Watermen and women will unite on Saturday, Jan. 28 during the 16th annual Hanohano-Huki Ocean Challenge Paddling Race at Mission Bay. Billed as a fun, variety-filled day of friendly, aquatic competition and aloha spirit, the event takes place at Mission Bay’s Bonita Cove, across from the Belmont Park rollercoaster. The competition will feature paddle races using one- and two-person outrigger canoes, kayaks and surf skis, along with prone and stand-up paddleboards. The event is hosted by the Hanohano Outrigger Canoe Club, a Mission Bay nonprofit organization founded in 1981 by Egon and Rena Horcajo. The Hanohano club brings together folks who share in perpetuating and participating in competitive Hawaiian outrigger-canoe racing and has proven to be one of the most successful winning clubs in Southern California. The organization also has children’s programs and fundraising events for a scholarship program for student athletes. Hanohano is a Hawaiian word, translating as “glorious, worthy of praises and dignified.” The Hawaiian aloha spirit is a big part of the organization and the Hanohano-Huki Ocean Challenge event. The challenge will have two courses, depending upon the competition. An approximate 9-mile course, which starts from Mission Beach’s North Jetty beach, heads out to sea, past Crystal Pier, then takes a wide turn back before finishing back at Bonita Cove. The approximate 4-mile course takes place in Mission Bay, starting at Bonita Cove, heading past SeaWorld San Diego, then doing a U-turn and returning to the cove. There is also a 1,000-meter race for children under 12. More than 400 watermen and women participated last year, including visitors from Las Vegas, Seattle, Arizona and Canada. Participants include professional lifeguards, former and present Olympic paddlers, pro triathletes and the junior Olympic kayak teams from San Diego and Newport Beach also take part. Notable paddle Olympians have included Phillipe Bocara, Cliff Meidl, Chris Barlow, Rich Sprout and Carrie Johnson. Danny Ching, one of the world’s best, one-man outrigger-canoe paddlers, won last year’s prestigious Waterman title by winning the short course 12’6″-and-under stand-up paddle (SUP) and the long-course outrigger (OC1) events. Maggie Hogan won last year’s women’s Waterman title by finishing second in the women’s short course 12’6″-and-under SUP and winning the women’s long-course surf ski event. The increasing popularity of stand-up paddleboarding has had an impact on the event. Last year, 166 SUPs were entered in the events. “It has definitely brought growth and attention to paddle sports in general,” said event spokesman Dan Van Dyck. “Because it is super-accessible, anyone can do it and has people interested in trying out the other paddle sports as well.” One of the first questions usually asked is, “What is the difference between a kayak and a surf ski?” A surf ski is a long, narrow, lightweight kayak with a sealed capsule that the paddler sits on top of. It is designed more for ocean conditions. A kayak has an internal seating compartment that the paddler sits inside of. The Hanohano-Huki Ocean Challenge will have plenty going on besides paddling outriggers, SUPs, kayaks and surf skis. “It’s the biggest event of its kind and the first event of the year in the World Paddle Association series, so there is a lot of excitement,” said Van Dyck. “There will also be a product expo on site with lots of demo equipment to try out, live music and the best raffle going with plenty of swag to give away.” One-man and two-man Huki outrigger canoes are included in the raffle. Sponsors include Huki Outrigger & Surf ski, Maui Jim’s Sunglasses, Quickblade, Yolo Boards, Bull Taco, Rogue SUP, Paddleme.com, Hansen’s Board Room, West Coast Paddlesurf, Sweet Waterwear, Zsu Zsu Athletic, OEX and others. According to Anthony Vela, a lifeguard, Ironman competitor and a top SUP finisher from last year’s challenge, “The event is growing by leaps and bounds and everyone is having fun with a smile on their face.” Most events have a $20 entry fee, which includes breakfast, lunch, awards, raffle ticket, and T-shirt for the first 200 individuals to register. The online deadline is Jan. 26, with day-of entries on Jan. 28. For more information and entry into the 16th annual Hanohano-Huki Ocean Challenge, visit www.hanohano.org/OceanChallenge/Home.html.