Whats the Best race to travel too for a couple Jr Crews?

I started paddling here in California when I was 14. When I was 16 I got to travel to Big Island to do the Queen Liliuokalani race. Since then I have been hooked on paddling, traveling to Hawaii and other countries to do tons of racing. A few years back I started coaching the Jr's program at my canoe club and we immediately sent some Jr's out to do the Queen Liliuokalani race to show them what paddling is like at a top notch level.

I am stepping back into the coaching gig and my question is. We've done Kona are there any other Hawaii races or fun races state side that would be good for Jr's to do. Mind you distance is not a problem for many of these kids have already done the Catalina crossing in California. We want to show them the paddling world outside of our bubble. Any help would be great, and if there are any Jr's teams looking to do some racing in California, Jr's can race Distance season. I will do everything in my power to help find, canoes, escorts, lodging, etc...

Thanks,
Dana Outrigger Canoe Club
Tyson Poppler

Submitted by Tpoppler01 on Thu, 02/10/2011 - 11:29am



Hawaiki Nui.

Without a doubt the most competitive junior race in the world in the most amazing setting possible. From Cali you could fly direct on Air Tahiti Nui.


#1 Thu, 02/10/2011 - 2:09pm


Yeah that would be something. but I have no contacts over there.


#2 Thu, 02/10/2011 - 2:21pm


Good question. It doesn't seem like there's many Jrs here in the mainland US. We have some beautiful racing venues up here in the northwest, though. Gibsons in British Columbia and the Gorge near Portland, Ore. both feature spectacular locations.


#3 Thu, 02/10/2011 - 5:16pm


Tpop, you couldn't go past Vaka Eiva many, many Junior crews, awesome races and cultural experiences.
www.vakaeiva.com

What age groups are you with?

Another one is Waitui Fiji International coming up soon at Easter. The comp is from the 22nd - 24th April. It runs over 3 days with both Sprints, and marathon racing, they have 108 paddlers confirmed from overseas including the US, Hawaii, Australia and NZ as well as the 8 local clubs here in Fiji.

The $Fiji exchange rate is very favorable at the moment, so also great value.

Let me know if you want further info on these.

Also here in OZ we have the Trans Tasman Gubbi Gubbi


#4 Thu, 02/10/2011 - 5:21pm


you guys maybe should come down and do the olukai maliko run.... its a ten mile downwind run with surfing and all the top paddlers do this race


#5 Thu, 02/10/2011 - 8:27pm


Penticton Outrigger does a huge relay race the length of Penticton lake; http://www.pentictonoutrigger.com/home

Blackburn Challenge, 20 miles http://www.blackburnchallenge.com/Blackburn.html

Angel Island Race, this race is great, weekend after catalina, not too long, start under golden gate bridge, really cool group of people; http://tamoutrigger.org/index.htm

Actually any of the races in the Bay Area are pretty good - hell you were there tpop!

liberty cup etc etc

Is this your first time on the internet?


#6 Fri, 02/11/2011 - 5:20am


Haha... I know but I wanted to here it from the people who have done some of these races. I've done a lot of ones in Hawaii, a few in NorCal, but there are a ton of races that I haven't done. Just getting input.

Thing is we could prob do a NorCal race and still go somewhere else. Ive always wanted to do the Gorge games.


#7 Fri, 02/11/2011 - 5:34am


The gorge is awesome. Don't think there are many juniors in that race.

I would say anything in the pacific. Doesn't have to be somewhere where you're "connected". There are great people in the outrigger community all over the world that will lend a hand. Something to be said for being exposed to races and culture in Polynesia where the sport originated.


#8 Fri, 02/11/2011 - 9:14am


Maybe Tpop can come up to the Gorge and beat that damn Goto character. Someone needs to take that cocky bastard down a notch or two.


#9 Fri, 02/11/2011 - 9:28am


Aloha Tpop,
I am responding to your post to better my understanding on this subject as well. If not planned correctly and with strategy, it will not come to fruition, which means these kids never get chance and the opportunity is lost -as they become adults or move on to other sports.

When traveling to a race there are 3 main considerations in my book:
1: Experience: Mileage, race course, level of competition, fun potential
2: Logistics: Contacts, resources, accommodations, equipment (canoe), shipping, trailering
3: Funds: Travel cost, chase boats needed, crossing or coastal run, shipping

You can score each event 1-10 in each category and add the score to see which races have the most potential. You can also consider events/races that occur around the same time so you can enter more then one, also other activities like surfing, stand up or downwind run that you can do before/after.

