'n u C ^ u L t u t e - O u t r i d e ? YO eb ÂŁ > ite s many non-traditional areas, information has been hard to come by, which is also one of the reasons for the existence of Kami Culture. Information is also available regarding some outrigger canoe racing events held around the world every year. Race sites include press releases, contact numbers, how to enter and so on - invaluable for participants of a sport which has wide global appeal and a small number of participants. Clubs and associations are jumping in to create Web Sites, providing valuable information about themselves and often also an outline of the nature of outrigger canoe paddling or the local race season and events. Many provide links to other major outrigger Web Sites. In this regard it is not only the contents of a web site, but the links which it provides that make it a valuable resource, rather like an index with push button access to the rest of the outrigger canoe paddling world.

P acific N o rth w est R acing Canoe Page

C A N O E C L U B Ob S A N T A B A R B A R A Welcome to the Ka Nai'a Outrigger Canoe Page

CANOE CLUB NEWS

CZultuie - O u til^ e t YOeb S ite s

OUTRIGGER WEB SITE DIRECTORY E D U C A T IO N A L O utrigger Canoeing FA Q http://www.ozemail.com.au/~kanu/faq.html EXCELLENT INTRODUCTORY OUTRIGGER INFORMATION

About O utrigger Canoeing http://www.ozemail.com.au/~bazzat/about-oc.html GENERAL INFORMATION - AUSTRAUAN BASED

Polynesian Voyaging Canoe Society http://leahi.kcc.hawaii.edu/org/pvs EXCELLENT EDUCATIONAL SITE W ITH M AN Y RELATED SITES

Double Hulled Canoe Association http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/kekoaopono Canoe Building http://leahi.kcc.hawaii.edu/org/pvs/L2canoebuild.html Parts of a Hawaiian Canoe gopher://nic2.hawaii.net:70/00/PVS/4.0-Canoe-Building/4.5-Parts Ernie’s Speak Hawaiian Page http://www.mhpcc.edu/otherpages/ernie/ernie I .html AMUSING INTRODUCTION TO HAW AIIAN LANGUAGE INCLUDING PIDGEON

A S S O C IA T IO N S Pacific Northw est Canoe Racing Page http://www.nwcanoe.com GREAT SITE W ITH EXTENSIVE UNKS TO OTHER RELATED SITES

Canadian O utrigger Racing Association http://www.nwcanoe.com/cora.html Pacific Northw est O utrigger Racing Canoe Association http://www.nwcanoe.com/orca.html Kalifornia O utrigger Association (K O A ) http://www.users.cts.eom/crash/r/ram/koal.html International Polynesian Canoe Federation http://www.ozemail.com.au/~kanu/ipcf.html CLUBS Dana O utrigger Canoe Club http://www.earthlink.net/~kanuman Kumulani O utrigger Canoe Club http://www.users.cts.eom/crash/r/ram Lone Star O utrigger Canoe Club http://www.bga.com/~padlpadl Sydney O utrigger Canoe Club http://www.ozemail.com.au/~bazzat W aikoloa O utrigger Canoe Club http://www.cfht.hawaii.edu/~bernt/wcc.html San Diego O utrigger Canoe Club http://members.aol.com/takeadair/sdocc.html Ka N ai’a (Santa Barbara O C C ) http://patience.ece.ucsb.edu/~anders/kanaiaindex.html Kilohana O utrigger Canoe Club http://www.geocities.com/~kilohana 94

K a 1n u C Z u L tu z e - O u t l i n e * T O eh £ > ite s

RACE IN F O R M A T IO N Holoholo Canu News http://holoholo.org/canunews EXCELLENT SITE FOR HAW AIIAN CANOE RACING UPDATES, GENERAL RACE INFORMATION ETC

Bankoh N a W ahine O Ke Kai http://holoholo.org/wahine Bankoh Moloka’i Hoe http://holoholo.org/hoe Bankoh Kayak Challenge http://holoholo.org/kayak Queen Liliuokalani Long Distance Race http://holoholo.org/canunews/qu_liliu.html Mike Giblin’s O utrigger Page http://www.maui.net/~giblin 1996 Mainland U SA Results http://www.nwcanoe.com/96mainland-results.html 1996 Mainland U SA Schedule http://www.nwcanoe.com/96mainland-sched.html Kanaka I’kaika http://holoholo.com/ikaika/index.html Southern California SurfSki-OC I Race Schedule http://www.nwcanoe.com/so_cal_surfski.html Steinlarger ho’omana o’ Sailing Canoe Race http://holoholo.org/hoomanao/index.html

GENERAL The Paddler’s N e t http://mindlink.net/summit/P.Net.html COVERS ALL PADDLE SPORTS - EXCELLENT SOURCE THATS LOADED W ITH INFORMATION

Paddle Safe (Body By You) http://holoholo.com/bodybyu HEALTH

FITNESS RELATING TO OUTRIGGER CANOEING

The Kaukahi http://www.france-ouesttm.fr/brest96/brst96gb/coudceur.htm ACCOUNT OF A KOA CANOE’S JOURNEY TO FRANCE

C O M M ER C IA L Kanu Culture - Planet Outriggers Handbook http://www.ozemail.com.au/~kanu Hawaii Paddler Magazine http://www.peacock.com/HawaiiPaddler Tahiti Hoe http://www.surfartcom/tahitihoe.htm Raymond Helgeson http://www.maui.net/~helgeson/ Paradox Adventure C raft http://www.peg.apc.org/~paradoxac Hawaiian O utrigger Paddler http://www.tropicsdesign.com/HOCP Zaveral Racing Paddles www.imall.com/stores/zaveral Canoe Sports California www.canoesports.com X ylo Blades http://wwwl.tpgi.com.au/users/mstreok/xylo.htm

K a 'n u ( Z u it u 'ie - jAdti-fjt at ffffea

Adrift at Sea, Catalina Channel B Y A L C H IN G

n the darkness we awake covered with dew. Quickly rolling up sleeping bags, gathering belongings, as the morning begins with controlled confusion, strained emotions. My body trembles with excitement and concern, my mind sorting out the many small jobs to be completed within the next few minutes before the race.

Years of experience has hardened my mind, yet not my nervousness, as I command my body to work quickly, effectively. "Don't forget to complete and double check the little jobs that could turn into big problems later", I tell myself. The usual scenario unfolds. Rookies looking nervous, in a state of panic, oblivious to what happened just five seconds ago. Veterans, nervous, tense, quiet, under semi-control. Coaches, with tremendous burdens on their minds, look worried. Every racing problem ever germinated, conceived or thought of usually surfaces about now. A psychiatrist's paradise. It has always fascinated me, to watch nine grown men prepare for the Catalina 96

K a 1n u ( Z u L t u w - y4dtL^t at ÂŁyea Race. Everything needed is stored on the escort boat. A flow of baggage which, to the dismay of the skipper, never seems to end, as supplies, first strewn under foot are gradually tucked away into every nook and cranny. Somehow each item finds a home. Coaching high strung athletes, whilst crowded into a small boat, is a credit to all coaches. The biggest problem is the intense audio stimuli. No one uses a normal voice. Everyone yells. No wonder skippers can become intimidated. The ocean distorts sounds within a few feet. Motor, wind and waves finish off whatever communication is left, hence the origin of "the yell". Paddlers yell from start to finish. Sometimes I yell just to stop all others from yelling. Then after a few seconds of quiet, it all begins anew. After the race, teams often gather together in a crowded bar. You can't hear yourself think, much less the one you're listening to. You nod and smile a lot and pretend you heard whatever is said. If paddlers haven't lost their voices after racing, they're guaranteed to lose them here at the bar. As the race begins, our motor boat, loaned by a friend, maneuvers through chop and spray, carrying three relief paddlers and belongings. We crash wildly through wakes left behind by boats ahead. After only one changeover, we hit a large wake that comes over the side. Water drenches the motor compartment. Instantly the motor quits - never to start again. After several minutes trying to start it, another boat picks up the crew. The relief paddlers leave, taking as much food, water and other necessities as they can carry. Hoping to get underway soon, I designate an assistant to stay with me. Drifting in silence, we watch the last of the outriggers disappear over the horizon. Optimistically, we survey our chances of an early rescue. We have plenty food and water. It is early Saturday morning and we are in the main traffic lane to and from Catalina. No problem bradduh. An hour later, we are towed back to Catalina. Things are looking good. A mechanic dries the ignition and the engine starts! Anxiously we speed back to find the pack. As we draw near, the water is again rough with escort boats and another large wake swamps the motor, killing it for a second time! Exasperated, we watch the pack disappear. The hours drag by. Several passing boats are reluctant to tow us. Instead they reassure us that they will call Vessel Assist. By late afternoon, my assistant departs with my blessing, when a boat offers one of us a ride but not a tow. What does he expect me to do, abandon ship? As the sun sets, the first small fear creeps into my mind, but a full moon lights up the ocean and I am reassured. The wind picks up and a fairly large swell crashes into the rear of the boat jolting me alert. Immediately I start bailing, knowing more swells are sure to come. 97

K a 'n u ( Z u i t u M - yQd'iL-fit a t S z a Fear fills my thoughts and I plan for several survival situations. Gathering small plastic bags, filling them with food and water, I don a life preserver for safety and warmth. The bags are next to my feet in case the boat sinks quickly. More swells bring water into the rear, but the interval between is long enough to bail out what comes in. Knowing I won't be able to keep up if swells become more frequent, I re-assess the scene and notice the rudder and prop is dragging, steering the boat down wind, down swell. Swells are entering from the rear, the low side. Quickly tilting the rudder and prop out of the water I troll a life jacket on a long line from the bow. This causes the boat to spin around facing the oncoming wind and swells. The high bow and attentive bailing prevents most of the swells from filling up the boat. Drifting well south of the main traffic my boat is difficult to spot. Hours later a search boat finds me a little worn out, but safe and offers a welcome tow. In my enthusiasm I accept without asking where. After several hours, I discover that we are headed for Dana Point, much farther south than my intended destination of Newport - and our speed is little faster than turtle pace. Impatience and cold finally get the best of me. Out of curiosity, I walk over to the ignition and turn the key. With a roar the motor starts up. Dancing and screaming I run it for five minutes - testing fo r. . . I don't know what. Squinting into the dark I calculate by blinking shore lights - maybe five miles from shore and slightly north of Dana Point. The wind is blowing towards land. Onshore. Good! If the motor quits again at least I won't be blown back to Catalina. I make a momentous decision. Trying not to appear ungrateful, I yell to the skipper to cut me loose. At first he freaks out, ranting against the wind. I say nothing. Then he argues but only half heartedly. He looks tired. I am tired too. Reluctantly he casts me off and we wave good-bye in the dark. Pushing the control stick forward I race several miles north to Newport carefully avoiding kelp beds and swells that could kill the motor. Eyes straining in the head wind and ears tuned to every pop of the engine, I move fast in the darkness, dodging real and imagined underwater forms. Entering Newport Harbor, I can begin to relax and even manage a smile. Finally! Home at last! Docking the boat, I call to tell my wife I am safe. All day, frantically, she has called everyone from Race Commissioner to Harbor Patrol, who reassured her that I was picked up by a vessel hours ago. Resting for a moment, I stare at the boat now riding quietly at anchor. Emotion floods over me as I recall what has happened since 5:30am. In the moonlight I look at my digital watch. It reads: " su n 10.15

pm "

K a fn u C Z u ttu te - t e c h n iq u e

Technique and Style Solo or team ~ Dynamic and rigid comparisons ~Leg work and more BY S T E V E

W E S T , M A U I K J E L D S E N PHOTOS S T E V E W E S T , S U E N E IL , D A P H N E H O U G H A R D

lympic paddle sports have had millions of dollars spent on research at the highest scientific levels. Biom echanics, hydrodynam ics and aerodynamics are all major considerations. These are monitored and analysed producing graphs and charts to show optimum requirements of craft, paddle and paddler, which ultimately provide clues to an ideal

stoke technique as applied to any given Olympic paddle craft. Whilst we may define a particular paddling technique best for any given paddle

craft, we must be aware that there is no one style that is best for all paddlers. T ech n iq u e is essen tially a d efin ed

how to. S tyle is in h eren t to (and often lim ited

by) the b iom ech an ical an d p h y sio lo g ical m ak e-u p o f the p ad d ler. W h at su its the in d iv id u al b est, is w h at ten d s to w o rk b est.

