The lack of an actual outrigger canoe is no barrier to members of the Tsartlip First Nation, as they prepare for an international competition in Tahiti next spring.
Years of training and competing in their traditional war canoes have prepared them to paddle strong in almost any small boat — all they need is the chance to practise a little and get used to the dynamics of the different craft.
They learned that the hard way on a couple occasions.
“We have actually flipped over in a couple of outrigger races,” said Gus Morris, a member of the Geronimo Canoe Club based on the Central Saanich area indigenous community. “One was during the Canadian nationals.”