WHAT IS OUTRIGGER CANOEING?
Outrigger Canoeing is an exciting challenging sport which fits perfectly into the Australian culture. It offers participants the opportunity to enjoy an aquatic environment whilst performing in a team orientated sport. It is both physically and mentally challenging, and requires dedication to personal and team goals.
Outrigger Canoe Racing originated in Hawaii, hence adding a cultural element to the sport. Australia’s reputation as one of the leading countries in the world in ocean sports, has ensured the rapid and successful growth of the sport since its introduction to Australia in 1976.
The Tweed region is an idyllic location suited to a lifestyle incorporating Outrigger Canoeing.
Since our inauguration in 2004, TCO (Tweed Coast Outriggers) has become an integral and positive part of the local community. Now in our eighth season of competition, we race in regattas between Hamilton Island and Sydney as well as having paddlers compete internationally at Molokai and Kona in Hawaii, New Zealand and Rarotonga in the Cook Islands.
We’ve hosted SQ Zone Regattas , are active with a junior program and supported many folk wanting to improve their fitness through sport.
Changeover races involving jumping in and out of the canoe while it’s moving is an exciting and challenging part of racing. In the last 4 years in such races our achievements have included:
2008 Winning both the Gold Coast Cup and the Hamilton Island Cup (42km).
2009 A women’s team came 3rd overall in the Gold Coast Cup (43km).
2010 our Master Mixed came 2nd in the Gold Coast Cup & in
2011 our Master Mixed backed it up with a 3rd place in the Gold Coast Cup .
In the 2011‘s SQ Zone’s OC1 & OC2 series of regattas Belinda Smedley achieved 1st place in the Master Women’s OC1 Long Course and John Hansen gained 1st place in the Golden Master Men’s Short Course division.
Our club is one of many from around Australia belonging to AOCRA (Australian Outrigger Canoe Racing Association). To find out more about AOCRA hit this button.....
