Author: Graeme Galves

CORA has collected a set of stories representative of “Team Cascadia”. This is a concept that has been around for many years that involves paddlers from Oregon / Washington / Canada forming crews for outrigger canoe racing events and quite often taking the podium. The concept of Team Cascadia has gone by many names over the years and this article on Cascadia – Paddlers Without Borders captures four memorable occurrences of this concept. If you have stories of your own about a Team Cascadia experience, please feel free to share those stories with the CORA Historical Committee.

• Molokai Hoe 2019 crew led by Gordon Martinez of Kikaha O Ke Kai (with Ashley James, Len Morris Jr.)
• Catalina Crossing 2016 crew led by Brian Itami of Kai Ikaika (with Brad Morrison, Robbie Magus)
• Queen Lili’uokalani 2015 crew led by Boy Chun Fook of Kikaha O Ke Kai
• Molokai Na Wahine 2013 crew led by Lance Mamiya of Team FreeLance (with Laurel Archer, Linda Warren, Jacinta Sheridan, Melanie Conard)

The PNWORCA / CORA 2023 Small-Boat Racing Winter Series Championship event lived up to expectations as the courses were challenging, the conditions were epic, the awards were exceptional, and the after-race meal was exquisite.

The PNWORCA Race Committee no longer tracks Small-Boat Racing Winter Series points and the Small-Boat Racing Winter Series Championship event host no longer recognizes Division Top 3 Finishers. However, the CORA Race Committee continues to track Small-Boat Racing Winter Series points so as to recognize Canadians who are among the Top 3 Finishers in a Boat / Gender / Age Division and to continue the tradition of the Peter Forand Masters Challenge Trophy.

The Small-Boat Racing Winter Series is not only about putting in miles on the water, but also about putting in miles on the highway, as the 2023 season saw 7 races contend with Winter storms in Vancouver BC, Portland OR, Bellingham WA, and Seattle WA. There were 417 entries across all 7 races and yet 24 paddlers were registered in two or more Age Divisions based on the different registration systems used by the 7 host clubs, which impacted their Boat / Gender / Age Division standings.

For the first time in the history of the PNWORCA / CORA Small-Boat Racing Winter Series, at the conclusion of the 2023 Peter Marcus Farewell Tour, we were able to present the Peter Forand Masters Challenge trophy to the Champion at the Championship Event Awards Presentation.

The PNWORCA 2023 Small-Boat Racing Winter Series winner for the Peter Forand Masters Challenge is Mignon Fontenelle (Sand Point Outrigger Canoe Club) in the Women Masters 50+ OC1 Division. The PNWORCA Small-Boat Racing Winter Series event organizers recognize Mignon Fontenelle for the fourth time as the Peter Forand Masters Challenge winner in accordance with guidelines as the Female or Male Masters (40+ / 50+ / 60+ / 70+) OC1 paddler with the highest number of points (Six Races; Six 1st Places) across all age / gender divisions at the end of the Winter Series.

Congratulations to Mignon Fontenelle as she continues to demonstrate commitment and excellence in Winter Series small-boat racing.

CORA wishes to recognize these individuals who were top contenders for the Peter Forand Masters Challenge Trophy:

• Kevin Cowan, Portland OR (#2)
• Beau Whitehead, Bellingham WA, 2021 Champion (#3)
• Pam Watts Cornall, Canada (#6)
• Bob Stewart, Canada (#8)
• Ken Asano, Canada (#13)
• Doug Thomas, Canada (#14)

 

CORA wishes to recognize these individuals who were Top 3 Finishers in their Boat / Gender / Age Division:

• Rob Magus (1st V1 Men), Bob Stewart (1st OC1 Men), Graeme Galves (1st V1 Men), Beau Whitehead (1st OC1 Men), Manny De Leon (1st SUP Men), Makoto Tsukigase (1st OC1 Men – Age 16)
• Pam Watts Cornall (2nd OC1 Women), Tony Hodanic (2nd V1 Men), Darren Grant (2nd V1 Men), Masato Tsukigase (2nd OC1 Men – Age 13)
• Ken Asano (3rd OC1 Men)

 

For more information about the Peter Forand Masters Challenge, CLICK HERE

Come join us for your best time on the Fraser River! Fort Langley Canoe Club re-boots its well-loved Spring River Run on Saturday April 22 (OC6 races) and Sunday, April 23 (small boat races).

If you’ve raced with us before, you know what to expect: a scenic course on the beautiful Bedford Channel and Fraser River, away from city and boat congestion. You’ll prepare for the hard push against your competition and the river current (and, possibly tide) on one leg and then a lightning-fast split on the return. You may encounter bald eagles, seals, sturgeon, salmon, and, even our small local deer herd, as our resident spectators).

After your race, stay for what scenic Fort Langley has to offer including the historic Fort, as well as shopping, restaurants and excellent craft beer!

THE DETAILS

This is a CORA-sanctioned race and you must be a CORA member.

FLCC Spring River Run 2023 will be a spec-boat only race and FLCC will provide you a spec boat – Bradley Lightning, Calmar, Clipper Advantage and Mirage models – if you need one. Boat types will be assigned by draw. If you plan to bring down your own boat to race, please contact Jim at: ocrep@fortlangleycanoeclub.ca

Race courses include for OC6, approx. 8KM, or 12KM, dependent on your interest and registration. The first race of the day is for youth and novice crews (less than 2 years racing) as well as anyone who wants to challenge themselves on an 8KM race around Brae Island. The next day, small boats will also race around the Brae Island 8-9KM circumference.

In the Saturday OC6 heats, you’ll compete against other crews in your Age Division:

• Juniors (U19), Open, Masters 40+, Masters 50+, Masters 60+, Kupunas 70+, and Novice Divisions
• Womens, Mens, Mixed Crews

OC 6 Race Day, Sat. April 22:

• 7:45 AM Registration
• 8:30 AM Heat 1 (8KM Novice / Youth)
• 10:00 AM Heat 2 (12KM Mixed)
• 11:30 AM Heat 3 (12KM Mixed)
• 1:00 PM Heat 4 (12KM Women)
• 2:30 PM Heat 5 (12KM Men)

Small Boat Race Day, Sunday April 23:

• 9:30 Registration
• 10:30 Race – Mass Start
• 12:00 Awards in each Boat / Gender / Age Division as per CORA Race Rules as well as Prizes which can be won by anyone!

Cost:

• OC6: $180 / crew ($90 Juniors)
• Small Boats: $30 per boat ($15 Juniors)
• You will not be considered registered until you have paid your registration fee.

Registration:

• Registration / Waivers / Payment Here
• OC6 Registration closes April 15
• There will be no OC6 Registration on Race-Day
• Small Boat Registration open until and including April 23

Questions: Ask Jim – ocrep@fortlangleycanoeclub.ca