Importantly, in making comparisons with a sport such as Olympic canoeing, we must never be misled by the fact that this discipline is essentially flat water oriented and therefore much easier to analyse and to establish a definitive paddling technique. On the other hand, outrigger canoe paddling is concerned with two disciplines, flat water sprint racing and open ocean paddling which is associated with any number of extremes of wind, wave and tide action. How do you come up with a defined paddling technique for each of these extremes? Rough water paddling dictates, through constant irregularities of the ocean environment, that to some degree, each stroke is marginally and sometimes grossly different to account for constantly changing conditions. Paddle a solo canoe in open ocean conditions on a craft without a rudder and you will need to apply a wide range of paddle strokes. Whilst flat water sprint racing technique may be easier to define, we need be careful not to compartmentalise this technique, believing it to be applicable also to rough water ocean paddling. Flat water sprint racing is practiced in a relatively stable environment, where even adverse wind and currents tend to be avoided, whilst the open ocean is anything but stable. In this article are some thought-provoking ideas to ponder and some pointers on technique and style, related to solo and team canoe paddling. 99

K a 'nu ( Z - u it u tc - t e c h n i q u e

Technique - the Eternal Quest for Perfection At this stage in the development of outrigger canoe paddling, we do not have the money to invest in a full scale scientific thesis of the sport. For the time being it seems the best option is to use what has been learned from similar disciplines which have been subject to vast amounts of research and expenditure. To do this we need to view the sport in a new light and develop a preoccupation with Physics and Biology, the two major relevant sciences. Balanced with this, we need to rely on what we can learn and already know from those who have paddled outrigger canoes and been around the sport long enough to know what works.

At race meetings throughout the Pacific, many different styles of paddling can be seen and recorded through photographs o f indiu/dua/s and crew s. M om ents become frozen in time, such as this im age o f Courtney Seto from O u trig ge r Canoe Club H a w a ii, photographed at the H am ilton Island Cup. A u s tra lia . Studying images such as this provides a clear mental picture of perfect paddling biomechanics. Extended and poised for another stroke, the paddler applies efficient technique. Knowledge o f the technical requirements combine w ith biom echanical skill and ability, blending to make a perfect paddling picture. 100

K a 'nu CZuLtuze

^technique

Technique and its analysis is an intellectual process that demands complex thought processes. In order to become a technically advanced paddler, you need to apply yourself to consider just what makes for efficient paddling.

Facts without thought can be dangerous and misleading. If someone has told you to paddle in a certain way, with no explanation or reason given, then you have no knowledge as to why you are doing it. This often makes you less inclined to continue doing it. On the other hand if you are informed as to why a certain action will have an effect on canoe speed or paddling efficiency, your understanding will motivate you to use that technique. Canoe and kayak paddling are fundamentally science based pastimes concerned with the laws of leverage (relating directly to the paddler) coupled with hydrodynamics (relating to the canoe and paddle and the effects of their interaction with the water). Also, to some degree, aerodynam ics plays a part in relation to paddler, canoe, paddle and how the air (wind) affects all three. Leverage itself is a complex subject. One of the things that makes efficient and consistent canoe paddling technique so challenging is that (unlike rowing which uses a fixed oarlock so the point of rotation of the oar is fixed) managing a

101

K a 'n u (Z u L tu * ie - ^ te c h n iq u e Your aim is to anchor the blade as soon as it enters the w ater. This can only be achieved by d riv in g p o w e rfu lly d o w n w a rd s w ith the top a rm . follow ed. a s p lit second a fte r this, by an equally p o w e rfu l pull w ith the lo w e r a rm . Do not push fo rw a rd w ith the top a rm as this ra d ic a lly angles the blade p re m a tu re ly past vertical. Once the blade is vertical, it presents the largest surface area to the m a te r and has the greatest potential to be effective, but requires m a xim u m muscle pow er. A p o w e rfu l in itia l d o w n w a rd s e ntry provides the in e rtia needed to p u ll past this m ost dem anding phase o f the stroke.

canoe paddle is subject to gross inconsistencies created by the paddler. These inconsistencies relate to the grip on the paddle shifting and to biomechanical movement and control of the paddler's entire body during each and every stroke. Needless to say, establishing a style which is most efficient and ruthlessly consistent for you, in any given paddling condition, is paramount and only achieveable with practice, practice, practice. Provided of course you are practising sound paddling technique to begin with. 102

K a n u (Z ulture. - ^Ccchnique. Employing incorrect technique has obvious downsides. These become clearly apparent through poor canoe speed, a tendency to fatigue quickly and an inability to keep in time with other paddlers. Less obviously, and even more importantly, you need to understand that canoe paddling will, if practised enough, mould or sculpture body shape via muscle growth and definition. Incorrect technique over time, will develop incorrect muscle groups and can lead to injury. In this regard video recordings of your paddling technique are most beneficial, providing one of the fastest means of improving technique. Detailed analysis can be made of the way in which you apply yourself and individual nuances (your style) can be examined, encouraged or criticised then reapplied, filmed and re-analysed. Once good technique is established, it pays to watch that video many times over so you can re-run those images in your head as you paddle - creatively visualising an efficient technique. A Paddling technique involves hydrodynamics, aerodynamics, biomechanics and

physics (leverage, force, resistance etc). A Canoe racing is founded upon certain scientific principles first being understood

and then put into practice. A Understanding (intellectsalising) paddling technique and style is essential to

nurturing excellence. Canoe racing is more than physical. A Practise good technique from the beginning as the benefits outweigh reliance on

strength and stamina. A Good technique equals efficiency. Efficiency equals conservation o f energy and

increased endurance. A Think through your unique w ay to better paddling - remain alert, be aware and

learn w hat works fo r you.

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K a 'n u (Z'uLtuie - t e c h n iq u e

Technique and Personal Style In a rapidly changing sport with new paddle shapes, canoe designs and concepts, increasingly demanding races and levels of competition, the outrigger canoe racing paddler is required to be increasingly concerned with first determining and then perfecting a personal paddling style to fit in with good paddling technique. Style is personal because of the variances that exist between bodies in regard to weight, height, arm span, torso length, leg length and so on, dictate an individual style that is most efficient to each individual. Ultimately, each one of us is unique. If w e can th in k o f o u rse lv e s as m a ch in e s p ro v id in g p o w e r to d riv e ca n o e s th ro u g h th e w ater, each p ad d ler is essen tially a d ifferen t en gin e ty p e, b ased on th e sam e p rin c ip le s . Biomechanically, we all operate in a more or less similar

fashion, but "more or less" means a lot in regard to the different ways we apply and move our bodies to create the most efficient pulling of the canoe up to the blade. â&#x2013;˛ Technique is a defined "how to". A Style is a personal quality relating to individual physiology and biomechanics. A Find a balance between style and technique which suits your individual and unique make up.

Solo Versus Six Person Canoe Technique What has become apparent, is that there is a need to address the differences in stroke technique applied to the two principle outrigger canoe racing craft; six and solo person canoes. Added to this, there is the complication of whether the solo canoe is paddled with or without rudder which in itself creates a whole new level of technical skill to control direction. E ven ts su ch as th e

ip c f

W orld Sprin t T itles req u ire solo can oes to b e p ad d led

w ith o u t th e u se o f ru d d ers, as do m o st o f th e races h eld in F ren ch P o ly n esia, w h ilst som e cou ntries are o p tin g at N atio n al C h am p ion sh ip lev el, su ch as N ew Z ealan d , to d em an d th at ru d d ers are n o t p erm itted . T h e p o in t of th is is tw ofold . O n e is b ased on p erp etu atin g trad itio n an d th e oth er b ased on th e n eed to m ak e even ts tech n ically m ore d ifficu lt to exten d p ad d lers an d d eterm in e overall canoe p ad d lin g sk ills of th e in d ivid u al.

Six person canoe paddling and solo outrigger canoe paddling (with or without rudder) dictate a variance of the forward paddle stroke technique and individual style required. 104

^fouxsctj) Whilst strong legs are essential, they are little use if you cannot effectively brace yourself in the seat. Being unable to lock-in and drive the energy down into the canoe is essential. Here are two methods used to brace yourself in the seat. Forcing the legs apart so that your knees press against the sides of the canoe hull. This is difficult to achieve for any length of time. Sit at an angle so as you are facing marginally outwards between five and ten degrees away from the side you are paddling on. This has the effect of pushing the upper part of your bottom against the canoe hull, whilst on the non-paddling side your thigh can brace up against the hull. (Padding on the inside of the canoe can prevent chaffing.) This method also prevents the paddler from over-rotating and as a result pulling too far back during the power phase of the stroke - a common problem. On the left, the paddler is seated "sq ua re " on the seat and is bracing herself by forcing both legs a p a rt and against the canoe hull.

On the rig h t, the p addler has altered position to be s ittin g "a n gle d" on the seat. This provides greater sup po rt from both sides o f the canoe aga inst outer leg and bottom . Greater fo rw a rd reach can also be achieved w ith o u t having to hyperextend. 105

Avoid it also once the blade is in the water as it is ineffectual in terms of generating power and causes the blade to angle / backwards prematurely. / Jk A straight, high, top arm

_ /

will help prevent this.

M a rg in a lly bent elboiv o f lo w e r a rm . Body w e ig h t over the paddle.

The first active motion or drive that you make in order for the blade to contact the water originates from the top arm, driving downwards to bury the blade deep to anchor in the water. This is followed by the lower arm pulling using primarily, but not exclusively, the upper muscles of the back, and the smaller muscles of the arm ~ tricep, bicep, forearm. Keep your body over the top of the paddle not behind it, so you can apply your body weight to the downwards drive. Your lower arm should have a marginal amount of elbow bend, so that you can more effectively use all the muscles of your arm. Over extension prevents this. Over-rotation of the torso must also be avoided as this encourages the canoe to be pulled downwards and sideways as you unwind. The goal is to pull yourself and the canoe forwards up to the blade in a motion which can be likened to pole vaulting. Drive downwards and marginally across the body with the top arm as the blade travels through the stroke. This downwards drive remains powerful for the duration of the stroke, progressively increasing throughout its length, as does the pull from the lower arm. In a team canoe, the stroke is a short one - long out in front and short pullÂ back, so you exit the blade at the hip or waist. Solo canoe paddling demands longer blade travel with follow-through past the hip. Swing back into position (recovery phase) using a relaxed, high, upper arm action. The inertia (movement) that is created in this swinging back motion can then be continued smoothly into the downward drive to anchor the blade in the next stroke. 106

K a 1n u ( Z u lt u t e - t e c h n iq u e

Solo Canoe Paddling Technique B Y M A U I K JE L D S E N , S T E V E W E S T

In tr o d u c tio n Efficient solo outrigger canoe paddling technique is much the same as it is for a team canoe with emphasis on achieving good canoe run. This is really more of an art than a teachable technique as it requires a feel for the water, achieveable only after lots of time spent in the canoe trying to make the canoe run as smoothly as possible. The aim is for a long, forward-reaching stroke with follow-through, rather than for an abrupt ending of the stroke with consequent disruption to the smooth flow of water past the canoe.

This is the essential difference in paddling technique between the two craft. Watch any accomplished solo canoe paddler and you will notice how the paddle, is pulled right through the entire potential length of stroke in the water, so that it goes way past the hip. This means a reliance not only on pull but also on an element of push when the blade travels backwards past the hip. Six person canoe paddling technique maintains that you begin to exit the blade as it blade reaches the hip. Therefore, six person paddling technique consists of a shorter power phase of stroke - the pull element - whilst solo technique requires a longer stroke. This longer stroke is separated into two distinct parts beginning with pulling and then transferring into a pushing action as the blade passes the vertical position and moves past the knee and hip. ▲ ▲ ▲

Develop a feel for the water and the way in which your craft interacts with it. Solo canoes require a long reach out front, with pull and push elements requiring much longer blade travel, terminating beyond the hip or waist. Team canoes rely upon a long reach with relatively short pull back, exiting at the hip or waist area.

