Canoe Culture and Philosophy
For those of your new to the club or those “oldies” that need some reminding, Maggie Island Outriggers and Outrigging is a sport grounded in culture and tradition.
Here are a few short facts/beliefs about outrigging and Maggie Island outriggers philosophy and culture.
“As a mark of respect for the canoe, which is regarded as a living entity, one which protects paddlers from the unpredictability of the ocean, Hawaiians and Tahitians adhere to certain actions in order that the mana or spirit of the canoe is not upset by any disrespect shown to it.“
The culture of outrigging and MIOCC is THAT EVERYBODY HELPS EACH OTHER AND TAKES CARE OF EACH OTHER.
*ALWAYS be good to your coach
*ALWAYS be good to fellow paddlers.
*Trust your steerer.
*Always treat the canoe with respect and treat other paddlers in that canoe with respect.
*Never stand up in a canoe
*Always enter a canoe from the left hand side.
*Never step over a canoe – walk around.
*Do not sit on a canoe
*Avoid swearing or negativity in the boat – provide positive encouragement or nothing at all (unless you are the coach).
*Reduce the amount of “chatter” in the boat, you’ll notice the noisy boats are the slow ones up the back. It’s OK to occasionally encourage one another but technically you should be too stuffed to talk.
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The History Of Outrigger Canoe Racing in Australia
Outrigger canoe paddling has its origins in the development and spread of the coastal culture of the Pacific rim region abut 30,000 years ago, with canoes playing an integral role in the survival and transmigration of ancient cultures.
It was many thousands of years before outrigger canoe racing became a competitive sport and maritime advancement saw the canoe evolve to the sleek racing boats of today. The first canoe race, initially for men, was in the Hawaiian Islands in Waikiki in 1917.
Outrigger canoe racing is a relatively young sport in Australia. Seventy years after Hawaii’s first Outrigger Canoe Club was formed, the first club in Australia was formed in 1978 on the Gold Coast while the first club in Sydney was formed in 1989, the year the first Australian Championships were held.
The first regatta in Australia was held in 1981 and the national body, Australian Outrigger Canoe Racing Association (AOCRA), was formed in 1988.
The sport enjoyed rapid growth in the late 90’s with the development of clubs in other states of Australia, expanding the sport’s power base and spiritual home from northern Queensland and the Whitsunday region to make it a more “national” sport.
In 1990 there were 11 clubs in Australia, mainly in the Whitsunday area. This doubled to 23 in1991, 37 in 1994, 45 in 1995, and 50 in 1997. In 1995, in Sydney alone, the number of clubs jumped from 2 to 10. There are now well over 60 clubs Australia wide.
AOCRA overseas and organises racing throughout Australia, with rules based on those created by the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association. AOCRA also nurtures respect for the heritage and cultures from which these craft originate.
Racing takes on two forms, marathons and sprints, both in six person canoes (OC6) and solo canoes (OC1).
Sprint races are held over 500 – 3000 metres, whilst marathon races vary in distance between 5 and 30 kilometres. For races over 30 kms, the six person teams are allowed to have 9 crew with any 3 alternating by way of changeovers. This is where paddlers fall out of the canoe and are replaced by waiting paddlers in the water who grab the side of the canoe and pull themselves into the craft to commence paddling.
Age divisions include junior divisions from 10 to 19 years old, Open Men and Women to Golden Master Men and Women over 55.
Because of the vast size of the country there are various racing Zones conducting their own competitions within Australia. Each zone conducts approximately 6 Grand Prix regattas over a six month period with the AOCRA Australian Championships being held during these Zone seasons.
In the so called “off season”, the “Wai Puhi” racing series is held in each Zone, whereby solo (OC1) paddlers compete in open ocean long course marathons.
Additional to this, various other major events are held annually, including the prestigious and challenging 42km Hamilton Cup held in the beautiful Whitsundays, and the 48km Gold Coast Cup between Coolangatta and Southport. Other fun / competition regattas or events are actively promoted by AOCRA.
The future potential of the sport in this country is endless because of the climate and coastal environments that provide us with all manner of ocean conditions in which to play, practice and ultimately excel in outrigger canoe racing. The sport has come of age in Australia.
Friendships, health, fitness, an affinity with an aquatics environment and a cultural education will be fostered, along with a deeper sense of self obtained by meeting the very special demands that outrigger canoe racing and paddling makes on the paddler, providing the fuel for your long term involvement with the sport.
Credit: This is lifted from the AOCRA home page. A fuller description with a more Maggie Island feel will be provided in the future.
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