More than 800 outrigger paddlers from across Australia will be heading to Port Stephens in May to contest the 2022 National Marathon Championships on the beautiful blue waters of Shoal Bay.
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Port Stephens Outrigger Canoe Club will host the OC6, OC1/2 and V1 national titles in partnership with the Australian Outrigger Canoe Racing Association between May 27 and 29, 2022.
Port outrigger president Tony Compton said that the club was hugely excited to have won the bid to bring the national championships to NSW after being held in Queensland for several years.
"It is a fantastic opportunity to show-case the natural beauty of Port Stephens and its amazing waterways which are ideal for outrigger canoe racing," Compton said.
"The influx of paddlers, families and friends will be a significant boost to the local economy with most expected to stay for several days to enjoy all the attractions that Port Stephens has to offer."
Compton said that the club would be working closely with the AOCRA events team over the next nine months to deliver a spectacular ocean racing competition.
"This is a three-day action packed outrigging event which we anticipate will attract more than 800 paddlers from all states competing for a national title. However, the extent of participation would obviously be dependent on the COVID situation at the time."
Post Stephens is a great destination for such an event, offering exciting ocean racing opportunities along the coast for the eight races to be contested over the three day event, Compton said.
"The shoreline of Shoal Bay will be home to a fleet of outrigger canoes rigged ready for some serious competition. It is spectacular to watch over 50 teams at a time ready to race and 100 plus individuals outriggers and ocean skis on the start line."
Compton said that the events would include both junior and senior teams and individuals competing over a range of race courses and distances.
"Teams of six racing 12-18kms per race will paddle out around the Islands of Cabbage Tree and Boondelbah. Individuals will race between 12-22km for a national title. The 22kms course will host a national title and Race 4 of the current AO ocean downwind series held around Australia. This officially sponsored series, comprising of six ocean racing events invites national and international outriggers to compete for a Series Prize Pool."
Compton said that modern day outrigging as a sport was a way of life for 90 clubs and 4000 members nationwide.
"It is a low impact sport that welcomes participants from eight to 80-plus years of age."
New paddlers are welcome to try the sport as way of staying active and healthy with plenty of regattas, national and international titles to train and compete for. For details go to portstephensoutrigger.com.
Share your community news with the Examiner. Email the details to portstephens@austcommunitymedia.com.au.