P a d d le s The right paddle for solo canoe paddling as a general rule, should be slightly shorter than the one you use in a team canoe as you are sitting lower to the water. Additionally, because speed of a solo canoe is nearly always slower than a team canoe, it is harder to turn a longer paddle over as fast. The length of paddle will also depend on what type of race you are doing, distance or sprint. For distance races, a shorter length paddle is preferable providing more leverage in relation to the centre of resistance, so as there is less strain on muscles with each stroke, allowing you to paddle farther with less effort and fatigue. 107

K a 'n u ( Z u L t u t e - t e c h n iq u e Maui

The same theory applies to blade area and angle. As a general rule, larger blade area with less angle is better suited for sprint racing, whilst smaller blade areas with greater blade offset angles are better suited for long distance work. Over short (500-1000m) sprint courses you do not want the blade to slip during the stroke, remaining firmly anchored in the water. Whereas in distance paddling, if your paddle catches without offering any slippage, you will blow out and fatigue too soon. A revealing and valuable summary defining some of the paddle characteristics you need to consider in order to be well prepared for both sprint and distance paddling. We can also assume that the same rules apply to sprint and distance races for team canoes. Conserving energy over a distance is essential and Maui's observation of allowing the paddle to have some slippage as against having minimal or no slippage for flat water sprint races is an interesting concept. The potential stroke rate (the number of strokes made over a one minute period), as Maui has pointed out, is restricted or enhanced by blade area and paddle length and the relative speed of the canoe being paddled. Wider blade areas that also have a long shaft have less potential for high stroke rates, whilst narrower blade areas and shorter shafted paddles do. Defining a narrow or a wide blade is in the area of two inches based on a standard of nine inches. Therefore a ten inch blade would be considered wide, whilst eight inches would be considered narrow. 108

K a 'n u ( Z u l t u â&#x20AC;&#x2122;i e - t e c h n i q u e Either extreme of these widths would mnke these puddles more definitive in their application. A paddle o f nine inches could be considered all-round and therefore useable for all conditions - but not necessarily ideal. Left, an example of two carbon-blades o f similar design but quite different size. The zvidth o f blade not only dictates different applications be it for marathon or sprint paddling, but caters also fo r the biom echanical and physiological m ake-up o f the individual. Smaller, lightweight paddlers and in particular zoomen and juniors, will tend to favour smaller blade areas, zvhilst larger individuals zvill tend to favour larger blade areas. This is the nature of things. A Relative speed o f a solo canoe is less than that o f a team canoe, which means that a sh iv er stroke rate can be expected. A Potential stroke rate is relative to canoe speed. Fast canoe, fa s t potential rate. A Shorter paddle lengths (total length o f shaft and blade) provide greater leverage in relation to their centre o f resistance and are therefore easier to use over extended distances and times. A Shorter paddle lengths can achieve higher stroke rates. A Solo canoes require shorter paddle lengths due to low seat positions. A Team canoes require longer paddle lengths due to high seat position. A Sprints: Longer shaft, larger blade area and less angle relative to shaft. A Distance: Shorter shaft, smaller blade area and greater angle relative to shaft.

R o u g h W a te r P a d d lin g To become an accomplished open ocean solo canoe paddler you simply have to put in the sea time. There is no better teacher than the ocean itself. It takes time and practice to get comfortable in swells and chop and to be able to feel or read the ocean, just get out there and play until you learn to steer and link up waves 109

K a 'n u ( Z u -L tu ie - t e c h n iq u e allowing you to ride longer and more efficiently, which is crucial in longer down wind and swell races. The idea is not to push into the waves but to put the nose of the canoe in the right troughs so the waves will pick you up. When paddling into the wind, it is best to increase your stroke rate so that when pounding into head seas you are not being slowed too much or even stopped by the effect of breaking seas or wind resistance.

Play is the best means to better technique. Generally speaking paddlers do not play enough, taking it all too seriously and focusing purely on rigorous training schedules. Go and paddle for the hell of it! Frolic with abandonment like some wild ayuatic mutation. Learn your skills with a smile rather than a grimace. You will learn heaps testing your gear and yourself to the limits by simply having fun in the ocean. And don't be afraid to fall off. Learn from Mother Ocean how best to work with and not against the energies out there. A

Increase your stroke rate when paddling into the wind and sea to prevent the canoe stalling. Unlike team canoes, solo canoes have minimal inertia due to their lightweight construction.

S te e rin g a S o lo C anoe W it h o u t R u d d e r Steering a solo outrigger without rudder is not as easy as a good paddler can make it look. But it is a skill well worth learning, both for the satisfaction of mastering a skill thousands of years old and because there are a number of places and races where canoes with rudders are not allowed; all races in French Polynesia, the ip c f World Sprints and a number of races in New Zealand. The most important thing in steering both a team canoe and a solo is anticipation. Being able to anticipate the swing of the canoe from one direction to another. To start correcting or stopping the swing before it happens is crucial. If the bow of the canoe is allowed to swing too far before being corrected, it is much harder to stop the swing and you end up zig-zagging all over the ocean. In a solo canoe, you have to do all your steering by paddling, as opposed to a six person canoe,where you have five others paddling to keep the canoe moving forward, giving the steerer the option of using the paddle as a rudder. Changing sides whilst paddling to stop the swing, must be done on time. The angle of your stroke and your blade during the stroke can be used to compensate for the tendency of the nose of the canoe to want to swing from side to side as you change paddling sides. It is important to always take strong, powerful strokes. Soft strokes will not have as much effect and corrections will take more strokes. In some conditions, you will be simply overpowered by the wind or current if you do not keep the pressure on

K a 1h u (Z u L tu ie - t e c h n iq u e each stroke because you are tired or indecisive. Paddling into the wind or current is the easiest as far as steering is concerned as most canoes tend to "weathercock" or want to point into the wind. Conversely, paddling down wind, is more difficult to keep control, as the wind or current from behind tends to catch the back of the canoe, trying to swing it around. Once again it is important to keep the power on each stroke, keeping the canoe moving faster than the wind or current. This maintains control of the situation rather than letting the elements control you. A side wind is the most difficult because of the tendency of the canoe to turn into the wind. Only strong, decisive, powerful strokes are going to be effective in overpowering this tendency. Usually you will end up taking twice as many or more strokes on the windward side than on the lee side. Sometimes, if the wind is especially strong say 15 knots plus, you may have to paddle on that side almost exclusively! At times like this, if you slack off and take soft strokes because you are fatigued, you will lose it and end up working twice as hard to bring the canoe back on course. Like everything, lots of time practising is necessary to master the art of paddling a solo canoe without a rudder. With perseverance the skills required will become second nature. It is immensely satisfying and enjoyable to be in control of your canoe in a variety of conditions - the way people of the Pacific have done for eons. I trust that these skills are never lost.

Anticipation is crucial. Angle your stroke and blade to control direction. A When steering take strong, decisive strokes. â&#x2013;˛

The Importance of Leg Work B Y S TE V E W E S T

Solo canoe design dictates that we sit much lower to the water and that both legs are equally outstretched at a height only marginally below that of the seat. A Six person canoes dictate sitting considerably higher relative to our feet and to the water level. In this position it is part of the forward paddling technique to have the leg on the paddling side near straight with the other leg bent. A

When considering technique, the two canoe types - solo and six person - have major significant differences in seating height and leg position. Biomechanically this implies different forces at play within the two craft. When seated in a solo canoe with or without rudder peddles, your legs are in

K a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;'hu (Z u ttu â&#x20AC;&#x2122;ie - t e c h n iq u e outstretched and feet are at approximately the same height as your butt. Any weight or energy transference travels from the paddle along the arms to this area, along the legs and terminates at the soles of the feet against the foot peddles or bulkhead. However, the vast majority of energy transference created during the power phase of the stroke terminates in the paddler's seat, explaining why solo canoe paddlers (especially novices) who paddle on flat-topped, as opposed to moulded seats, often get sore in that area, even numb legs, on the ama side. The butt not only has to cope with body weight, but also with most of the energy transfer which is causing the canoe to move and which also has the effect of driving the paddler's body downwards and marginally forwards. In the case of the six person canoe, paddler body weight and the energy transference along the paddle, down the arms to the seat is dissipated in greater amounts down the legs to the feet and out to the canoe. Therefore, the legs play an important (often overlooked) role in six person canoe paddling. The feet must have good traction and be firmly braced so energy transfer to the canoe is maintained and not wasted. This has been increasingly acknowledged and many paddlers' training now involves leg work (bike riding or running) to strengthen leg muscles which are essential in ensuring that the energy in pulling the canoe up to blade is transferred to the canoe hull via the seat and legs. Legs should be proportionally as strong and fit as the upper body. Not to say the legs have to be big as this will only add additional body weight which is not always desirable. Weak legs can be the weak link between upper torso strength, powerful technique and energy transference to the canoe, so do not forget to include them in training.

W ith both legs stretched out and feet and seat at s im ila r heights, m ost o f the paddler's energy tra nsfer from blade to body, term inates in the butt. Unlike team canoes in w hich, because o f increased seat height and d iffe rin g leg positions, a greater percentage o f the energy is transferred along the legs into the canoe - an essential link in d riu in g the canoe fo rw a rd s e vid e n tly. 112

K a n u ( Z u L t u ie - t e c h n iq u e

In the case of solo outrigger canoes, the seat area is the principle place of energy transfer to the canoe, so a comfortable, firm seating arrangement is paramount and something which is becoming more of a standard, rather than luxury item now. A moulded seat provides improved lumbar support and also greater sensitivity for the canoe below and therefore control. Marginally raised side edges help to prevent being edged off the seat into the water in choppy, beam-on water. With this feature the paddler can also displace the body weight to the off-side to "fly" the ama with added security which a raised edge gives. A raised rear edge prevents slipping backwards on the seat. In combination with the force which pushes down on the body, energy is contained and transfers directly into driving the canoe forward, as any movement or slippage backwards results in dissipating power. With legs marginally outstretched in the solo canoe, it would be easy to draw the conclusion that they do not play as vital a role as they do in six person canoe paddling. However, you can use your legs to good effect when paddling your solo canoe by using a dynamic movement to thrust the craft forwards. With bent knees (bent enough to fit a clenched fist underneath) it is possible to bend both 113

(Z uitu rc

t e c h n iq u e

the knees about an inch or so during the reach phase of the stroke. Maintain that position until just prior to the exit phase, then thrust from the hip, straightening out that one inch bend. The effect is to drive the body weight forwards, creating inertia which causes the canoe to leap forward (But don't bury the canoe!) This technique will not suit all and is more effective in certain conditions. It is effective for actually pushing the canoe over bumps and swell to get the drop in. Paddle like this for any length of time with less than fit legs and you will begin to see the importance of strong legs. A Legs and seat provide the "gearing" ivhich connects the horsepower from your

blade to the canoe. Strong, fit legs are essential and must not be overlooked in a paddlers training regime.

Olympic Canoeing - a Comparison

To some degree we can make comparisons with Olympic canoeing and the two fundamental paddling techniques that apply, despite the fact that they paddle with the paddle-side leg bent with the weight on the knee, while the other leg is positioned with a ninety degree bend relative to the body. The two techniques relate largely to the degree to which the paddler bends from the knee and hip during the stroke whilst the movement of the upper torso remains essentially the same in both. These are referred to as the rigid lower body frame and dynamic lower body frame techniques. 114

K a 'n u ( Z u i t u u - t e c h n iq u e â&#x2013;˛

Rigid technique, requires that the lower frame, from the hip below, remains stationary, whilst the upper torso leans forward and rotates. This being the only movement.

â&#x2013;˛

Dynamic technique, incorporates leg movement as well as that of the torso and because of this it is also referred to as inertia transfer technique. R igid tech n iq u e relies so lely on th e p o w er an d w eig h t of th e u p p er b o d y to

p u ll the can o e th ro u g h th e w ater. D y n am ic tech n iq u e relies o n a su b stan tially g reater am o u n t o f the b o d y w eigh t d u rin g the p ull. T h ere is a relian ce n o t on ly o n u p p e r to r s o r o t a tio n b u t o n a th r u s ti n g m o tio n fr o m th e h ip a n d k n e e w h ereb y b o d y w eigh t ad d s in ertia (forw ard en ergy).

Can we adopt this methodology to outrigger paddling? If you spend any time watching canoe crews you will notice how some paddlers remain relatively upright during their stroke cycle, rotating only in twisting fashion from the hip and waist, whilst others will appear to dip or bob up and down as they reach, enter the blade and pull back. Of course we cannot hinge at the knee to the same degree as suggested for the Olympic canoe, as outrigger racing rules generally specify that you must remain seated at all times, so this limits any radical knee action. We can none-the-less incorporate a bending forwards from the hip/w aist in combination with torso rotation and a slight degree of bending and straightening of the leading leg's knee. This allows for greater reach and utilisation of body weight and by straightening the leg during the power phase of the stroke, we would be emulating dynamic or inertia paddling technique to some degree of effectiveness. This being said, the dynamic technique is by nature technically harder to perfect as timing is critical and not altogether suitable in all circumstances. It is therefore preferable to learn the rigid technique first. One of the obvious problems that comes to mind with the dynamic or inertia technique, is that such large movements by several paddlers creates a potential for longitudinal and lateral instability in the canoe. This just means it will sink and rise both lengthways and sideways in time to the forward and backward movements. This is undesirable because it affects the wetted waterline length, causing the canoe to be subjected to varying degrees of resistance, rather than maintaining a more consistent amount of contact (and drag). Because of this, the technique is used more predominantly by lightweight paddlers with heavier paddlers preferring the rigid technique. Heavier, stronger paddlers can naturally rely more upon upper body strength, weight and rotation. 115

K a 'n u ( Z u t t u â&#x20AC;&#x2122;ie - t e c h n iq u e Generally speaking, large r creius and especially large men, tend to adopt a more upright, or " r ig id â&#x20AC;&#x2122;' p addling position. Lotuer hand is placed relatively high up the shaft w hich maximises the leverage potential inherent in their height. This requires added strength but when you are six foot plus, it is generally available.