Hawai'iki Nui would be the highest scoring experience, and lowest scoring logistics and funds. Races like Henry, Pailolo Challenge or Queen Liliou would score well in all categories, they also have great supporting clubs that go out of their way for off island teams. Henry and Queen Liliiou will draw the best competition, but Pailolo is a channel crossing that doesn't require boat shipping and you can take your chase boat back to Maui (or $30 ferry).

Good luck brah, and don't waver... you can do it!


#10 Fri, 02/11/2011 - 9:50am


Depending on how far out you're planning and your budget you should be able to set up most anything. Connections are useful but they shouldn't be the limiting factor. It will just mean more legwork for you. It helps me to remember what I'm doing all this work for and then it's not so bad. Even when you don't get to go on the trip you helped organize. Right Luke?


#11 Fri, 02/11/2011 - 1:32pm


Tpop, there's always Hamo...remember... you promised to come.!!


#12 Fri, 02/11/2011 - 3:48pm


Hamo is a great idea...do many jrs participate?


#13 Fri, 02/11/2011 - 4:42pm


Depends on how Junior. Can be expensive though. Cook Islands is the one, they are catered for there on specific days and participate in their own races watched by all the adults. They can paddle in the adult races if old enough. Kids have a ball there.


#14 Fri, 02/11/2011 - 5:10pm


I definitely have to agree with Rambo, Vaka Eiva is a great race for Jr. or adult. The races span over a week and the island is small enough you that you get to know everyone. Great venue, great races, all around great time. Lots of Junior races and junior crews coming from different places to participate.


#15 Fri, 02/11/2011 - 10:23pm


  As per Rambo's comment the Hamilton Cup is the biggest regatta/race in Australia (but dying fast IMO) with 500m and 1000m sprints ,also 14km iron and 42k (prizemoney) changes races (quite expensive support boats needed) .There are no serious junior divisions but it is well loved by the older "drinking age" paddlers as there is quite a party atmosphere on the island during the regatta.

The minimum age requirements will keep juniors away from many races (as well as $$)


#16 Sat, 02/12/2011 - 1:23am


The Pailolo is great fun, great venue, great sponsorship. It can be done iron...so can avoid the escort boat cost. Go from island to island....downwind. AIrfares are not too bad from California to here and not a lot of travel time or logistics involved. Getting a canoe,,,,have to find out about that one.


#17 Sat, 02/12/2011 - 8:50am


Thanks a ton for all the input guys. Seriously a lot of good advice, Rambo I want to get down there for Hamo super bad with or without the jrs sometime in my life. And I have been hearing a lot of good things about the Vaka Eva race as well.

Pailolo is a good one, I've done it once on one man and once 9man.

Gorge would be nice to do and Goto is the man beating him would mean me training.


#18 Sat, 02/12/2011 - 6:58pm


Talk in Town Tpop, there are some top Hawaiian open crews looking at coming to Hamo this year, the $'s making it tuff though.


#19 Sat, 02/12/2011 - 7:54pm


Haha, thanks for the props Tpop, but only when it's flat like glass can I make that canoe move the way I want it to. The Gorge has waves, and that puts me a serious disadvantage...
You should think about it - if you want help finding boats, lodging, etc. let me know. I will do what I can for you.

Here's a clip of your typical summer day on the Columbia River near Stevenson, WA:
And yes, it's against the rules to run over the windsurfers.


#20 Mon, 02/14/2011 - 12:22pm


Is it like that the whole way or just by the Hatchery? It looks like there's a shelf right there that makes it stand up a bit.


#21 Thu, 02/17/2011 - 12:21am


If you come to race in Kona again then you guys should stick around till the following weekend. Then all the kids could do the Race Around the Hat for free. Last year we had 6 juniors from Tahiti in the race. Including one who qualified for and raced the Super Aito this year.


#22 Thu, 02/17/2011 - 8:10am


You might want to consider the Duke Race; Kailua to Waikiki. This would be a definite eye opener for any mainland crew. There is some pretty tough water with spectacular views from Kailua to Portlock Point then comes the awesome downwind run and around Diamond Head to the finish. The run from Rabbit Island to Portlock can be pretty hair raising/fun. Always looked forward to that race.


#23 Thu, 02/17/2011 - 3:41pm


We already had to change the Duke so the townies could do it. It used to finish in Kailua.


#24 Thu, 02/17/2011 - 6:05pm


Waikiki-Kailua-Waikiki


#25 Thu, 02/17/2011 - 11:46pm


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