The annual Wells Fargo Outrigger Challenge will be back for its ninth edition later this month. The nonprofit event held on Mission Bay has been steadily growing in popularity. “Last year we had 99 teams enter the friendly competition and this year we’re hoping to surpass 100 boats,” said event coordinator Laura Delamontaigne. The Outrigger Challenge has moved to Crown Point Shores this year. The event will take place on Saturday, April 24, with registration starting at 8 a.m. The races get underway at 9 a.m. and go throughout the day until the championship battle around 2 p.m. It is a double-elimination tournament, so every team will get a chance to race at least twice. The course is only 200 meters and the races are typically over in a matter of minutes. The last two challenges have been dominated by Paddle This! — a team that will be going for an unprecedented three-peat this year. Past winners also include the Coast Guard, which has claimed victory three times. “They are the team to beat this year,” Delamontaigne said of Paddle This! Outrigger canoes originated in Hawaii long ago but can now be found in aquatic communities around the world. The local Hanohano Outrigger Canoe Club provides all the boats for the event. Each canoe carries five members and two must be women, as stated in the rules. Competitors must also be at least 18 years of age and a Hanohano member will be represented in each canoe to help out. “They provide an experienced steersperson in every boat,” Delamontaigne said. “Even if you don’t have experience, they’ll train you and get you ready to race.” The non-competitive participants shouldn’t be discouraged, because there is plenty of fun to be had out of the water. A luau gets under way with a Polynesian dance show from noon to 12:30 p.m. There will also be music and a beer and mai tai garden to spice up the atmosphere for attendees over the age of 21. The Outrigger Challenge is a public event, so everyone is welcome to watch the races or just enjoy the unique scene. For teams that sign up before April 16, the cost is $200. After that, sign-up fees go up to $225 per squad. Every person in the challenge will receive a T-shirt, along with a ticket to the luau. For those who just want to enjoy the festivities, tickets are $20. Grass skirts are encouraged but not required. Profits from the competition go to help pay for the cost of hosting the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl in December. For more information, visit www.holidaybowl.com or call (619) 283-5808.