Lighter paddlers with less reach and strength can benefit by using their entire body weight in a more dynamic movement without adversely submerging the hull during the stroke. When we talk in terms of outrigger canoe crews, whether they be of six, nine or ten, perhaps we need to consider the average. Are they averagely heavy or averagely light? This will give some indication of the technique which will best apply to that crew as a whole. Whether there should be a mix of the two styles is 116

K a rn u ( Z u it u t e - t e c h n i q u e largely a matter of discretion, but if you do have a mix of light to heavy paddlers, tall to short, then a mix of styles at work in the canoe is probably going to be alright, provided that it does not affect timing and rhythm and that those who do employ the dynamic technique, do it well.

To some degree, we can also consider the two techniques as applied to solo outrigger canoe paddling. Whilst the legs (or at least the feet) do not act as substantial transfer points for driving the canoe forwards, the paddler has the option to remain relatively motionless from the hip and waist in terms of forward lean, or to rotate the torso, leaning forward from the waist to maximise both reach and the degree to which upper body weight is contributed to the stroke. Some bending of the knees can also be made during the more dynamic technique, with the paddling-side leg bending to allow greater reach, straightening marginally during the power phase of the stroke. Once again a heavy paddler would tend to sink the hull more during the execution of this dynamic technique which will naturally create increased drag and resistance. In terms of outrigger canoe paddling technique it can be said that there are essentially two fundamental techniques which can be adapted by either the solo canoe paddler or the collective six, nine or ten paddlers which make up a six person canoe crew. With regard to synchronicity of technique and maintaining uniformity within a six person canoe, it is essential that coach and crew agree upon a given technique or combination. Failure to do this could result in differing techniques causing problems of timing and rhythm. Paddles used by a crew, must also be uniform in design concept, though naturally they will vary in shaft length. ▲

▲

Rigid technique: An upright paddling position, suited to tall individuals who have plenty of leverage and upper body strength. Requires the paddler to rotate at the waist and have a high hand position on the paddle shaft. Dynamic technique: Active movement of the upper body in the stroke. Body is leant into the stroke at the reach phase of the stroke, with a bending and twisting at the waist. Suited to smaller paddles. Both techniques can be applied to both solo and six-person paddling. A t its h ig h e st lev el, o u trig g er can o e racin g is a tech n ical en d e a v o u r w h ich

d e m a n d s s o m e in te lle c tu a l e ff o rt a n d th o u g h t. F a ilu re to a n a ly s e p a d d lin g tech n iq u e an d y o u r in d iv id u al style, or failu re to m ak e a stu d y o f the in teraction b etw een can oe an d w ater en v iro n m en t, w ill d rastically lim it y o u r p oten tial. T h in k in g y o u r w ay to m ore effective p ad d lin g, is b etter th an em b ark in g on a m is s io n o f fr e n e tic f itn e s s a n d (o f te n m is g u id e d ) s tr e n g th p r o g ra m s . R e a l p rogress o n ly occu rs th ro u g h u n d erstan d in g th e scien ce and art of p add lin g. 117

K a 1n u ( Z u L t u â&#x20AC;&#x2122;i e - ^ Z e c k n iq u e Below, a perfect example o f d y n a m ic p ad d lin g technique in action. Jo Jo Toeppner. O ffSfiore California, stands only five foot four but packs a hell o f a punch w ith each stroke as she applies not only upper body strength but also body w eig ht. By bending fo r w a rd at the w a is t to maximise reach and by m a rg in a lly tw isting the upper torso then u n w in d in g through the stroke, body w eig ht is applied to the pull. The energy created is then transferred d o w n w a rd , through the seat and legs, into the canoe. Complete concentration. High, top a rm action so that the elbow is raised above the iei/el o f the head. Upper torso dips lo w in order to achieve m a x im u m application o f body w e ig h t

durin g the p o w e r phase o f the stroke.

The lo w e r hand is positioned approxim ately M one hand span from the blade's shoulder.

Below: Robbie Harrison and Walter Guild (both over six foot) apply a rigid technique w ith upper torso rotation from the w aist, w h ils t remaining re la tive ly upright. Extra w eight. strength and leverage means there is no need to lunge f o r w a r d in the dyn am ic style. Furtherm ore i f they did. there w ou ld be an adverse effect on the canoe - a d o w n w a rd s plunge w ith each stroke. This rig id technique requires the lo w e r hand to be positioned a b o u t tw o h a n d s p a n s up the s h a ft fo r added le v e r a g e

and

reach. This does require g re a te r e ff o r t to m a in ta in - more a c h ie v a b le f o r t a lle r , s t r o n g e r paddlers. 118

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Rigging Know-How TE XT AN D PHOTO S STEVE W ES T

igging outrigger canoes is something which every paddler should know how to do. Sadly this is not the case, as invariably it is left up to a handful of individuals who take on the responsibility whilst others stand back and watch, look out to sea or chat with friends. Not that there is anything wrong with having experts performing the rigging most of the time, but it is important and necessary for others to learn how, as those with the knowledge may not always be around when needed. These "riggers" tend to be at regattas early so as to make sure the canoes are rigged and ready to go, irrespective of whether they are first up on the water or not. All too often, women do not know how to rig canoes not because they do not want to learn, but due to the fact that some men see it as male territory. Beyond this, many paddlers, both male and female, remain clueless, not acknowledging that the art and skill of lashing the outrigger to a canoe is a fundamental part of being a capable outrigger canoe paddler. From a safety point of view, being aware of the mechanics behind the rigging, encourages checking and maintaining of lashings each time a canoe is paddled. More importantly, knowledge of the process allows for the creation of makeshift rigging in the case of lashings unbinding or breaking. Rigging sessions should be a part of every club's training manual, something 120

K a 'n u ( Z - u lt u t e - â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;R i f f l i n g shown to all new participants from the beginning. Including all paddlers, male and female from all age divisions, in this important undertaking encourages a feeling of being more complete in their

paddling

know ledge

and

therefore more confident in their abilities as skilled outrigger paddlers. Q u in tesse n tia l^ ,

rigging

should

represent an initiation process. Rigging consists, in its most basic form, of attaching the two iako (spars) to the canoe hull across the canoe spreaders and then attaching the ama to the

iako. In rigging

the

canoe,

consideration must be given to a variety of available options. In ord er to "p u t all the bits tog eth er" to create a functional

Rigging a canoe demands team w o r k ju s t as crucial as to paddling the canoe

assembly, it is necessary to consider why we attach an outrigger in the first place. W hat is the function of the outrigger? As described by H addon and Hornell in Canoes o f O ceania , the outrigger assem bly acts as a

counterpoise, which is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as, a counterbalancing weight, thing o f equivalent force on opposite side. In understanding this, we can then see that there are choices to rig the canoe in a number of w ays. These variations have different effects on the canoe, from ultra stable to ultra unstable, governed by how closely ama is attached to hull. The crew's level of experience is a vital consideration in making this decision. 121

K a 'n u ( Z - u ltu te . C apturing the spirit o f an am a . . . Dolphin, a u/ave riding, playful creature that flies both through a ir and w ater. Tahitian inspired, w ho w o u ld n 't love this ama? Com bining a rt w ith function in true oceanic s p irit.

The ama acts as a secondary hull, which, because of its contact with the water, creates drag in addition to the hull's drag. Ideally we aim to keep that contact with the water to a minimum, so as hull speed may be maximised and the horsepower required to push the canoe through the water, reduced. This has the effect on paddlers of reducing fatigue and therefore, increases performance. The closer the ama is attached to the hull, the more the canoe behaves like a single hull, being faster and more responsive.

Therefore on the one hand, there is a desire to minimise ama contact with the water to create greater speed, but on the other hand there is the need for a relatively stable canoe - or at least providing enough stability for a crew to feel comfortable and secure given their level of experience. There are three major considerations which determine the way in which a canoe might be rigged:

~ How experienced is the crew thatzvill be paddling the canoe; ~ What are the expected w ater conditions; ~ Is the canoe to be paddled fo r sprint (regatta) or distance? This being said, there is, in the case of having a canoe rigged up on a semiÂ permanent basis for general club use, the obvious complication that the answer to these three questions would usually be a variety of levels of experience, in a variety 122

K a 'nu (3 uttute of water conditions, for a variety of training purposes. In this respect, as a rule, it is best to rig a canoe which is used for general club training so that it is stable and in no way tippy, for the safety of all club members. In many circumstances it is possible to have a specific canoe with ama permanently rigged close to the hull for the enjoyment of and to challenge more experienced paddlers.

Race Rigging Rigging the canoe on race day, the following considerations will apply: ~ Number o f crews that w ill be using the canoe

~ Level o f experience o f the paddlers ~ Predominant weight ~ Relative height ~ Level o f experience o f the steerer ~ Ama (weight and design being important) ~ Expected time on the w ater ~ Weather forecast ~ Sprint or distance paddling ~ Downwind or over a variety o f points o f a course ~ Water conditions

Variety of crews paddling one canoe If the canoe is to be used by a variety of crews during the course of a race day, then it would be best if the crews who use that canoe are of a similar level of expertise. Setting the canoe up for an experienced crew who after racing then hand over to inexperienced paddlers, could result in disaster if the canoe is rigged so as to be unstable. Often there is no time to make adjustments to the lashing between races. If an experienced crew must share with less experienced then there needs to be a compromise in the rigging.

Experienced or novice paddlers The fundamental difference between rigging for an experienced crew as against that of a novice crew, is that the experienced crew will generally favour the ama closer to the canoe, which reduces the amount of weight acting downwards on the ama, reducing drag and increasing potential speed. This also allows the ama to fly periodically and respond better in swell and surf conditions.

123

K a 'n u ( Z u i t u t c Whilst this is fine for experienced crews, novice crews would find it to be a handicap as the unstable nature of the canoe rigged this way could cause feelings of insecurity and anxiety.

Heavy or light crew This is a complex factor as there is a fine line separating overall stability of the canoe relative to the crew's weight. The rule applied is along the lines that light crews on flat water can be rigged closer in than heavy crews. The reasoning behind this being that light crews, are less likely to create a force which exceeds the counterpoise the ama and iako create and therefore more likely to capsize as a result. Heavy crews can easily offset the counterpoise effect. How true this rule holds for rough water paddling is argueable with the bottomline depending on factors such as general paddling ability.

Crew height Being scientific about this, we can say that a taller crew will have a centre of gravity at a higher level relative to the canoe, which therefore sets up a greater degree of capsize potential. It is a factor, but nothing to get too carried away with.

Steerer experience This is often overlooked in determining rigging. First of all you need to appreciate that the steerer has a very strong bearing on the general stability of the canoe and is, more often than not, responsible for a capsize or huli. An inexperienced steerer in rough conditions, be it ocean or flat, can make what should be a stable canoe seem like a ride from hell. The ama constantly lifts creating instability and raised levels of anxiety amongst the paddlers. Poking and paddling on the non-ama side of the canoe at inappropriate times will make any canoe twitchy, even if rigged out wide. Given rough conditions therefore, consideration must be given to the level of experience of the steerer. An experienced crew who loses their regular steerer and has to call on a less experienced steerer must consider changing their usual set-up to account for this.

Ama design and weight As there are a variety of ama being used, you need to consider weight and design suitability in relation to conditions. This requires special knowledge.

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K a 'nu (Z u it u ^ e -

Length of time on the water Naturally the longer the time spent on the water, the greater the chance that conditions will change. It is common to start in the morning in full glass off with not a breath of breeze and rig up real close only to find that two hours later when the race starts the breeze is picking up and another two hours into the race its Mowin' old boots. The rule on this one is: "Don't rig for now, rig for later as well!"

Expected conditions and weather forecast Crucial for race day and training days. Rig accordingly or take the canoe best suited for the expected conditions.

