26/08/2026
Thursdays training on the waves.
Wow wow wow. With a hull speed of over 20 km p/h. We were flying. Well done teams.
Learning to surf waves in an OC6 (six-person outrigger canoe) is important because it increases your boat's speed and saves paddler energy during open-ocean runs.
Speed and EfficiencyCatching swells:
Catching a wave lets gravity pull the heavy canoe forward.
Faster glides:
Surfing turns short bursts of wave energy into long periods of high speed without extra physical effort.
Winning races:
Connecting multiple waves allows your team to pass other canoes quickly.
Safety and ControlPreventing broaching:
A broach happens when a wave pushes the back of the canoe sideways and flips the boat.
Steering mastery:
The steersman (the person in seat six who guides the canoe with a large paddle) learns how to keep the hull straight on steep wave faces.
Handling rough water:
Knowing how a wave lifts the canoe prevents the boat from swamping (taking on too much water).
Team CoordinationPower timing:
The team must paddle hard at the exact second a wave reaches the back of the canoe.
Rhythmic sync:
Paddlers learn to feel the lift of the water beneath the hull and respond together as one unit.