Outrigger Canoes Race from Dana Point to Laguna Beach

Garrett Crayton, 11, helped his teammates get their nine-person, 40-foot outrigger canoe up out of the waters of Dana Point Harbor. He and his Lanakila outrigger canoe club members had just completed the 20-mile Whitey Harrison Classic race from Dana Point Harbor to Laguna Beach, and back to Doheny Beach.

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Like Crayton and his Lanakila team from Redondo Beach, more than two dozen outrigger canoe teams competed in the race named after local legendary surfer and surfboard maker Whitey Harrison. The race began in 1971, the year Dana Point Harbor opened.

"I've pretty much been on a canoe all my life," said Crayton. "I officially started paddle racing when I was 5 years old. My dad is one of the head coaches. This sport is about friendship, and it’s just a fun sport in general."

Crayton's uncle is Al Ching, the founder of the club, and his cousin is Danny Ching—“The Outrigger King”—one of the fastest paddlers in the world today.

"I can't really imagine myself not doing this," said Will Myers, Crayton's young teammate. "I have a lot of friends that do this and I've been getting a lot of friends from school to paddle."

Also on the Lanakila team were Jessie Kennedy, Dawn Suskin and Kim Lanie. 

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"This is an ancient Hawaiian sport," said Lanie. "We call it 'Paddle with your Ohana.' In Hawaiian, 'Ohana' is family. So, basically, these people are my family, my Ohana."

Lanie and her teammates use paddles to propel their outrigger canoe. These canoes were developed in the Pacific Ocean. A float smaller than the canoe, the "outrigger," is attached to the canoe with two poles. The outrigger runs parallel to the canoe. It provides stability when the paddler is out on the waves.

"You get to meet great people who become your greatest friends," said Lanie. "You get to spend the day hanging out and paddling with some of the best people."

Lanie's teammate, Jessie Kennedy, said "We get out on the water and do what we do best ... have a good time and paddle."

"This is an amazing group of individuals from all walks of life," said Lanakila teammate Dawn Suskin. "You’re out on a beautiful day in the middle of the ocean. It’s great exercise and it’s a load of fun."

B.J. Williston's team, Hanohano, traveled from San Diego to compete in the Whitey Harrison Classic.

"Camaraderie is the No. 1 reason I come out here," said Williston. "The No. 2 reason would be for the competition, and No. 3 is being on the water."

Don Casper from Oxnard practices five days a week with his team, which is going to Molokai in October for the "Molokai Hoe."

"I used to live in Hawaii, so the Molokai-to-Oahu race has always been a goal."

"This is my first year, so I’m a novice," said Dawn Scribner of the Ohana outrigger club. "It’s a whole lot of good exercise and these are fun people. The people make it."

Scribner's teammate Stephanie Thornton was equally enthusiastic.

"This is my sixth season," said Thornton. "I won’t ever quit. It’s such a team thing. You’ve got all your girlfriends out there screaming and yelling. You're in the ocean and you see millions of dolphins. It’s relaxing, it’s fantastic, it’s amazing."

The race could be seen from many vantage points between Dana Point and Laguna Beach. Spectators watched from the Dana Point Headlands, Salt Creek Beach, the , the rooftop at , the deck at and the .