By Margaret Maccoll
After running second to Mooloolaba for a number of years, the Noosa Outrigger Canoe Club now have the numbers to call itself the number one Outrigger Club in Australia.
The Australian Outrigger Canoe Racing Association (AOCRA) announced their place last week.
Despite their understated facilities operating from two shipping containers from a corner of Chaplin Park at Noosaville the club has attracted about 160 members ranging in ages with the oldest member world champion outrigger Huey Bingham, 85.
Club president Graham “Woodsie“ Woods said they aimed to back up their size with performance during the race season from January to June.
The club has been running for 28 years and has three groups for the serious competitors, the intermediates who like to compete and enjoy themselves and the recreational outriggers. The club has 11 six-man canoes, a three-man canoe, a couple of two-man and a few singles.
Graham said paddlers train on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays starting from 5am-7am and there were always events coming up.
The national sprints will be held at Kawana in February as well as a 24 km marathon at Mooloolaba and there are plenty of events around the world in places including Hawaii, New Zealand and Samoa.
Anyone wanting to join the club should look out for the come and try days.
For more information visit www.noosaoutriggers.com.au/
