This exciting sport can be traced back to Hawaiian origins. Unlike dragon boats, these long narrow canoes are equipped with an outrigger arm, to stabilize the boat at speed and to allow for long journeys in open waters.

The Kelowna Outrigger Racing Canoe club started in 2000. It is both a recreational and competitive club and is run on a not-for-profit basis. Our members have competed in many races in the past 7 years, most notably the 2003 Molakai and Kona open ocean races in Hawaii, (the club's women's masters' (> 40 yrs) crew placed third in a field of over 100); the 2004 Canadian Masters' Outrigger Championships (where both men's and women's teams placed first); and the 2005 World Masters' Games (where the women again took gold). In 2007, the women's masters' crew again won their age group at the Liberty Challenge; a 15 mile race around New York harbour and the Statue of Liberty.

Our club currently has 2 OC-6 (six-person crew) and 2 OC-2 (two-person crew) boats. Several club members also own OC1 boats.

Our club welcomes paddles of all ages and abilities. If you are interested in trying this fun way of staying fit, please contact us for more information. We provide "come and try" training sessions, and we will equip you with a paddle and lifejacket for those sessions.

Kelowna Outrigger Club annual membership is $200.00. Returning members are required to complete the 2008 membership forms. All paddlers will also have to complete an indemnity release form. CORA annual fee must also be paid if you plan to race this year.