covering hawai'i's state team sport since 1996 - Pacific Paddler

no'ono'o to reflect
P.P and two suppliers on their thoughts on having
P.P. There are a lot of new faces to the sport of OC-1
and OC-2 this year, and the influx can in part be attributed
to paddling associations throughout Hawaii and
overseas who provide an opportunity for paddlers to
race and socialize and an increase in the supply of OC-
1 and OC-2 canoes world wide. "You no longer have to
wait for a canoe." That is what Karel says at Outrigger
canoes built overseas
Connection. "Come on down and pick one out." As
more canoes are made available more people will be
out paddling them, and the sport will continue growing.
Currently, second hand OC-1s are selling for a few
hundred dollars less than what they cost brand new.
This means there is a lot more room in the market for
more canoes, and manufactures are working overtime
to satisfy that demand.
Ian Foo, Hypr Canoes ~ Today, no one has to wait, you
can just pick one up anytime, and the choice has never
been as wide. When we first started pushing for overseas
production three years ago, there was only Mike
Giblin’s Hurricane, and you still had to wait.
P.P. More builders are getting their canoes manufactured
overseas. Outrigger Connection has had their
canoes built there for a couple of years, and Kai Wa'a
has also made the jump. Is all the money going to
China and how does this help our economy
Jim Foti, Hurricane Canoes ~ One of the critical things
about the China manufacturing is that economically
speaking there is excellent domestic cash flow. Many
US citizens are employed in the process of manufacture,
marketing and distribution of our canoes made in
China. Additionally, the end result is that more funds
are brought into the US economy because the overseas
production makes export a viable business. When we
send a container of China-made canoes to non-US destinations,
most of the funds return to our economy. The
only funds that stay in China are cost of goods, labor,
rent, taxes and some other miscellaneous costs.
P.P. But there are some who think mass
produced canoes should be cheaper
Ian ~ Our Holy Grail is to develop a $990
Outrigger Canoe that is close to performance
characteristics of the hand made
composite high performance models we all use today.
What everyone does not realize is the tremendous sacrifices
it takes to make all this happen. Add the costs for
developing canoes, paddles, surfskis and paddle boards,
these are up-front expenses. Add in the research and
development, mistakes, redos and just plain crooked overseas
contractors and suppliers. I now realize the incredible
risks we took to get this far. I'd much, much rather have
done production in Hawaii or California where there is
the “rule of law” and accountability, since working in a
foreign country makes you an easy victim.
P.P. For many people, spending $3,000 on a canoe is
difficult. A cheaper canoe would help the sport move
to the next level. On the horizon there is a hybrid sport
emerging that combines both the Hawaiian traditions
of surfing and paddling which may allow more people
to paddle standing up, kneeling or seated. It's Paddle
Boarding, and has the potential to get even more
paddlers out in the ocean… and the sweet thing is, that
a paddle board is less than half the cost of an OC1. It
may be the next fun way to cross-train for the OC-6
season — if there is such a thing as having fun while
training.
Readers Pics
Email us your paddling related
photo for a chance to be in the
2009 Pacific Paddler Calendar
to: pic@pacificpaddler.com
As we approach winter in
Hawaii and its getting a
little ‘cooler‘, we got these
pictures from our Vancouver
reps giving “canoe” demos.
Notice the white stuff on the
ground, its not salt or fake
Hollywood snow. These are
the hardcore paddlers !!!
Blows my mind. Its raining
here today in Kona and “too
cold” to go out !! Kudos to
Ross & Melanie in Vancouver.
Submitted by Lauren & Ian of
Hypr Canoes