TEAM AUSTRALIA PREPARE FOR "OUTRIGGER OLYMPICS"
OUTRIGGER, July 14: The Australian Outrigger Canoe Racing Association's inaugural Australian women's team will attend a rigorous two-day training camp, based out of the Mooloolaba Outrigger Canoe Club.
The 11-strong AOCRA team, form the nucleus of a 15-woman National squad that will push each other to the limit under newly-appointed National Women's Coach Chris Kelly.
The Team Australia combination recently took line honours in trying conditions over the 42-kilometre Hamilton Island Cup course, beating the strong Surfers Paradise and Patterson Lakes (Victoria) clubs.
Both Team Australia and Surfers Paradise were under the existing race record.
The Team Australia crew is made up of four paddlers from Mackay, three from Mooloolaba, three from Coffs Harbour and one from Port Macquarie.
"This is our Olympics," said Kelly, who is preparing his crew for the first of three rigorous training camps.
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"It is the first time we have sent an official Australian team to Molokai and it is a very exciting step indeed for the sport of Outrigger Canoe Racing. We have set our goal for a top three finish.
"Several of the girls have raced in club teams in the past so they know what to expect. If it is anything like last year then it will be tough going.
"We plan to work on our combinations, particularly seeing two of the girls were away when we raced in the Hamilton Island Cup."
Team Australia: Andrea Polkinghorne (Coffs Harbour), Coral Darbishire (Mooloolaba), Gail Mills-Thom (Coffs Harbour), Kylie Muldoon (Mackay), Kellie Reinhold (Coffs Harbour), Leanne Curtis (Mooloolaba), Lian Brown (Mackay), Sonia Adams (Mackay), Tania Moohin (Mackay), Zara Smith (Mooloolaba). Reserve: Lauren Grant (Port Macquarie)
They will be joined by squad members Maata Strecker (Mackay), Michelle Small (Mooloolaba), Ronona Cuffe (Mooloolaba) and Karyn O'Reilly (Coffs Harbour).
- The Na Wahine O Ke Kai (Women of the Sea) from Molokai to Oahu will be held on September 26.