What: The Liberty World Outrigger Competition is one of the largest sporting events in New York Harbor and one of the most prestigious outrigger canoe races in the world. Men’s, women’s, and co-ed crews race along a challenging and visually-stunning course in the New York Harbor (East River and Hudson River), past landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge, with the Manhattan Skyline as a backdrop.

What is Outrigger Canoeing? The ancestral Hawaiian sport of kings, outrigger canoeing comes from the Polynesian seafaring tradition. The narrow, tapered, boats are 40 feet long and accommodate six paddlers. A long, thin stabilizer lashed to the left side gives the boat its distinctive look. All six paddlers must work in unison, but each person has a distinctive role. As the sport migrates to new islands such as Manhattan, it still emphasizes bravery, teamwork and respect for Polynesian traditions.

When: Saturday, June 27, 2009

Women’s Race (15 miles) Start Time: 7:30am
Men’s Race (15 miles) Start Time: 11:00am
Mixed Race (11 miles) Start Time: 2:30pm

Where: Crews launch at The Cove Between the Bridges at Brooklyn Bridge Park in the DUMBO neighborhood of Brooklyn on the East River. All races start on the Manhattan side of the Manhattan Bridge. Teams then head west, around the tip of Manhattan, past Ground Zero, and north up the Hudson River. At 34th Street, the men’s and women’s crews head west toward New Jersey (The mixed crews’ crossing is at Canal Street). On the New Jersey side, teams paddle south down the Hudson River past Hoboken, Jersey City and Ellis Island. At the Statue of Liberty, crews turn east across New York Harbor, around Governors Island and hug the Brooklyn Piers. The finish is near when teams cross under the Brooklyn Bridge within view of Brooklyn Bridge Park. The finish line is on the Brooklyn side just before the Manhattan Bridge. For a detailed map, vantage points, and estimated arrival times, please visit www.newyorkoutrigger.org (Note: Course may change in inclement weather or for other safety reasons.)

Who: Approximately 200 paddlers from around the world are expected to compete in Liberty. Past participants have included teams from Hawaii, Tahiti, Australia, Costa Rica, England, Sweden, France and Canada. Teams that have expressed interest in attending this year include: several members of the East Coast Outrigger Racing Association; many from Hawaii and the Western US (including California, Washington, and Arizona); England; Canada; and Tahiti.

With concurrent festivities at the Brooklyn Bridge Park race site and celebratory luau on race night, NYO estimates that attendance will be over 600 people. In addition, thousands of spectators watch the event along the New York City and New Jersey waterfronts.

About New York Outrigger: Established in 1995, the New York Outrigger Canoe Club (NYO) is a not-for-profit water sports organization, based in the Hudson River Park in New York City, dedicated to providing recreational, cultural, and athletic activity to a revitalized New York Harbor. NYO is focused on the sport of Polynesian outrigger canoe paddling and has proudly advanced the sport on the Eastern shores of the mainland US. A full description of our activities and the Liberty World Outrigger Competition is available at www.newyorkoutrigger.org . New York Outrigger is a 501(c)3, not for profit organization. Contributions to Liberty are taxdeductible. We receive matching funds from The Rockefeller Foundation.

www.newyorkoutrigger.org