Sprints or distance Whether the race is a sprint (regatta) or distance will have a bearing on the way in which you rig. Flat water sprint races, dictate the ama lashed in close to reduce the canoe's turning radius and increase its responsiveness, also giving the ama potential to float higher with less drag. Speed around the buoys is crucial to winning sprint races and therefore practicing turns while rigged in tight is a must. In the case of distance paddling you have options, and as already outlined, your choice to rig wide or close will be dictated by; water conditions (now and later), the forecast and the crew's and steerer's level of experience.

Downwind or a variety of points on a course Careful consideration of conditions, such as the swell and wind direction and the course over which the canoe will be travelling, will determine how you might rig the canoe. Differing angles of the canoe, relative to wave and swell action, will determine the canoe's ability to cope with those forces acting upon it. The canoe is at its most vulnerable when the wave and swell action is travelling across its aft beam or quarter from the ama side, as this tends to lift the canoe and ama causing the canoe to twist as the wave or swell travels underneath. A beam sea onto the ama side can cause a feeling of tippiness but this is dependant on the steerer who can easily flip a canoe with a strong poke or stroke on the non-ama side. Beam on from the non-ama side generally presents little problem, but in big seas remember the ama and rigging will be under enormous stress as the ama buries itself frequently. 125

K a 1n u ( Z u L t u z e With a following sea, the canoe can be almost at its most stable provided it is being steered correctly. With the added inertia from wave and swell and little or no sideways torque, a canoe and the lashings are under minimal stress, provided the steerer can avoid broaching the canoe. Generally speaking it is not the size of the swell that poses the greatest threat to capsize, but the sea that goes with it in the form of chop and short standing waves, which causes the ama to bounce violently. In addition many crews in this sort of sea, will tend to lose their rhythm and smoothness of technique and style, which contributes to instability. A rm ed w ith all these co n sid eration s yo u w ou ld be righ t to th in k th at m u ch of th e a rt of can o e rig g in g is b ased aro u n d exp ertise. A co m p eten t " r ig g e r" w ill h ave in tim ate k n ow led ge of the n atu re of an ou trigger can oe an d h ow it behaves in a v a r ie ty o f c o n d itio n s , as w e ll as o f th e c re w s w h o a re to p ro v id e th e h o rsep o w er an d th eir p ad d lin g exp erien ce. B u t do n o t let th is fact d eter yo u from learn in g th e b asic skills. L isten to and w atch th ose w h o h ave k now led ge to share and m ak e an effort to in form y o u rself as to the scien ce b ehind ou trigger canoe rig g in g , so th a t y o u can a p p ly y o u r in tu itio n an d g a th e r y o u r o w n p e rso n a l exp erien ce.

Additional Considerations When we think of rigging, we should also consider that part of the process which tends to include a host of other things to be taken care of - these become a natural extension of involvement in rigging and can include:

Fitting covers Attaching and replacing seat padding ~ Making and creating fixing points for bailers ~ Making bailers ~ Small repairs ~ Attaching spare paddle to iako ~ Attaching sling shot between the mam ihu (front) and forward iako/ama ~ Attaching sling shot between the two iako ~ General maintenance inspections of the canoe

~ ~

Rigging Box Every club needs a "rigging box" containing, in the manner of a good tool kit, all the essentials needed for rigging and also extra bits and pieces which may be 126

K a 'nu CZ ultuie - eRiffiLn$ needed from time to time. How extensive the "rigging box" is, would depend upon individual club needs and preferences. Some items are required constantly, whilst others are only needed occasionally. Naturally clubs with large numbers of canoes tend to have a number of these equipment collections and it seems to work best if each one falls under the responsibility of one individual. This person knows its complete contents and can keep track of those items needing replacement so that club members are never caught short. Ensure your "rig gin g b ox" is as comprehensive as possible to avoid frustration and anxiety. A " r ig g in g b o x " w ill n a tu ra lly in c lu d e a s u ffic ie n t su p p ly o f th e p re fe rre d lash in g m aterial, b u t w ill g en erally b e restricted to: L ash in g ru b ber, cut into approximately two-inch (five centimetre) wide strips

of 2mm thickness. The length required will vary, according to whether it is used just for the initial set-up prior to finishing with cordage, or whether you will be lashing exclusively with rubber. For a makeshift set-up prior to cordage rigging, two lengths of 20 feet (6 metres) should do it. For a complete rigging job, you will need in the order of 40 feet (12 metres). Rather than just having a minimum amount, have ample spare lengths cut. C otton cord , which is accepted as the best readily available natural fibre for

cordage rigging. (See Ka'nu Culture Vol 1 for more on choices of rigging materials) You will need approximately 50 feet (15 metres) of 4mm cordage to tie each ama to iako and 60 feet (18 metres) of 6mm, to lash each iako to the spreader.

S om e o th er h an d y item s include: D u c t T a p e (heavy duty), for a variety of jobs including securing covers, wrapping around lashing, patching up small dings on the ama in an emergency,

attaching seat covers and a host of other jobs. D rill (battery powered) for attaching hoop fixing points, repairs etc., Fibreglass R ep air K it, Spirit level for levelling the canoe, K n ife, Sand P ap er, S pare B u n gs, S pare Seat C overin gs (foam), Spray O il to ensure zippers work and loosen snagged ones, P atch es for emergency repairs to covers, C on tact A d h esive, S crew d river to attach bailer and hoop fixings, S crew s, B ailers, L eath er G loves to prevent skin burn of hands when tensioning cordage, D iv e W eigh ts for weighting the

ama in very rough conditions, T im b er W ed ges for

chocking the iako, S ilicone for minor repairs to seals (around bung holes), W ater P roo fin g S pray for worn covers. 127

K a 'n u ( Z u L t u â&#x20AC;&#x2122;ie. - <rR .l$$Ln$

Before You Begin You need at least two people involved in the lashing process. Make sure all that you need is to hand. The first stages will require a tape measure, spirit level, two lengths of rubber (enough to make at least five turns around the iako and canoe spreader) and a timber wedge, if required, for placing over the forward spreader.

Step 1 - Levelling the Canoe The first step involves levelling the canoe and this is where the spirit level comes in. The canoe needs to be level so as there is no lean, in order to determine the degree to which you want the canoe to be rigged upright relative to the ama.

For sprint racing, you will want the hull dead level, for open ocean distance paddling there is the option of leaning the canoe towards the ama so as to actively put additional downwards pressure on the ama to reduce the chances of capsize. The downside being additional drag and therefore a loss of overall potential hull speed and greater effort required by the crew to push the canoe through the water. Level is preferable in any conditions. If lean is to be included it must only be marginal.

Step 2 - Temporarily Attaching Iako to the Canoe Your first major consideration is the distance required from the ama to the canoe gunwale or hull. Then these following considerations: Toe-In This is the method of having the front section of the ama, set closer to the hull than the rear and this can be between three-quarters and one-and-a-half inch variance. The objective is to cancel out the tendency of the canoe to pull to the left 128

K a 'n u ( Z u L t u t e -

Hull Level Top: Canoe hull level. Belou>: Canoe h ull has been angled towards the ama for added stability and is only something you w o u ld contemplate for rough w a te r paddling as it exerts additional downwards pressure on the ama. increasing drag.

Drag caused by the ama tends to pull the canoe around to the left. Compensate fo r this tendency by rigging the ama to e d -in . N ot all ama affect the canoe to the same degree. Curved am a have a greater effect, whilst those with less curvature and hard rails will tend to track better and so beep the canoe from veering to the left. 129

K a 'n u ( Z u i t u t e - 7 R ig g in g as a result of the drag on the ama. It must be noted that the tendency is more noticeable with ama of greater curvature. An arm such as the catamaran styled arm has such good tracking qualities that it is preferable to rig this to the same distance from the hull as the rear. Wedges The use of a timber wedge, placed across the canoe spreader and nearly always only on the front one, is used to raise the outward, upwards angle of the iako. This alters the ama in relation to the way it rests in the water. Raising the angle encourages the ama to sit more on its tail, presenting a flatter section tending to reduce the ama water line length, thus reducing drag. It also raises the angle of iako away from the water so preventing it from contacting oncoming waves. Once again this is in common use with ama with more pronounced curvature. Ama with little rocker (curvature) tend not to need the iako wedged. Wedging the front iako, can make the canoe

m arginally

unstable,

depending on the degree of angle of the w edge,

but

generally

im proves

performance. For sprint races however the canoe will turn better if the ama has maximum contact with the water through its mid section, as it will drag its tail during turns, therefore wedges are not generally used during sprint racing. Rigging Widths The generally accepted rigging width

(ama to hull) is in the order of 66-70 inches. This represents the extremes but you can of course be even more extreme if you feel it necessary. A reasonable average is in the order of 68 inch front and 68% to 691/2 rear. A ttaching the iako to canoe using rubber

Point of Measurement The point of measurement is taken

as a tem p orary attachm ent. Of course

through the longitudinal centre line of the ama and a point on the hull (preferably the

rubber can be used for general paddling, but it is crucial it is of a high quality and

gunwale between the two lashing holes). Make sure the line taken is perpendicular

that is is checked re g u la rly as is prone to rapid deterioration in strong sunlight.

130

K a 'n u ( Z u L t u ie to ensure accuracy. Working in a pair, one places the tape measure against the canoe gunwale, runs the tape directly outwards along the length of the iako to the ama and takes a measurement in the exact centre of the ama. (This generally, corresponds to the lashing peg.) Adjust the iako so that the distance is established and wrap the rubber around the iako and canoe spreader. Wrapping the rubber over itself will prevent it from unravelling. Make sure you make it tight. The wraps need only be on the right hand side. Repeat the process for the rear iako. It is important to first check that you have the correct iako - generally the front is shorter with greater outward curvature.

Step 3 - Attaching Ama to Iako Set the ama up level on pre-made cradles (or whatever you have handy) as it would sit in the water and at a distance approximating where it will attach to the

iako. A visual check can be made to ensure it is aligned. One person will need to hold the ama whilst the other begins the lashing process. With ama that do not have lashing holes provided, it is sometimes necessary for rough water to attach a line between the two iako, so as to prevent them moving (slingshot).

H ow ever

modern

ama

generally have holes included so this is not required. The following pages show a common way of lashing ama to iako. New designs in ama and iako, are now leading to the creation of new lashing methods. Many of the new designs allow for increased security of lashing with more purchase and tie off points. Having attached ama and temporarily attached iako to the canoe, there are options. In flat or calm water, using a spirit level, check the canoe sitting in the water and make adjustments to suit. The crew can sit in the canoe and again see if there is lean in the hull. If the crew is happy and it seems right, finish ashore, or make adjustments and refloat if required, An ama cradle is valuable fo r rigging and or lash iako to canoe spreader. for protecting the ama whilst on land. 131

Kixnu (ZuLtune. - <rR .L^ln^ 1 Take one full turn around the ama. keeping the short end tra ve llin g up the iako as shown. 2 Pass the cord over the back of the peg. pull tight to M ake sure the cord crosses central to the peg. 3 Passing the cord under the am a each time it makes a pass around the peg. ensure you apply tension continually and with each pass pull tight. The cord needs to work outward from the peg. Use your hngers to pinch up the cord as each w ra p is made. 4 Once you have made at least fou r full wraps, pass the excess around and under the iako overhang and begin to w ra p around, pulling tight so as to cinch the cord passing oner the iabo and ama. This will take any slack out of the lashing and is a crucial step. 5 Once you have cinched the cordage around ama and iako. pass the cord directly up and around the iako to finish off. wrapping around the short. 6 Once a sufficient num ber o f w ra p s are made around the iako (as many as needed to take up the excess) tie off using the short end w ith w hich you began.

132

K a 'n u (Z u L t u t e This particular weave is but one of a number of lashing weaves that can be used, but is one of the most straightforward to do and provides excellent security. The cord used in these examples, is 6mm cotton, however, 4mm will suffice. Whilst only four turns are shown, five is the standard number for ocean or general use. Wrapping between iako and arna is crucial to ensure the lashing is secure.

Lashing an ama which has lashing holes, you m erely apply the same configuration. The holes prouide additional purchase and security and prevent the cord com ing into direct contact m ith the m ater.

B e l o w : A d ouetail groove a t end o f iako provides a d d itio n a l s e cu rity and the twin lashing pegs provide a variation to the lashing process.

133

K a 1nu CL'u ttu â&#x20AC;&#x2122;ie Once the ama is fully lashed with iako attached to the canoe by rubbers, the canoe can be floated to check the level. Flat w a te r is necessary to get an accurate reading. The crew can

also sit in the canoe and be moved around to see h ow this might affect levels, fore and aft.

Left: Fine tuning the rigging

by making alterations whilst the canoe is afloat.

