Donnelly Oceantics: AUGUST 8-15, 2012 CALGARY RACE

WORLD VA'A SPRINTS 2012

Gil canoe racing in Canada August 8-15th

While I was enjoying friends at home, Gil took off for Calgary in Alberta, Canada. They were hosting the World Va’a Sprints this year – an event held every two years; va’a is Hawaiian for outrigger canoe. It was in New Caledonia, South Pacific in 2010 and will be in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2014. Canada, it seems, got really crazed with sporting events after hosting the winter Olympics in 2010. So while it seems an odd location for Hawaiian canoe racing, they did an excellent job and the race course was on a fresh water reservoir.

Let’s give them a cheer:
C eh? N eh? D eh?

Yea!

Gil’s part was to arrive on the 8^th and meet up with team-mates from Kauai. This was a combination of 60s guys and 70s guys that were competing. FYI: 70s guys can paddle in 60s category but not the other way round. Some of the 70s guys (Gaylord Wilcox, Nappy Napoleon, and Nick Beck) happen to be paddlers that have competed together for the last 40-50 years – in nearly every long distance race there is including every Molokai Hoe! Also from Kauai were three generations of one family: Nick’s son Hobey, and grandson Braden.

Now Gil has pretty much been a 6-man paddler since he started eight years ago but he also entered the one-man race, the V1 (see page above about upcoming races). He was loaned a boat to practice on here and spent a month training for it along with Kawika Goodale, the current silver medalist, in addition to all the regular 6-man practices. After the overnight flight, they went out for the first practice on the reservoir 8-8.

The more than 1200 paddlers had accommodations in the dorms of Mount Royal University – perfect.

Dorms at Mount Royal University, Calgary

Each “nation” or entry group had a tent on the grounds to place their backpacks, paddles, etc. Registration was done in advance and then again onsite. Paddlers were issued security badges in order to even enter the race site – all very official. Groups ranged from Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, England, Pacific NW, France, Italy, Brazil, Rapa Nui, New Caledonia, Fiji and Tahiti (although Tahiti guys had flight problems and did not make it). Sorry if I missed anyone.

The Heritage Center

Badges allowed entry to tents and races
Front row: Steve Landis, Art Chow, Mike McHenry

Tent City for paddlers representing their "nations"

Checking out the race course on Glenmoore Reservoir

On Friday August 10^th the nations gathered in groups so they could parade toward the large tent for the Opening Ceremonies which included dances and a blessing by 27 of the Seven Native Band Elders. A BBQ followed the ceremony.

Hawaiians gather

Hawaiian Nation

Canadians

Aussies

Kiwis from New Zealand

Hawaiian Parade

Enjoying the others in parade

Performance at Opening Ceremonies

Treaty 7 elders

RACES

V1, V12, V6, men & women, ages 16-70s. There was also a category of Adaptive paddlers (like Special Olympics) that were all qualified by trials and had the canoes “adapted” to accommodate them. Vic Allen, a legend from Kauai is blind, and had a follower to tell him how to guide his boat which he manned alone. For instance people without use of their legs had seat backs installed in the canoes that they could be strapped in. A whole phenomenal story that deserves to be told in depth elsewhere would feature Jan Whitaker whose efforts have been responsible for making that part of the race a reality.

The sprint course was set at 250 meters.

500 meter = 1 turn, 1000m = 3 turns, and 1500m = 5 turns

August 11^th and 12^th were the one-man and 12-man outrigger qualifying heats and races. The one-man and six-man races continued over the next three days with waiting in between.