ItB次元官网网址檚 just after 8 a.m. on a chilly Sunday morning in late March and the dock at the foot of Herald Street, just to the north of the Johnson Street Bridge, is buzzing with a few dozen paddlers eager to get out on the water.
Some, like Bob Randall, have been at this for years, and others are new to the sport, having just joined VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 . Coached by Melanie Conard and James Hill B次元官网网址� two founders of the club B次元官网网址� paddlers from 19 to 70 years of age launch four outrigger canoes into the waters of the Inner Harbour, with little more than a splash.
B次元官网网址淭his morning weB次元官网网址檙e heading out for our regular Sunday practice,B次元官网网址� Conard says. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 gonna be about 12-14 kilometres long, which is a medium length practice.B次元官网网址�
Randall chuckles: B次元官网网址淐an we just emphasize it is the morning after St. PaddyB次元官网网址檚 Day? WeB次元官网网址檙e very dedicated.B次元官网网址�
Although the club started five years ago, it has seen some changes. This yearB次元官网网址檚 crew has been paddling together for just over a year B次元官网网址� long enough to clinch victories in three different races last weekend at the Crazy 8 Outrigger Canoe Race in Nanaimo.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e in really good shape,B次元官网网址� says Hill, who along with Conard is often found in one of the 6-seat boats the 40-person team practices and competes in.
The season is just kicking off, with races nearly every weekend through to late summer. This year, the goal is the Queen LiliB次元官网网址檜okalani Canoe Race, the largest in the world held the last weekend of August in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 pretty busy, itB次元官网网址檚 a big commitment,B次元官网网址� Hill says of being a part of Latitude 48. B次元官网网址淸But] itB次元官网网址檚 a sense of joy. YouB次元官网网址檙e out there, youB次元官网网址檙e in your boat, youB次元官网网址檙e commuting with water, youB次元官网网址檙e taking part in all Mother Nature has to offer. The sky is blue, the sun is shining [and] the water is underneath you.B次元官网网址�
The world of outrigger canoe is changing a lot right now, says Conard. Boats used to tip the scales at 400 lbs. but production has shifted to making carbon fibre B次元官网网址渦nlimited boatsB次元官网网址� that weigh in at just 170 lbs. that glide across the water much faster.
The Latitude 48 team is full of experience with members who come from a varied background of traditional canoeing styles. Marathon, voyager, First Nations canoeing, stand-up paddlers, dragon boaters, theyB次元官网网址檙e all represented here, Randall says.
B次元官网网址淚t all kind of blends in to some degree to just being on the water, and being on the team,B次元官网网址� he adds.
The team is competitive, but open to all paddlers.
B次元官网网址淚f youB次元官网网址檙e willing to commit and you want to do the training, and you want to get fast and you want to race,B次元官网网址� says Conard, who refers to her fellow paddlers as B次元官网网址渙hanaB次元官网网址� the Hawaiian word for family.
B次元官网网址淔or me itB次元官网网址檚 that place that you go that at the end of the day it feels great to be with these people,B次元官网网址� she says.
To learn more about , check them out online or on . The team will compete next in Vancouver at the False Creek Racing Canoe Club March Madness event, March 24-25.
Listen to James Hill describe outrigger canoeing here:
- With files from Arnold Lim
