Author: Graeme Galves

Spring has arrived and the outrigger canoe race schedule is hopping with PNWORCA Winter Series #6 FCRCC on Mar 25, VCKC Wake Up the Gorge (WUTG) on Mar 25, FCRCC March Madness Apr 1/2, and Fort Langley Spring River Run Apr 22/23.

Sand Point Outrigger Canoe Club will be hosting the PNWORCA / CORA Small-Boat Racing Winter Series Championship on Lake Washington in Seattle on Apr 1 (April Fools Day indeed, but this is for real!) The courses will be challenging. The conditions will be epic. The awards will be exceptional. The after-race meal will be exquisite. This is how Sand Point Outrigger Canoe Club (SPOCC) does a Championship event. Pre-Registration via Pacific Multisports is $30 USD per participant.

Please note that even though the PNWORCA Official Winter Series Points System Rules state: You must complete at least 3 races in the series to qualify for awards, which are presented at the final race at the end of the season. Awards are given to the Top 3 Finishers. The PNWORCA Official Winter Series Points System Rules have not been updated to reflect that the PNWORCA / CORA Small-Boat Racing Winter Series Championship Event host is now conferring awards only to participants at the Championship race based on placings. Please take this opportunity to support Washington and Oregon clubs who send paddlers to support Canadian events.

CORA / PNWORCA continue to track Winter Series Points / Participation for all participants at all Winter Series races. The Peter Forand Masters Challenge Trophy will continue on the 2023 Peter Marcus Farewell Tour to be presented to the Top OC1 Masters paddler across the 7 Winter Series races at the Championship Awards presentation. CORA will also acknowledge on the CORA website any Canadian paddlers that are one of the Top 3 Finishers in their Boat / Gender / Age Division.

After the passing of Peter Forand, PNWORCA and CORA commissioned the Peter Forand Masters Challenge Trophy to recognize the PNWORCA Winter Series Top OC1 Masters Paddlers (Female / Male). Peter Marcus was the first recipient of this Trophy in 2017, finshing 1st place in all 7 races that year and setting the bar going forward. The tribute to the recent passing of Peter Marcus is a remarkable story of his life and contributions to the Pacific Northwest community. CORA may need to find a way to bring Peter Marcus into the Canadian Outrigger Hall Of Fame.

The Peter Forand Masters Challenge Trophy and photos of all the Trophy recipients from 2017-2022 will be on tour for the 2023 PNWORCA Winter Series. Bellingham Bay Outrigger Paddlers are commemorating the BBOP Winter Series #4 (Peter Marcus Memorial Race) Saturday 2023-Feb-25 race in honour of hometown hero Peter Marcus and there will also be a Celebration Of Life Sunday 2023-Feb-26 from 2-4PM, at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal. Hawaiian attire is encouraged and snow chains are recommended.

Please note the Top 10 of 51 paddlers in the Peter Forand Masters Challenge Trophy Standings after three of the 2023 PNWORCA Winter Series Races:

• Kevin Cowan: Standing=1, Points=13, Races=3
• Cary Morris: Standing=2, Points=13, Races=3
• Traci Cole: Standing=3, Points=10, Races=2
• Mignon Fontenelle: Standing=4, Points=10, Races=2
• Sarah Craig: Standing=5, Points=10, Races=2
• Jennifer Radtke: Standing=6, Points=8, Races=2
• Sue Fenger: Standing=7, Points=7, Races=2
• Doug Thomas: Standing=8, Points=7, Races=2
• Craig Holt: Standing=9, Points=5, Races=1
• Patti Tohl: Standing=10, Points=5, Races=2

 

 

The purpose of the Hugh Town Memorial Builder Award is to recognize volunteers who have made significant and exemplary contributions to the Outrigger Canoe Racing Discipline of Canadian Outrigger Racing Association (“CORA”) within Canada in the Builder Category.

The CORA Board has approved Policy and Procedure relating to selection and awarding and administering the Award as per the Hugh Town Memorial Builder Award Policy.

The Hugh Town Memorial Builder Award is awarded after the CORA AGM. The CORA Board has reviewed nominations received for the past season and has recognized Jan Chavarie of Jericho Paddling Club as the 2022 recipient of the Hugh Town Memorial Builder Award.

Jan Chavarie has a 20+ year legacy of selfless volunteer effort to paddlesports in general and outrigger canoe racing in particular. She has made contributions to support Canadian paddlers at the international, national, provincial, and club level. Jan and web designer / developer Colleen McCarthy collaborated to build the Jericho Paddling Club (JPC) website as well as the 1st and 2nd generations of the CORA website. She has been part of the Jericho Paddling Club that has hosted the popular PNWORCA Jericho Small-Boat Racing Winter Series event and Jericho Classic Iron, as well as volunteered to assist with the Jericho Oceanman and the JSCA Wavechaser Paddle Series for many years. She has served continuously since circa 2000 on both the Jericho Executive and the CORA Board including a 2-year stint as CORA Chairman (2005-2006).

CORA wishes to extend a round of appreciation to Bob Stewart (Mr. Aloha) for sharing personal insights as Guest Speaker on behalf of Jan Chavarie at the 2022 CORA AGM.

CORA hopes to have a Hugh Town Memorial Builder Award photo-op on February 4, 2023 at Jericho Sailing Centre as part of the 2023 PNWORCA Winter Series Event #2. Please join us for the presentation to Jan Chavarie (2022 Recipient) with the English Bay backdrop in the distance.

For more information about the Hugh Town Memorial Builder Award, CLICK HERE