Despite the cold rain pouring over Victoria this weekend, nearly 450 paddlers braved the elements in support of a good cause. 

Competing in the 13th Annual WetDashe Outrigger Canoe Races, athletes took part in friendly competition on Nov. 16 and 17 to raise money for menB次元官网网址檚 health.

Hosted by the Fairway Gorge Paddling Club, the event featured three relays (12 km, 24 km, and 48 km), making it the only event of its kind in the region.

Participants from Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland showcased their teamwork and endurance as teams of 12, divided into two groups of six paddlers, rotated crews on the dock before each three-kilometre relay leg.

The race began at the paddling club and headed all the way to the Johnson Street Bridge and back, explained Erik Ages, founder and director of the race. 

After completing the three-kilometre round trip, each paddler struck a small tin gong before heading out, as the next crew took over. 

B次元官网网址淚t's kind of like an Indy 500 because after each lap they come in hot fast to a dock andB次元官网网址� their crew swaps up with a fresh crew that does a three-kilometre [lap] again at high intensity,B次元官网网址� said Ages. 

Those competing in the longest distance spent from sunrise to sunset on the water.

B次元官网网址淭here's a 48-kilometre crew here from Vancouver that started this morning and they'll finish this afternoon so they just keep going,B次元官网网址� Ages said.

The race organizer explained that the event started over a decade ago and was created to offer something unique while raising funds for menB次元官网网址檚 health.

B次元官网网址淧addle sports, like dragon boats for example, have traditionally focused on breast cancer survivors,B次元官网网址� said Ages. B次元官网网址淸But] we wanted an end-of-season outrigger race different than dragon boats.B次元官网网址�

This year's competition raised $11,500 for the BC Cancer Foundation through the Make Every Second Count campaign.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a chance for paddlers to have fun and give back to the community,B次元官网网址� said Ages. 

To learn more about the event or to see this yearB次元官网网址檚 results, visit