USGS Employees Make Semifinals in Local Outrigger-Canoe Races

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USGS Employees Make Semifinals in Local Outrigger-Canoe Races

By Helen Gibbons and Susie Cochran
September 2006

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In a first for nearly all of them, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) employees and ohana (extended family) competed and made a good showing in outrigger-canoe races on August 20 in Santa Cruz, Calif. Participating on their own time, USGS personnel from the Santa Cruz office put together 3 teams out of 33 entered in the event; 2 of the teams made it to the semifinals. Haf Mana team paddler Bruce Richmond noted, "The eventual winner, Pul In Sai, had to beat our teams twice to make it to the finals."

Left: USGS and ohana paddlers and family. Left to right: Jorge Lizarzaburu (ohana), Amy Draut, Ann Gibbs, Amy Foxgrover, Tim Elfers (former USGS), Kathy Presto (front), Guy Cochrane (back), Eric Grossman, Bruce Richmond (with daughters Lohana [white T-shirt] and Maurea in front of him), Josh Logan, Katie Roberts (ohana), and Lilian Carswell (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [USFWS]). [larger version]

Right: Team Haf Mana in the all-white outrigger pulls ahead of other boats during one of the second-heat races. Left to right: stroker (from Pu Pu 'O Hawai'i), Kathy Presto, Eric Grossman, Amy Draut, Bruce Richmond, and steersman (from Pu Pu 'O Hawai'i). [larger version]

Left: Team Pohaku Mana in the blue-and-white outrigger narrowly pulls ahead of another competitor during one of the first-heat races. Left to right: Stroker (from Pu Pu 'O Hawai'i), Lilian Carswell (USFWS), Guy Cochrane, Ann Gibbs, Amy Foxgrover, and steersman (from Pu Pu 'O Hawai'i). [larger version]

Right: Team Menehune Pupule in the green-and-white outrigger has to put on the power to stay in the running during one of the second-heat races. Left to right: Stroker (from Pu Pu 'O Hawai'i), Tim Elfers (former USGS), Jorge Lizarzaburu (ohana), Josh Logan, Katie Roberts (ohana), and steersman (from Pu Pu 'O Hawai'i). [larger version]

The Aloha Outrigger Races are held annually at the Santa Cruz Wharf; this year's event was the 14th. The short-course novice outrigger races are orchestrated by a local outrigger club, Pu Pu 'O Hawai'i, to introduce newcomers to the excitement of outrigger-canoe racing and to benefit outrigger clubs in the area, including three clubs in Santa Cruz and two in Monterey. Participants provide four people for a team, and Pu Pu 'O Hawai'i provides a stroker, a steersperson, a canoe, and instructions to start the team racing.

Open to male and female paddlers of all ages, the outrigger races are part of a Polynesian Festival held each year on the wharf by the Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Department. In addition to the races, this year's festival included live music, crafts, fresh flower leis, Hawaiian shaved ice, Maori face painting, printmaking, and dance performances.

To learn more about the races, read the article in the August 21 Santa Cruz Sentinel posted at URL http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2006/August/21/local/stories/01local.htm.

Pul In Sai uses secret weapon to win Aloha Outrigger race
Santa Cruz Sentinel

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September 2006

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USGS Employees Make Semifinals in Local Outrigger-Canoe Races

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