Race season starts in May and ends in September with the Catalina Crossing, a two day race between Newport Beach and Avalon on Catalina Island. While in season, our practices can be challenging with long distances and taxing intervals. If you have never paddled before we welcome you to our beach on Sunday at 9:00 am for a casual and social paddle! The focus is on safety with an introduction to our sport and some time on the water to give you a good sense of the outrigger experience.
If you decide to join us on Sunday, here are some things to consider:
- Be prepared to sign a waiver prior to stepping into a canoe. If you are under 18 years of age, your waiver must be signed by a parent or legal guardian prior to stepping into a canoe. For your convenience you can view the 2015 Hokuloa Outrigger waiver here.
- Wear appropriate clothing that can get wet. We are a water sport and while its unlikely a canoe will tip over, there is always a bit of water in the boats and water can spray around the top of the canoe as well. Synthetic fibers are best along with board shorts or swim wear. Consider the temperature too. A light weight jacket and hat might be in order.
- Wear sunblock, regardless of conditions.
- Bring water! Sports bottles are fine inside the canoe.
- Don't bring anything in the canoe that you don't want to get wet or that you don't want to lose to the ocean. You can leave keys, phones and personal gear inside our club box which is locked when we leave the beach.
Canoes can huli (flip over) and even the most experienced crews sometimes end up in the water. We expect ALL paddlers to be comfortable in the water. You should be able to swim 100 yards and tread water in the ocean for at least 10 minutes.
READY TO PADDLE?
If all this sounds right up your alley, come on out and give it a try! Whether you are new to the sport or a seasoned pro, we invite you to join us at Harbor Cove Beach at the end of Spinnaker Drive in Ventura Harbor. Look for our white, yellow and blue canoes and head towards the large container to the left of our fleet.
You can RSVP on our Meet Up site or just show up on our beach about 15 minutes early to sign a waiver and pick a paddle. Still have questions? Shoot us an email at hokuloapaddler@gmail.com.
We look forward to seeing you and sharing a day of fun on the water!
Summer and Early Fall 2015 Schedule
May 24
June 14,28
July 5
August 16,30
September 6,20,27