9-Man Initiation

Outrigger paddling often starts as an invitation, but 9-man racing becomes an initiation. Many paddlers are drawn to outrigger either by club invitations welcoming them to try the sport, or by a personal invitation from a friend who is already hooked on paddling. These introductory experiences are usually fun, there’s a collective joy of six people moving together, a rhythm settling in, and the canoe responding while the crew is guided by an experienced steersman. Cruising through the waters of Santa Barbara Harbor delivers a feeling of team energy, welcoming community vibes, and total accessibility for newcomers.

For many beginners, that first experience is less about racing and more about belonging — learning that when everyone works together, the canoe moves in a way no one person could create alone.

The Transition to Competitive Racing

For first-year paddlers, that serene beginning changes quickly. Within a few short months, the same paddler who was just learning how to hold a paddle finds themselves training for 5-mile novice iron races; after only six months, they can choose to face the intensity of 9-person change races, joining the teams veteran paddlers as crews rotate in and out of a perfectly good 6-person canoe and escort boat to cover 20 to 30 miles of open ocean.

In change races while time on the escort boat allows paddlers to rest, refuel, and hydrate, it also introduces a whole new set of skills required to safely integrate these power boats into the race plan. In 9-man races, what began in flat, calm water becomes something much bigger: longer distances, the dynamic motion of the ocean, rotating crews, timing, trust, fatigue, escort boat safety etiquette, and the deep realization that this sport asks more of you than you expected — yet gives back even more when the team rises together.

The Buzz of the First Change

No matter how long you’ve been paddling, chances are you can still vividly remember something about your first 9-man change race. For me, it happened when the familiar call of the hut-hoe was overwhelmed with what sounded like an angry swarm of bees approaching. It was the buzzing engines of 50 escort boats speeding up into the pack for the first change, churning the smooth rhythmic swells into a chaotic mix of chop and slop.

I became anxious with anticipation knowing this was going to make the changes very different from the ones practiced by jumping off a harbor dock and pulling myself up into a passing canoe. In that moment, I put 100% of my trust in the steersperson and my teammates and surrendered to an adrenaline pumping 3-hour tour.

That first change race certainly gave me a lasting and profound appreciation for the steersmen who remain outwardly calm as they control the canoes and keep command of their crew with all that commotion around them. Even now with countless change races under my belt, when I hear that buzzing-bee-swarm sound from the pack of escort boats, it still tickles my nerves.

SBOCC First-Year Paddler Reflections of the Dana Race

Recently, eight SBOCC first-year paddlers completed their first change race, each carrying a different version of that same initiation: excitement, nerves, trust, surprise, challenges, teamwork, and the unmistakable feeling of being changed by the change race. Here are a few of their unique experiences.

The Morning Race for Women and Coed

The weather on race day morning was nearly perfect: sunny, clear skies, light wind, and a long-period 2–3-foot swell. Mindy Clark, SCORA’s race commentator, noted that the water became noticeably choppier as several large escort boats entered the canoe field, creating bigger wakes than usual.

The first-year women paddlers shared that they were excited and a little nervous pre-race. One shared that she was surprised by how chaotic the start felt with all the support boats. “I know it was something that was talked about often, but when in the mix I kept wondering what exactly this crazy thing was I had gotten myself into.”

Another was surprised that “the race felt easier than the Saturday club practices, and for a 3-hour race I was surprised at quickly it all went by!”

The most memorable feelings from that day were centered around the support from the change coaches and teammates. One stated “It was really awesome to have Jack and Ian cheering us on and just loving it”

Learning takeaways included “That something that sounds like a huge undertaking can be achieved when broken into parts and shared with a team.

One paddler summarized her experience as “I felt incredibly prepared for the race. The Saturday change practices really set us up for success. It felt so good to be part of the 9-man crew. We all worked hard and it was just such a fun challenging amazing experience. I had never had a desire to try Outrigging, just never crossed my mind or knew anyone who did it but my friend another novice on team got me to try and I’m just so proud of myself for pushing myself and trying something totally new and different. It’s been an amazing experience and such cool interesting people who are in the club.”

Congratulations to the 6 Fist year women in the crew of the 999 finishing in the top 2/3rds of the Open Women’s division with a respectable time of 3:06, Becky, Lara CW, Lara K., Alise, Farah, and Angie, along with veteran paddlers Michaela, Taylor and Lara C. steering.

The Afternoon Race for Men

By the afternoon the wind and sea state consisted of light to moderate onshore breeze from the Northwest at 9 to 10 knots. Just enough to put some interesting texture on the water, and that was before the release of the 40 escort boats into the field.

Here is a detailed reflection for Mat W. one of two first year paddlers in the crew of the 999 along with Milo, and 7 veteran paddlers.

“My wife and I were driving back home to our favorite place in the world, Santa Barbara, leaving my former home. (I had bought my first home over thirty years ago in “sleepy Dana Point”.

Jennifer, always supportive and positive, had moved the car closer to the parking lot. “I knew you would be tired.” I quietly ate my favorite Gallos sandwich and tried to rehydrate with watered down Gatorade. Gallos was the neighborhood delicatessen from my youth in Corona del Mar. I celebrated my 60th birthday this weekend, and Gallos has been around almost as long as me.

Jennifer gave me a few moments and asked what I thought.

I took a long pause, well:

We started the race with a snapped paddle.

Lost a paddle on the first change.

“Huli’d” three times.

Had our strongest paddler, suffer a back strain, and sit on the deck with unnecessary guilt as we grinded through the race.

We entered the race with optimism and finished towards the back of the pack.

I smiled and said, I can’t remember when I’ve had so much fun.

Jennifer looked at me and said you must be crazy or love to suffer.

“Nope”, I just love paddling, I love the teamwork, I love the challenge, I love the unexpected, and I love the occasional perfect moment.”

Successful Initiation

From invitation to initiation, all 8 first year paddlers successfully completed their first 9-man change race! It is great to hear their stories, and the more we all share, the more we learn and grow as a team. Keep doing good things SBOCC!