Novice practices are usually around 3 hours. You will build upon the skills you’ve learned at the newcomer clinic, as well as receive further coaching and personalized instruction on the basics of outrigger canoe paddling and racing strategy. 

The coach has planned a progressive training program in which you will be building strength and skills every week that will get you ready for races. 

You may be asked to take a swim test at your first practice. This includes getting out of the canoe, swimming around the canoe, and getting back in the canoe unassisted. You will be given guidance on how to get back in. 

Our club is a non-profit. Annual dues are $300.00 and paid in January of every year. Pay your annual dues HERE.

Dues cover club membership, use of canoes, paddles, and racing equipment.

Additional costs and fees include: jersey and race fees to participate in the races, which are managed by SCORA (Southern California Outrigger Racing Association), the governing body for the sport of outrigger canoe racing in Southern California, Arizona and Nevada.

There are also many additional opportunities to participate in races that are hosted outside of SCORA, in which paddlers coordinate and pay fees on their own.

Wear clothing that is appropriate to get wet. Depending on the weather, we recommend sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses with a croakie, or windproof jacket. Do not wear any watches that are not waterproof. Do not bring phones or a camera in the canoe unless they are waterproof.

Spring practices during the months of March to May can be a little chilly. We recommend following the “120-degree rule” which is a formula that adds up the air and water temperature and if the total is below 120 F, it would be wise to wear additional thermal protection (such as a 1mm or 2mm vest) to reduce the risk of hypothermia should you fall in the water.

Bring a water bottle and the spirit of Aloha. We provide a paddle, a coach, and a canoe.  Do not buy a paddle until you get advice from a coach.

Get ready to meet a bunch of new friends and experience the broader outrigger community! Paddling in a competitive club is a significant commitment of time, money, and effort but it is also incredibly rewarding to be part of a team. 

As a competitive paddler, you will be expected to attend all scheduled practices (typically three times a week), show up for race day events and occasionally help out with club “work days” where club members gather together to maintain canoes, equipment, and clean up our canoe yard and club site. The current race season schedule can be viewed on the SCORA website (the governing body for the sport of outrigger canoe racing in Southern California, Arizona and Nevada) and are held at host clubs throughout Southern California from as far north as Santa Barbara down to San Diego.  

It is understood that all paddlers are amateur athletes and all of us have jobs and family commitments that must be given due consideration. In the final analysis, however, it will be those who have invested the time and effort to become good, strong, dependable paddlers who will be chosen for top racing crews.

Paddling with Oceanside can be a rewarding social and personal experience, if you are able to invest the time necessary to make your participation worthwhile. As our coaches often say, “Paddling won’t feed you, so work, school, and family must come first. Paddling will always be here.”

If, however, you cannot make the commitment in time to be a core racing participant, you should not be disappointed when those members who do invest the time to advance their skills, strength, technique, and fitness levels are the paddlers that secure top crew placement.