Below: Pre-stretcbing the cord to remove any slack w hich would otherw ise be pulled out whilst under tension fro m the torque exerted on the lashings once on the w ater. Do not even think of using pre-stretched cord as some "give" in cotton cord

is a good thing.

Step 4 - Attaching Iako to Canoe with Cord Using cotton cord of 6mm diameter, you will need to pre-stretch it to remove some slack from the cord as above. This is only necessary with new cord. Removing the temporary rubber lashing, keep the iako in position whilst you begin the lashing process. Have a partner to help.

134

K a n u ( Z u l t u n e - <T{Lcf cf in $ 1 The fro n t spreader (wae) w ith a wedge positioned across its length to raise the o u tw a rd angle o f the iako. It has been strapped w ith duct tape (optional), lako has pre-marked distances for ease o f use. Begin by dividing the cord into tw o equal lengths bring ing the ends together, w hich are passed around the canoe spreader and through its end loop then pulled up tight. Keep the knot tow ards the fro nt o f the spreader. 2 (Two equal lengths haue been tied together, as opposed to using one continual length, hence the knot/) W orking w ith a partner, you w ill each have an equal length o f cord. Pull upwards, over and diagonally across the iako and descend d o w n w a r d and through the lashing hole as shown.

R e a r vie w

3 I m p o r t a n t : Pulling the cord through the hole, pull tig h t and take a turn underneath the iako then around and over the top and back to the hole on the opposite side. As each w ra p is made, around the iako overhang (both sides) w o r k the cord progressively o u tw a rd . A djust w ith your fingers to fine tune the w a y the cord falls. 135

K a 'nu C^uitute 4

Pulling the cord tight, pass over the iako. u pw ards and

diagonally. Then dow n the back o f the spreader over the iako to its low erm ost point, the point where yon began. Ensure the cord crosses evenly and u niform ly on top of the iako.

I m p o r t a n t : Where the cord meets the lo w e r p a rt o f the spreader, it must pass to the opposite side o f the cord already w rapped around the spreader, before beginning its u pw ards return on the other side.

Then repeat the cycle four times, making fine cycles in all. Each person takes turns crossing their cord at the loiuer p a rt o f the spreader. There is no value in trying to lash more quickly than the other.

5 Im p o rta n t: As each consecutioe w ra p is taken around the iako and spreader, place the cord on the inside o f the preceding w ra p where it crosses on top o f the iako. This ensures that the cord is worked in w a rd on the inboard iako and o utm ard on the outboard iako. At the bottom o f the spreader, w o rk in w a rd also. 136

K c l 'n u ( Z u t t u â&#x20AC;&#x2122;ie 6 /4s the lashing process continues, constantly check for evenness and u n ifo rm ity. Continual adjustm ent o f the cord w ith the fingertips - so that the cord is pinched up

â&#x2013; â&#x2013; :,i

tig h tly on itself - tv ill create lashing w hich is not only functional, hut tvhich is also appealing to the eye. Once the fiue cycles o f

R e a r v ie w

w ra p p in g have been completed, take tw o or more (up and over) w ra ps around iako and spreader. With the rem aining cord pass between the iaho and the spreader on the outside o f the inner lashing and pull tight so as to cinch the lashing. Make several turns and tie o ff the tw o ends to finish. The end result is a neat

diamond w e a v e . ? M a n y Koa canoes (and some fibreglass) have the spreader lashed in place w ith . cordage (left). This allow s for a w id e r range o f fine tuning to suit individual crew w eights and also v a ryin g conditions. The ability to lash an outrigger should be intrinsic to an involvement with canoe paddling. It is a skill (of varying degrees of competency) which is well worth learning, at least in its most basic form . There are many v ariatio n s on the basic diam ond

t 137

w eave show n, but u ltim ately , whatever the final result, the rigging must be functional and secure.

K a 'nu (Z uttuze - <H.AmLlton (Zup y^ust^aUa

Hamilton Island Cup June 1996 TEXT AND PHOTOS S T E V E W E S T

he Coca-Cola Hamilton Cup has created a reputation as being, above all else, one helluva good time event -1996 was no exception. Founded in 1983, five years after the sport was introduced to Australia, the Hamilton Cup has grown in status with each year and no more so than in the last two years.

AUD50,000 prize money is distributed amongst the first three place getters in the 42km (26.25 miles) distance race. $6,000 goes to the winners of the Open and Masters divisions of women and men, $3,000 to the runners-up and $1,000 to third place finishers. Nine male paddlers are permitted, ten women. Numerous overseas teams have made the trip, including those from Hawaii, California and New Zealand. Now it seems that the Hamilton Cup has come of age. Expect to see the event grow in status as increased numbers of overseas teams make the effort, thereby reinforcing the event's position on the world racing calendar. This year saw the return, after a long absence, of Na Wahine O Ke Kai Moloka'i Champions, Offshore California, as well as men's Moloka'i Champions, Lanikai. Also at the event a strong Team Hawaii Masters crew made up largely of Outrigger Hawaii paddlers. These three crews had travelled to Hamilton because of the event7s reputation for good racing, a good time and the potential prize haul. They were not disappointed, taking away between them $18,000. The Hamilton Cup is not just one race, but many, which makes it unique and perhaps therefore one of the most challenging (if you decide to tackle all on offer). Day one and the solo outrigger paddlers have their day, including sprints over 500m, a women's mini-distance race over eight kilometers and men's just over nine and a half kilommeters. Solo outrigger paddling has grown rapidly with thirty-five paddlers lining up for the men's race of Open, Master and Senior Master. What made the solo racing different this year was generous and unexpected sponsorship by the organisers of the Ho'omana'o Challenge event, offering to the first Australian male and female paddler across the line, two return air tickets to Hawaii including accommodation, in order to compete in the Sailing Canoe and Solo Canoe Races that make up the event. The spirit of Aloha in this gesture was not overlooked and can only help strengthen links between Australia and Hawai. 138

a 'h u

( Z u t t u i e - <H Am U ton ( Z u p y ^ u s tia lL a .

Jason Sommerville-Kimlin of Mooloolaba, still taking it easy after being runner-up with Walter Guild at the May Kaiwi Challenge, flew up to race, win and collect his cheque. The women's event was won by Senior Master, Jane Hall (Sydney OCC), a person who has done a lot for the sport in Australia and is much respected. Winning overall in the men's division, Lanikai's Jim Foti was followed by his brother John. Walter Guild won the Master division followed by Greg Middlemiss (Northcliffe Australia). The following day, men's crews paddled the sixteen kilometer distance race around Hamilton Island. Conditions were windy and sunny. Parts of the course, including the now infamous South Head section of Hamilton Island, were to provide a unique blend of chaos. To best describe the waters around Hamilton, you would have to say that there is a "bit everything," but what there is most, is a serious degree of tidal water. Fifteen foot (plus) tides race in and around the islands, causing extremely strong rips with which all but the most experienced steerers and crews seem to have trouble. The water in isolated areas can be as torrid as you would want to experience. Thirty-seven crews in three separate divisions lined up for the marathon with the Master division starting a few minutes ahead of the Open Men. Team Hawaii bolted, followed closely by two of Australia's best, Sunshine Coast's Mooloolaba and Gold Coast's Northcliffe. After the Open Men got away, it was an impressive sight to see how quickly Lanikai caught up the tail-ender Master crews and then methodically passed them, Jim Foti doing his best to avoid tail-end pile ups, as canoes cut close around the rocks only to end up forced up onto them by the heavy current. Well you can guess the rest. Lanikai crossed first, followed, with a huge effort by the locals Hamilton Island, only three minutes behind. Team Hawaii Masters came in first followed by perennial winners, Mooloolaba, one minute behind, followed twenty seconds later by Northcliffe. Day three and the women repeated the course, with thirty-eight crews in the line up, thirty-four of those in the Open division. Women's outrigging in Australia is going off, make no mistake, and the top teams are beginning to get cohesion and commitment. If the three top clubs shared their gene pool and spent some time training together, there is no telling how fast and far they would go! Last year's Open champions, Sunshine Coast's Panamuna went off and stayed that way. The final placings of the top three, Panamuna, Sydney and Brisbane were all divided by one minute a piece, with Hamilton Island finishing only three seconds behind Brisbane. Hamilton also won the Master division, the club placing tenth overall. Offshore California skipped this race, saving their efforts for the next day because 139

Kcx n u ( Z u lt u t e - (H a m ilto n ( Z u p Z \ u st ia L la they wanted the prize money badly to help with expenses. Money is a wonderful incentive to winning (or at least to giving it your best shot) because you can "only sell so many t-shirts" as the OffShore women told me. Conditions for the sixteen kilometer race were certainly a great deal kinder, especially around South Head, but none-the-less there were enough bumps to make it interesting. What has to be appreciated is that Panamuna's time would have put them eighth in the Open Men's division the day before. By mid morning the wind dropped and the sun's warmth brought a relaxed atmosphere. The OC6 Sprint finals got under way and few surprises were at hand. Held in the lee of the island at Catseye Bay, the sprints were over a 250m course of 1000m distance, so three turns, increasing the potential for error. It was in the turns

that the skilled and well-practised Hawaii and OffShore California crews showed their expertise. Team Hawaii Masters One and Two cleaned up their division respectively, whilst Lanikai and Outrigger Australia (Australia's top crew this year) faced up for the first time in the Open Men. Lanikai won it in the turns. Great things were expected of the New Zealand crew who seemed to qualify for the final more by brute strength than with timing and rhythm so that in the final their wheels fell off in the execution of turns. Offshore Masters women won by a massive margin of some thirteen seconds from Noosa, whilst Pananuma won convincingly from Sydney in the Open Women. One can only speculate how OffShore Open Women would have performed in the finals, as they had a blistering heat, winning in awesome form. They were disqualified because the ama travelled over the buoy when the stand-in steerer was taken by surprise at the speed and turning power of the front two combination uni used to rapidly spin the canoe around the buoy. 140

K a 'n u (^u Ltu ze - J-ianxiiton (L u -y / lu st ia t iA With balmy weather and a great forecast canoes were taken around to the H arbour side of the island to be re-rigged and decked out with covers in preparation for the next day's forty-two kilometer race. The pre-race gossip had OffShore, who naturally wanted to do well, as favourites in the women's division, though not feeling as prepared as they should be. As for the Open Men, Lanikai (having reached a pinnacle in reputation) were favourites. The expected Australian clubs, Outrigger Australia, Panamuna and Surfers Paradise, were being given good airplay too. However, Panamuna and Surfers had a potential problem in that despite having strong paddlers, they had not spent much time together as a crew, whereas Outrigger Australia had. Would they suffer from "Dial a Crew" syndrome, leading to a lack of cohesion? In the Master division, Team Hawaii Masters had brought a hot team and wanted to win badly. However, Mooloolaba, wanting to spoil that party if possible, had steerer Kenny Powell of Kai Opua, Kona, who had steered Mooloolaba Masters to victory at the '95 Moloka'i. The morning brought beautiful weather, light winds and clear skies, for fifty canoes on the start line. As with many of these top level races, canoes began bolting even before the go-ahead. Heading south, they rounded Dent Island and travelled north along the coastline. Support boats quickly headed north to the island lighthouse to await the first changeover. Speculating as to who the race leaders will be at this stage always creates a high level of anticipation. As they came around level with the lighthouse the first changeovers began. Was this ever a chaotic happening or what? Canoes hugging close to the rocks and support boats circling like bees around the hive, each looking for their team and then positioning to drop-off and pick-up. An adrenalin-filled part of the race. How it was that no one got hit was a miracle! Support boats narrowly missing one another as they spun around to avoid swimmers in the water who were frantically swimming for their canoes or support boats. Despite the calm weather, there was plenty of tidal action and enough wind chop left from the previous days of high winds to keep the course fast, with plenty of bumps to pick up. First around to the lighthouse was Outrigger Australia, narrowly from Lanikai. Team Hawaii Masters were leading their division followed by Mooloolaba. OffShore women were out with Pananuma. Team Hawaii Masters, steered by Todd Bradley ended up on the rocks, high and dry, only to see Mooloolaba put the hammer down, figuring they now had a good shot at the big money. The stranded crew climbed out onto barnacle and oyster laden rocks to get the canoe back in the ocean while trying to avoid putting a hole in the hull. Lanikai started to put in big strokes as they and Outrigger Australia began what was to be a battle of wills for the entire race. OffShore women began to consolidate 141

K a 'n u ( Z 'u i t u â&#x20AC;&#x2122;ie - (H a m ilto n ( Z u p y A u sV ia tia the lead in their division. Team Hawaii made up for lost time and within a few kilometres had pegged back Mooloolaba to cruise by, looking strong, going on to finish six minutes ahead of them, in a record time of 3:10:38 (taking sixteen minutes off the previous best time). Lanikai had stiff competition in Outrigger Australia who were giving it their best shot. By the time the two crews had made the long haul across to Pentecoast Island, Outrigger had nudged just ahead, only to have Lanikai pass them and stay in front for the rest of the race, finishing just thirty seconds ahead in a new record time of 3:02:08 (just over six minutes off the past record). The Outrigger crew were nothing short of heartbroken as they had felt so close to successfully challenging and beating arguably the best crew in the world today. OffShore women told me later that they did not get warmed up until Pentecoast Island and that by the time they finished in record time of 3:34:48, taking eleven minutes off the previous time, they were just getting into the swing of things. Their one complaint, the race could be longer! They appreciated the opportunity to race with men crews and revelled in giving some of them a hard time, which managed to smash some male egos along the way. Panamuna, last year's winners, finished seven minutes behind OffShore, with Sydney three minutes behind them. Fantastic conditions and outstanding organisation made this event a huge success. Partying started early and carried on well into the early hours with the

Barefoot Bar and Nellie's Nightclub getting a workout. The Hamilton Island Cup 1996 had it all - exciting racing, varied conditions, strong crews and records broken. The promise of next year's event being bigger and better.

