For the 11th year, Hanohano Outrigger Canoe Club will provide a day of fun, food and competition for all levels of athletes at Bonita Cove on Mission Bay.
The event, which began with about 25 participants, now draws more than 200 athletes who want to stay active in the “off-season.”
“Eleven years ago there was a need for racing paddlecraft and one-man outrigger canoes year-round, so we set up an eight-race winter series,” said Dan Van Dyck, race coordinator for the canoe club. “The biggest thing for us is to be all-inclusive.”
The canoe, kayak and paddleboard race is open to paddlers ranging in age from 12 to 80 and consists of two courses: a 4.75-mile race inside Mission Bay and a nine-mile open ocean race. The Ingraham Street bridges will provide great views of the shorter course, which starts at Bonita Cove and stretches to the South Shores boat ramp just south of Sea World. The longer race begins at the mouth of the harbor and heads north to Crystal Pier and then out to the wreck of the Yukon before heading back to the bay.
This year, retailer Patagonia will bring locally made North County and Mike Eaton Paddleboards from its newly opened Cardiff store. Other event sponsors include L&L Hawaiian BBQ, Huki Canoe/Kayak, Hansen’s Board Room, Kialoa Paddles, Destination Surf, Paddleme.com, Rusty Del Mar, Epic Kayak, Ocean Paddleboard, Valhalla Surfski, Pohaku Stand-Up Paddles and Graywhale Trading Co.
“My ultimate goal is to give people an accessible venue,” said Van Dyck. “We provide a place for people to learn and race if they want to, while offering a good venue for kids and adults to get involved in athletics and also be environmentally conscious.”
Registration starts at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 27, with the races kicking off at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. The $15 entry fee includes breakfast, lunch and a T-shirt for the first 175 participants to register.
For more information, visit www.hanohano.com.