Penticton crews were victorious in the 17th annual Duel in the Desert Outrigger Canoe race July 9 to 10.
Penticton Racing Canoe Club team of Stu Seeley, Diane Matthews, Charlene Naefken, Kent Mathies, Penny Proctor and Frank Gigliotti won the 10-kilometre novice course in 53 minutes, 17 seconds. They beat Leduc/PRCC Koas, who finished in 55:46. In the 20-km open division, the race was won by PRCC mixed open crew of Stu Rahkola, Erin Kavaliunas, Launa Maundrell, Don Mulhall, Brad Lee and Janelle Parchomchuk. Their time 1:46:13 not only won the mixed division, but beat all the men’s crews. PRCC Mixed finished ahead of the top men’s crew from Lotus Sports Club in Burnaby by six seconds.
The PRCC PRCC also had a novice crew comprised of junior paddlers (under age 18) and kupuna paddlers (over age 65); as well paddlers help fill out a crew from Leduc, Alta.
Over 30 paddlers raced in Sunday’s small boat races. One and two-person outrigger canoes, surf skis. The 11.5-km course went from Penticton to Okanagan Falls. Greg Redman, of Kelowna, paddling a surfski, was first overall, finishing in 51:49. Top local was Don Mulhall, third place surfski, in 1:01:41.
The event attracted approximately 20 crews with 120 paddlers from B.C. as well as Alberta.
For more information about outrigger paddling, go to www.pentictonoutrigger.com or www.canadianoutrigger.com.