142

K a 'n u (3 u L t u t e - c H a n x itto h C l u p â&#x2013; /lu s tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;i a tia .

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K a 'n u ( 2 u i t u fiC - <H.AvnlLton (2 u p / i u s t m U a Top : Lanikai Open Men came to Hamilton to kick b u tt and collect some bucks - they did both! Centre: H am ilton M asters and Mooloolaba clash as they run into a strong current by the airport. Bottom: H am ilton Island Women.

P C 1 500m Sprint Results

S n r M a s te r W o m e n 1 Doreen Haines - Magnetic Island 2 Joanne Ferguson - Cap Coast 3 Christine Bryden - Cap Coast 4 Wendy Smith - Fraser Coast 5 Glenda Henebery - Cannovale 6 K Melbourne - Oceania

3:05:07 3:09:21 3:10:69 3:16:44 3:16:68 3:25:81

O p e n W o m en 1 C Sedgman - Surfers 2 Tanya Coert - Mooloolaba 3 Tanya Bourne - Rocky 4 Melinda Sharp - Noosa 5 Jenni Sefton - Sydney 6 Sandra Feild - Cannonvale 7 L Henebery - Cannovale 8 Tracy Crisford - Surfers

2:46:33 2:50:12 2:50:59 2:51:80 2:53:02 2:55:64 2:55:64 2:56:25

M a s te r W o m e n 1 Anne Williams - Indian Ocean 2 Therese Powell - Sydney 3 Jennifer Hill - Noosa 4 Lucy Pries - Indian Ocean 5 Sheree Taylor - Noosa 6 Doreen Haines - Magnetic 7 Frances Grabbe - Mooloolaba 8 Karen Mayne - Cannovale

2:48:89 2:49:73 2:54:52 2:56:43 3:00:07 3:02:47 3:09:65 3:15:80

144

K a 'n u (ZuLtuxe. - cHaynitton ( Z u p jA ustiaLia. Team H a w a ii M asters. M ir r o r image - Courtney Seto and M a rc Haine o f O utrigger Canoe Club H a w a ii. Around the Hamilton course, there’s some great scenery i f you have the tim e to look. Team H a w a ii M asters chose to take advantage o f the "any paddle w ill do” rule, and used all-carbon paddles from 2 RE. The times are a-changin’ and a sign tha t tradition in some areas w ill ultimately take a

PC 1 500m Sprint Results O p en M en 1 Johh Foti - Lanikai (HI) 2 Jim Foti - Lanikai (HI) 3 J.Sommerville Kimlin - M’laba 4 Warren Gamack - Outr. Whit 5 Michael Pedersen - Lanikai (HI) 6 Tim Davidson - Sunset Bay 7 D. Thoroughgood - Bowen 8 Kalami Irvine - Lanikai (HI) M a s te r M en 1 Walter Guild - Outrigger (HI) 2 Rob Simpson - Northcliffe 3 Ken Powell - Kai Opua (HI) 4 Mick Smith - Outr. Whit 5 Ron Grabbe - Mooloolaba 6 Rich Lambert - Lanikai (HI) 7 Rock Owens - Lanikai (HI) 8 Tim Dougherty - Dana (CA)

2:20:11 2:22:06 2:24:69 2:27:23 2:27:65 2:28:41 2:33:50 2:34:91 2:24:48 2:26:44 2:26:69 2:29:78 2:30:36 2:30:18 2:33:18 2:36:65 145

S n r M a s te r M en 1 Henri Mauri - Malanuka 2 Mac MacDonald - Magnetic Is 3 Allan Bourne - Cap Coast 4 John Hayes - Port Hacking 5 Neil Thoroughgood - Bowen 6 Bob Smith - Fraser Coast 7 Ken Taylor - Hamilton Island 8 Ken Lindsay - Fraser Coast

2:32:70 2:35:92 2:37:29 2:38:92 2:40:11 2:40:38 2:40:77 2:47:38

PC 6 1000m Sprint Results S nr M a s te r M en 1 Outrigger W hitsunday 2 Mooloolaba 3 Fraser Coast 4 Hamilton Island 5 Northcliffe

5:12:21 5:15:15 5:16:51 5:32:82 5:33:15

K a 'n u ( Z u l t u â&#x20AC;&#x2122;i c - { H a m ilto n ( Z u p jA u s P ia tia

M a s te r M en 1 Team Hawaii Masters 2 Team Hawaii Masters 2 3 Northcliffe 1 4 Mooloolaba 5 Capricorn Coast 6 Hamilton Island 7 Mooloolaba 2 8 Noosa O p en M en 1 Lanikai (HI) 2 Outrigger Aust 1 3 Northcliffe (Dead Heat) 3 Brisbane (Dead Heat) 4 North Shore (NZ) 5 Northcliffe 2 6 Hamilton Island 7 Outrigger Aust 2

4:47:94 4:49:83 4:54:20 5:06:85 5:14:86 5:15:57 5:16:35 5:33:50 4:39:30 4:41:79 4:53:71 4:53:71 4:59:06 5:00:96 5:04:89 5:19:33 146

M a s te r W o m en 1 Offshore California 2 Noosa 3 Hamilton Island 4 Northcliffe 1 5 Outrigger Whitsunday 6 Outrigger Australia 7 Capricorn Coast

5:30:59 5:43:19 5:49:33 6:02:67 6:16:08 6:19:08 6:23:15

O p e n W o m en 1 Panamuna 1 2 Sydney 1 3 Northcliffe 1 4 Hamilton Island 1 5 Mooloolaba 1 6 Sunset Bay 1 7 Surfers Paradise 1 8 Brisbane 1

5:19:30 5:28:37 5:32:98 5:39:47 5:43:70 5:44:65 5:46:05 5:51:84

K a nu (Z uitute O C 1 W o m e n s 8km O pen 1 C Sedgemen - Surfers 2 Tanya Coert - Mooloolaba 3 Jenni Sefton - Sydney 4 Tanya Bourne - Rocky 5 Melinda Sharpe - Noosa 6 Sandra Feild - Cannonvale

H.ivnlLton (Z up y^usttaiiA

54.05 54:19 55:10 56:46 57:17 58:47

; 1

M as te r W o m e n 1 Therese Powell - Sydney 2 Jennifer Hill - Noosa 3 Lucy Pries - Indian Ocean 4 Sheree Taylor - Noosa S n r M a s te r W o m en 1 Jane Hall - Sydney 2 Doreen Haines - Mag Is 3 Joanne Ferguson - Cap Coast 4 Anne Allen - Northcliffe 5 Wendy Smith - Fraser Coast

53:50 58:10 1:00:14 1:00:59

Team H a w a ii Masters. Pentecost Island in the distance looms larger - ever so slowly - as crews make their w a y across from South Head after leaving H am ilton Island.

53:17 58:14 1:03:00 1:06:54 1:07:32 147

Waters here are generally lum py and confused, though still make a lot more sense than the m aters around South Head. Survive the start, avoid collisions, make use o f smells along Dent Island, escape

K a 'n u ( Z u l t u ’ie - (H a m ilto n ( Z u p

tia

disaster during the firs t change a t Dent

Island lighthouse, avoid rocks, negotiate to rrid currents through Dent Island

Passage then (just tuhen you think things can 't get any morse) enjoy the thrills that South Head dishes out. I f you're still in good shape, i t ’s a wall? in the park as you

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make your m ay to Pentecost Island.

— ****'

T H E G O -B E® H IP - W O R N H Y D R A T IO N SYST EM . E S S E N T IA L P A D D L IN G GEAR.

148

K a n u C Z u lt u ie - s H .i\y n ilto n ( Z u p j^ u s t ia lL a .

O C 1 M en s 9.6km O pen 1 Jim Foti - Lanikai (HI) 2 John Foti - Lanikai (HI) 3 J Sommerville Kimlin - Mâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;laba 4 Bobby Nottage - Lanikai (HI) 5 D Thoroughgood - Bowen 6 Michael Pedersen - Lanikai (HI) 7 Tim Davidson - Sunset Bay 8 David Fleet - Mooloolaba 9 Rob Garland - Mooloolaba 10 Warren Gamack - Outr. Whit 11 Michael Rix - Northcliffe 12 Paul Service - Surfers 13 Mitchell Filby - Sydney 14 Darrel Jonas - Reef City 15 Martin Strecker - Sunset Bay 16 W Ashman - Sunset Bay 17 Gavin Douglas - Sydney 18 S Hopkins - Raging Thunder

55:41 56:39 59:06 59:39 1:00:18 1:00:18 1:02:57 1:03:24 1:03:37 1:04:15 1:04:25 1:04:48 1:05:12 1:05:49 1:07:25 1:07:39 1:09:40 1:13:03 149

M as te r 1 W alter Guild - Outrigger (HI) 2 G Middlemass - Northcliffe 3 Mick Smith - Outr. Whit 4 Paul McManus - Hamilton Island 5 K Kalama - Team Hawaii (HI) 6 Evan Gartrell - Noosa 7 Jeff Campbell - Noosa 8 Ray Allen - Northcliffe S e n io r M as te r 1 Ray Dimock 2 Mac MacDonald - Magnetic Is 3 Allan Bourne - Cap Coast 4 Robert Deering - Northcliffe 5 Neil Thoroughgood - Bowen 6 Henri Mauri - Malanuka 7 Ken Lindsay - Fraser Coast 8 Bob Smith - Fraser Coast 9 John Hayes - Port Hacking

57:51 1:02:46 1:03:09 1:04:54 1:05:10 1:13:53 1:20:36 1:25:51 1.07:54 1:09:06 1:10:51 1:12:07 1:14:50 1:14:50 1:16:50 1:23:42 1:27:20

K a n u C l' u l t u i e - c H a y n ilto n ( Z u p y A u s P ia iU x

Lanikai grit. Strolling to v icto ry in the Open Men's 16km round-island race. Rain, wind and generally unpleasant conditions made it hard going for all. The Lanikai crew has achieved victories in all conditions. It seems there is nothing they can't handle. Talk story with them and they all want the same conditions - big seas and plenty of bumps to chase. H aving reached a pinnacle through devoting so much o f their lives to canoe paddling, they know the challenges of deep tva te r ocean paddling. This crew truly looks at home in

rough conditions, making use of the ocean's energy and enjoy everything that canoe paddling has to offer a t its very limits.

O C 6 W o m e n s 16.1km O pen 1 Pananuna 1 2 Sydney 1 3 Brisbane 1 4 Hamilton Is. 1 5 Surfers Pardise 1 6 Sunset Bay 1 7 Northcliffe 1 8 Mooloolaba 1 9 Sydney 2 10 Oceania 11 St George 1 12 Capricorn Coast 13 Pananuma 2 14 Northcliffe 2 15 Indian Ocean 16 Outrigger W hitsunday 17 Raging Thunder 2 18 Rockhampton 1

19 Surfers Paradise 2 20 Outrigger Australia 1 21 Capricorn Coast 1 22 Northcliffe 3 23 Brisbane 2 24 Hamilton Island 2 25 Port Douglas 26 St George 2 27 Mooloolaba 2 28 Sydney 3 29 Nine Mile 2 30 Sunset Bay 2 31 Cairns Beaches 32 Nine Mile 1 33 Raging Thunder 34 Cannovale Beach M a s te r W o m e n 1 Hamilton Island 2 Northcliffe 1 3 Capricorn Coast 4 Outrigger Whitsunday

1:21:55 1:22:43 1:23:43 1:23:46 1:25:42 1:26:09 1:26:43 1:27:37 1:29:02 1:29:37 1:29:50 1:31:02 1:31:08 1:31:37 1:32:13 1:33:34 1:34:10 1:34:20 150

1:34:48 1:35:33 1:36:15 1:36:15 1:37:08 1:37:21 1:37:45 1:38:24 1:38:24 1:39:56 1:41:25 1:43:20 1:44:43 1:46:08 1:47:18 1:54:51 1:29:03 1:30:28 1:34:41 1:38:44

K a 'n u ( Z u l t u t e - c H a m ltto h ( Z u p ^ A u s tr a lia .

