Sunday 29 March 2026 | 4:00pm-5:45pm Pacific
VIDEO Town Hall (via Zoom)
DATE: Sunday 29 March 2026
TIME: 4pm-5.45pm Pacific
For new and experienced outrigger race directors, planners and volunteers who want to improve the benefits, safety and quality of outrigger races in Canada.
This session will:
- Share operational frameworks, including equipment and software, from manual to fully automated
- Discuss race economics
- Review safety standards and risk management
- Creative race development
- Consider institutional memory & leadership/volunteer fatigue
- Discuss how to promote races among locals, visitors and sponsors
1. Economics of a Race: Erik Ages (CORA & FGPC / Victoria)
- Budget architecture (fixed vs variable costs)
- Cashflow timing risks
- Revenue streams:
- Entry fees
- Sponsorships
- Grants
- Merchandise
- Hardware investments:
- Timing systems
- Safety boats
- Course markers
- Radios / comms
- Insurance, sanctioning, municipal permits
- The Volunteer vs Paid Expertise Dilemma:
- When to pay (professionalize)?
- Cost–benefit analysis
- Burnout risk
- Day-of-race workflow control
Deliverable: Provide sample high-level race budget template post-session.
2. Operations & Registrations: Paul Barton (FGPC / Vancouver)
- Advancement systems for head races vs heat formats
- Registration systems
- Payment platforms
- Data management
- Refund policies
Focus: maximizing credibility; minimizing friction and financial risks
3. Safety & Risk Management: Jan Chavarie (Jericho / Vancouver)
- Race-day safety planning
- Water safety ratios
- Weather decision-making thresholds
- Incident command structures
- Near-miss learnings
- Tragic outcome lessons and duty of care
Goal: Normalize conservative decision-making without stigma.
Deliverable: High-level safety checklist template.
4. Promotion & Growth: Bethany Yam (CORA / Toronto)
- Marketing race value proposition
- Building returning participation
- Social media amplification
- Sponsorship activation
- Regional branding
Goal: Shift from “event” to “annual institution.”
