Steve West Kanu Culture Vol 5 1999
From this initial inventiveness the sport of outrigger canoe racing has developed. It is one of the fastest growing sports in Australia but at its core remains the underlying culture of respect for the ocean, and others. This is reinforced by maintaining the simple outrigger design, the use of Hawaiian terms, and canoe traditions. Regular competition regattas are held for OC1 (one person), OC2 (2 person) and OC6 (6 person) outriggers throughout the Southern Queensland Zone of which Panamuna is a member. Panamuna paddlers also compete in highly regarded events both throughout Australia such as the Hamilton Island Cup and Internationally. Outrigger racing formats include sprints (500m to 3000m) and marathons (10km to 40km). With some marathon events conducted as change over races where a team of 9 members form an OC6 crew changing paddlers during the race.
In 1991 businessman Keith Williams donated two outrigger canoes to Iron man Champion Grant Kenny in a bid to win the Hamilton Island Cup. This was the beginning of the Panamuna Outrigger Canoe Club. Over the years Panamuna has grown to be one of the most successful and competitive outrigger canoe clubs in Australia today. In 2005 we hosted the Australian World Sprint trials and in 2006 the Senior Master Women were Australian National Champions. Panamuna members are renowned for their competitive and team spirit and the opportunity exists for teams of all ages to race throughout Australia and the World.
Outrigging Terms
wa'a - canoe
ama - outrigger float
iako - outrigger spars
hoe - a paddle or to paddle
huli - capsize the canoe
paddles set/reach out/ready - a call to lift paddles to the set position, ready to start paddling.
Ho'omakaukau - paddles set.
hit/go/paddle/ho - start paddling
hut - a call to change paddling sides. After a hut one more complete stroke is performed and all paddlers change their paddling side.
paddles up/let her run - a call to stop paddling. Paddles up may also be used by some steerers as a paddles set call.
timing - a call for all paddlers to focus on the timing of their stroke to ensure it follows the seat in front.
J/Draw - a draw stroke by seat 1 or 2 to pull the canoe left or right.
uni - a turning call to seat one to poke their paddle on the right to turn the canoe left.
kahe - a turning call for a J/Draw stroke.
clear - a call usually by seat 1 to the steerer indicating the front of the canoe is clear and it is safe to go left/right.
block - a call usually by seat 1 to the steerer indicating the front of the canoe is not clear.
back paddle - a call to paddle backward to reverse the canoe.
Outrigging Traditions/Protocol
The canoe is part of the team treat it and all team members with with respect. You depend on them.
Don't step over the body of the canoe.
Always enter and exit the canoe from the left (ama) side.
Only sit in a canoe in the water.
The steersperson is always in command of the canoe.