Thirty eight women's crews get away at the start of the 16km around-Hamilton Island iron m arathon. Blustery conditions and showers dom inated the early days of the cup. but the sun came out on the last tw o days and gaue fantastic conditions. The start and South Head dom inates the early stages of the race and dictate, to a great extent, the race leaders. All oner the w o rld it seems wom en's p articipa tion in o u trig ge r canoeing is expanding. H am ilton Island number one crew going on to finish fourth ouerall in a time of 1:23:46 from Panamuna in 1:21:55. OffShore California saved themselves for the big one but it would have been good to see them have a go a t this event also... just for the record.

15 Sydney 1 16 Sunset Bay 17 Indian Ocean 18 Panamuna 2 19 Tweed Heads 20 Oceania 21 Nine Mile 22 Northcliffe 2 23 Port Hacking 24 Outrigger Whitsunday 25 26 Cairns Beaches 27 Sydney 2 28 Port Stephens M as te r M en 1 Team Hawaii 2 Mooloolaba 3 Northcliffe 1 4 Capricorn Coast 5 Hamilton Island

C o ca C o la H a m ilto n Islan d C u p 4 2.2k m M arath o n O pen M en 1 Lanikai (HI) 2 Outrigger Australia 1 3 Surfers Paradise 2 4 Panamuna 1 5 Outrigger Australia 2 6 Northcliffe 1 7 North Shore (NZ) 8 Hamilton Island 9 Brisbane 10 St George 11 Surfers Paradise 12 Mooloolaba 13 Capricorn Coast 14 Rockhampton

3:02:08 3:03:36 3:09:27 3:14:32 3:15:11 3:17:19 3:18:09 3:18:09 3:20:10 3:20:51 3:23:16 3:24:00 3:25:26 3:26:26 151

3:26:54 3:28:24 3:31:27 3:34:25 3:34:50 3:34:54 3:37:24 3:37:59 3:38:23 3:38:27 3:42:35 3:42:42 3:42:50 3:54:33 3:10:35 3:16:04 3:20:41 3:25:44 3:32:53

K a 'n u ( Z u i t u x e - t H t v n iU o n ( Z u p -/{u s tx a U a .

6 Noosa 7 Outrigger Whitsunday 8 Oceania 9 Northcliffe 2 O p e n W o m en 1 Offshore California 2 Pananuma 3 Sydney 1 4 Hamilton Island 5 Mooloolaba 6 Surfers Paradise 7 Northcliffe 8 Indian Ocean 9 St George 10 Outrigger W hitsunday M a s te r W o m en 1 Noosa 2 Hamilton Island 3 Capricorn Coast

3:33:22 3:42:03 3:47:22 3:49:53 3:34:48 3:41:43 3:44:38 3:50:28 3:50:52 3:56:44 3:59:31 4:05:31 4:08:49 4:13:30

W alter Guild - Canoe Sport H a w a ii - u>as there to present the winners cheques on b eh alf o f the organisers and sponsors to

Jason S om erville-K im lin and Jane Hall. Australian w inners o f the OCI marathons and their prizes o f return trip s to H a w a ii including accommodation to compete in the 1997 H o'om ana'o Challenge OCI M a ra th on Races and Sailing Canoe Races, with USD 10.000 prize money available.

4:00:14 4:00:34 4:24:32 152

K a rnu (Zuttuze - (Zalifotnia

Kalifomia Outrigger Association BY W E N D Y D E W IT T , A L C H IN G PHOTOS D A PH N E H O U G H A R D

Catalina Race 1996

alifornia Outrigger Association ( koa) has long sought to maximise attendance at the Catalina Race. With a new race schedule, the 1996 Catalina Race attracted more clubs from Hawaii than ever before, and teams also from Northern California, Oregon, Canada and Tahiti. The involvement of so many teams in this race (called the United States Outrigger Canoe National Championship by its organisers) attracts media attention which serves to validate the association and as a consequence, through merchandising and promotion, we become a more viable product whenever we can include big name teams from diverse geographical locations. Ever noticed how tired your feet are in Catalina? Like migrating wildebeest, paddlers trudge back and forth to town for hours. We walk as far as we paddle. Ah yes and don't forget, we also carry canoes and luggage barefooted on rocks. Ouch! The agony of defeat! On Saturday for the women's race, seas were calm with a slow, broad, current sweeping south which had little or no effect. On Sunday, light to moderate winds out of the west caused small wind chop - enough to surf, intermittently. As usual, the women started near perfect, while the men had difficulty in lining up. So simple a procedure, so difficult to carry out! The 9:30am starting time for the men was great, it gave everyone enough time to eat and load up their gear without rushing. Thank you, whoever instigated that idea. Outrigger Canoe Club of Oahu (Hawaii) men and women out-paddled all of us. They took off fast and finished fast. In the open women's race, it was Outrigger first, setting a course record! Offshore finished a strong second (also eclipsing the course record), with Lanakila third and Dana fourth. Offshore captured first in the Malia Division with Dana second, Lanakila third and Imua a close fourth. Pupu O Hawaii, a team from Northern California, placed first in the Masters Category, followed by Dana, second. Dana were first IPCF (class canoe) with Lanakila second. In the men's race it was again Outrigger Canoe Club first. Lanakila earned second and Dana overpowered Kai Opua of the Big Island of Hawaii inside Newport harbour for third. In the Malia Division Kai Elua finished first, Dana second, Newport third and Lanakila fourth. Hanohano earned first in the Master Division with Waikola of Hawaii finishing second, Dana third and Santa Barbara fourth. In the Senior Master category, 153

Kcx 'n u C Z u itu te - (Zati-fjo’in la

Willy Dunhaur strokes the Katvai Hae Canoe Club from the Big Island o f H aw aii, to a second place finish in the Senior M aster M en's division. It was the team ’s firs t Catalina Race, steered by master canoe builder ( k a l a i w a ' a ) Manny Veincent.

•*-*-*— "**■ Anucnue of Oahu earned first, Kawai Hae of the Big Island of Hawaii earned second, Hokuloa third and Hui 0 Sacramento (Northern California) fourth. Lanakila captured first IPCF and Dana second. Congratulations to all the winners of their divisions. Most inspirational Saturday night spot, The Chi Chi Club first place,

Luaii Larry's, a close second, and the Marlin Club, a dead last. Bud Hohl, thanks buddy! Every year you work your "bud" off, ask for no reward and would rather stay in the background. You have our respect. Something which can't be bought, but must be willingly deemed upon you by your peers, respect is felt, more than declared. Wendy Dewitt is the "most inspirational paddler" for 1996. How can anyone not agree with that? She has that calm, cool attitude under fire, the right stuff! He po'i na kai uli, kai ko'o, 'a'ohe hina puko'a (Though the sea be deep and rough, the coral rock remains standing - said of one who remains calm in the face of difficulty. Ref. 'olelo no'eau.) 154

K a 'n u ( Z u L t u v e - ( la U - f jo t n u i O lym pic kayak paddler Sheila Conover strokes OffShore Canoe Club in the 96 Catalina Race. On this occasion, it ivas one o f the few years they lost the event, being w on by O utrigger Canoe Club H a w a ii in record time.

KOA Roundup 1996 Last year koa was concerned that membership was declining. This year, we have expanded dramatically. The age brackets have grown and the new Under 12 division had to run two heats. Clubs that hosted races were generally well organised. The few problems encountered were easily remedied, koa clubs and officials have matured enough to remedy even the most severe disasters such as the foggy State Championship Regatta in Santa Barbara. This year, koa sent more clubs to compete in the Queen Lili'uokalani Race than ever before and scored a lot of hardware. Lanakila women placed first Iron (fifth overall) out of one hundred and forty-eight entries. Dana women placed seventh Open (sixteenth overall) and third Malia (one hundred and twelve overall). Marina 155

K a 'n u ( Z u i t u t e - ( Z a ll'f jo â&#x20AC;&#x2122;in i a Central Oregon Outrigger rounding the firs t m a rk for this year's Lake Tahoe event. Other teams in attendance included Bend Oregon and a Portland club.

Del Rey finished nineteenth Open (fortieth overall) and Imua finished twentysecond Open (forty-fourth overall). Shien-Lu Stokesbary represented koa well in the solo event placing fourth, koa women did well in the double hull, Dana finishing eighth, Imua thirteenth and Marina Del Rey sixteenth. Of the men's crews, Lanakila placed an impressive fifth Open racing against a

N eudy formed San Francisco Outrigger mo men paddling tow ards Alcatraz Island in choppy water, w ith the Golden Gate Bridge behind. 156

K c l 'n u (Zu Ltu ie. - C^dU-fjoinLa

Hobule'a historic a rriv a l in 1995 to San Francisco. The Northern C alifornia O utrigger Association clubs greeted them in both single and double hull canoes, escorting her under the Golden Gate Bridge

record one hundred and eighty-two entries. Imua men were .equally! impressive, being first and third in the Iron Masters division (sixteenth & thirty-fourth overall). Dana men placed first in the Iron Open (twenty-first overall) and fifth in the Iron Masters division(fiftieth overall). The solo competition featured forty-one competitors with KC Hoagland placing thirteenth, Rob Rojas placing twentieth and Lucky Hookano finishing twenty-fourth. In the double hull competition, a team comprised of Lanakila, Marina Del Rey, Santa Barbara and Dana were tiftli and Imua fourteenth. As a few of us prepare for the final challenge of the Moloka'.i Channel that koa will be well represented and we d Small victories are enjoyed with as much entRl the growth of Kalifornia Outrigger Association this year Has been a suco season and a pleasant surprise. Mahalo to all, Wendy and A1 157

Kci nu (Z uitu’ie - (Zatijo’nua Sheri Willbarger. seat two. backs up her stroke, getting ready for a change where she m ill move up into seat one as the stroke bails out. Santa Barbara O utrigger Canoe Club. Catalina ‘96.

158

K a 'n u (Z-uLtu.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;ie - Q u e e n JZ lLl uoka.ta.ni

f M

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IM?|Âťj j i v T S i 1

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An-emotion-charged canoe blessing ceremony. The Queen Lili'uokalani Long Disrarrfie event, possibly more so than a ny other. is as much about people as it is about canoe racing.

K a 'n u C f u L tu te - Q u e e n f Z iL lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; u o k a ta n i

K a 'n u C Z u i t u u - Q u e e n j2 . lli u o k a la .n i

Feu; sports provide the connection between the physical and spiritual w orlds that is inherent in outrigger canoeing. Emotion runs high on this tropical m orning filled unth Aloha and Ohana. Being in the presence o f like-minds and kindred spirits pervades the atmosphere w hich characterises Queen Lili'uokalani, the World's Largest Long Distance O utrigger Canoe Races.

161

K a 1n u C ^ u ttu 'ie - Q u e e n j2.'dlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;u oka.ta.n l Travelling from overseas, be it Canada. Guam. N ew Zealand. Oregon, wherever, you cannot fail to be impressed by the energy that a w a its you at this event.

A p o w e rfu l spiritual and cultural message is conveyed to. and rubs o ff on. all those who participate. Assuring that o utrig ge r canoe paddling is a unique and pow erful experience because of its essential character and heritage.

162

K a 'n u ( Z u l t u ’ie - Q u e e n j Z i l i ’ u o k a ta n i

Ho'omau I

Uhane Perpetuatethe Spirit

The 1996 Queen LUTuokalani Races, marked the twenty-fifth anniversary of the event, hosted by Kai’Opua Canoe Club and first held in September 1972. Kane (men's) crews raced from Honaunau Bay to Kailua Bay. 'Uncle' Louie Kahanamoku was Race Chairman for the event, sanctioned by the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association. Eight canoes participated and they were, in order of finishing: 1972 Results Waikiki Surf Club