Outrigger Connection News
31/7/06

2nd Shippment of Fuze & Fusion OC1 canoes

Due to the outstanding success of the first shipment of 20 Fuze and Fusion canoes selling out within weeks of arriving a second shipment of 20 canoes will arrive in Australia in October. To sercureone of these sought after canoes visit the Fuze and Fusion page for more information and how to place an order.
25/7/06

Fusion Wins At Powerade Hamilton Cup
31/5/06

Karel Sets New Record on a Fusion in Molokai OC1 Solo

Karel Tresnak Jr. has done it again and won the Kona Brewing Co. Molokai Challenge World Championship for a record sixth time.

He did it in a new record time on a Fusion, completing the 32 mile course from Molokai to Koko Marinia, Oahu in 3 hours, 42 minutes, 24 seconds.

Fusion wins 2006 Molokai OC1 Relay

Congratulations to Karel Tresnak Jr. and Nate Hendricks who won the Starbucks Kaiwi Channel Relay World Championship race on Sunday 7th May 2006.

Tresnak and Hendricks paddling on a Fusion OC1 completed the 40.2-mile course from Kaluako'i Beach, Moloka'i, to Magic Island, O'ahu, in 4 hours, 36 minutes, 5 seconds. Conditions were 6-8 ft , wind behind them, with good runners all the way.
1/5/06

Samoan Mirages

The Paulele Outrigger Canoe Club are now the proud owners of two Mirages that we shipped to them earlier this year. The following is from their club newsletter 'What's Hup".

The blessing ceremony for “Aolele” and “Ohana” was simply beautiful, from the boats themselves, to the setting up of the Clubhouse, the refreshments provided, Rev. Nuuasala's prayer & administration of consecrated oil, to the cutting of the 'fatu', to their maiden paddle - all of it and more made for a truly memorable evening. What's Hup thanks all the members of our Pualele family - paddlers, friends, supporters and sponsors for making it happen.

One of the Canoes was donated to the club by comedian Billy Connelly and his wife Pamala Stevenson who had the following read out at the blessing of the canoes.

To the Pualele Outrigger Canoe Club,

This Va'a donated by Scottish comedian Billy Connelly, his New Zealand-born wife Pamela Stephenson (psychologist & author), and their youngest daughter Scarlett to the Pualele Outrigger Canoe Club for the paddlers of Samoa. Is it given in the spirit of Robert Louis Stevenson, and his wife Aolele who led her husband across the Pacific Ocean to his happier, healthier last years of life at Vailima. Their love of the Island and its people endures in their writing. In turn the Connolly family, who have enjoyed paddling with the Pualele team in Apia harbour, wish to thus show their affection and respect for the sports and traditions of Samoan families. God bless this canoe and all who paddle in her.

Once the blessing was complete, the ladies of Pualele took “Ohana First” out for its maiden paddle, while the Men took “Aolele”. Side-by-side they paddled out into the harbour, where they were acknowledged by crews from Paddles who 'clapped' as they passed by. Invited guest were then provided with refreshments, good company and a beautiful sunset, what more could one ask for?

We hope all the members of Paulele enjoy their new canoes and have many hours of fun paddling in them. They have a good family in a beautiful place.
3/11/05

Mirages to Japan

The Chigasaki OCC of Japan has just received two 3 piece Mirage canoes and a Stingray OC1. All were manufactured at our factory by Peter Corbishley before being loaded into a container for shipping to Japan. We have now successfully manufactured our special 2 piece and 3 piece Mirage canoes and exported 3 to Japan, 2 to the Cook Islands and one each to Germany, Honk Kong, Samoa, Tahiti and New Zealand.

These specially made Mirages are designed to fit into a shipping container and by doing so greatly reduces the freight cost of international shipping. The canoes are joined and bolted together in such way that the strength of the hull or the performance of the canoe is not compomised in any way.

For more details about these special Mirages please contact Colin at Outrigger Connection Australia.
10/10/05

Factory Relocation

Our factory, Whitsunday Fibreglass has relocated to Tweed Heads. Due to export demands it was more financial vialble to have our production closer to the port of Brisbane. We are also now more central to all zones in Australia.

The address of the new factory is:
WFM
9 / 63 Ourimbah Road
Tweed Heads South, NSW 2486
24/3/05

Outrigger Jewellery

Looking for a gift? Outrigger Connection now has a range of beautiful jewellery including paddles, dolphins, turtles, dugongs, whale tails and stingrays of course in gold and silver, hand crafted by international sculptor Foot Young.

To see more just click here.

1/11/04

CONGRATULATIONS MOOLOOLABA!!!

Congratulations to the Mooloolaba Open Women's crew for their back to back win in the 2004 Na Wahine O Ke Kai Molokai race in Hawaii. They broke the race record set by Offshore in 1995 by 3 minutes, and they did it in a Mirage!

Well done girls!!!
24/8/04

Stingray OC2 Available

The hottest selling OC2 in Hawaii is now available in Australia.

The Outrigger Connection development team has just released the latest in OC2 design - Stingray OC2. The hottest selling OC2 in Hawaii is now available in Australia, incorporating chines in the hull to increase the canoes speed, agility and surfing ability.
The hull performs smoothly in virtually all conditions. The surfing ability is unsurpassed. The boat drops into the bumps easily it is very controllable while surfing and accelerates fast into the next bump, whether it is straight forward or a direction change is necessary.

For more information visit the Stingray OC2 page.
15/6/04

More Mirage Exports

Outrigger Connection Australia has just sent 4 more Mirages overseas. Two were recently sent to the Cook Islands, one to Hong Kong and another all the way to Germany. As the demand for these fantastic canoes continues to rise we are developing innovative construction techniques to get these canoe to the world.

15/6/04

Outrigger Connection Sponsors Whai Pui OC1 Series

Outrigger Connection Australia is pleased to announce that is offering a carbon fibre Stingray OC1 as the major prize in a random draw at the end of this years Wai Pui OC1 Series.

Along with this Outrigger Connection is offering a Hourne paddle and paddle bag (A Hourne Bag!) as second prize and a Patagonia paddle top (male or female) as third prize.

Total value of prizes is over $5,000 and to reflect the value of this sponsorship we have secured the naming rights of the series and it will now be known as the Outrigger Connection Wai Pui Series.
18/8/03

First Mirage Exported

Outrigger Connection Australia has just exported its first Mirage OC6 canoe overseas. Team Rai of Tahiti had the canoe made especially (with modifications!) to paddle at this years Coca-Cola Hamilton Island Cup with the intention of shipping the canoe back to Tahiti after the event and use it to train in for future Molokai and Hamilton Cup events.

After a couple of months working out shipping logistics, a cradle and frame to support the canoe was built and will be deck loaded for transport by ship first to Auckland then to Tahiti. We see this as an important first step in our plans to set up an export market selling canoes around the Pacific. We have already received many enquiries and orders for both the Mirage OC6 and Stingray OC1 from New Zealand, Cook Islands, Fiji and Tahiti and have plans to market the products in Hong Kong and Japan.

In our research into shipping this canoe we also established a working relationship with a road freight company that can cheaply transport canoe anywhere in Australia, including the west!
16/8/03

Mirage Chosen as Canoe for World Sprint Titles in Hawaii 2004.

The Mirage OC6 has been selected as the official canoe of the World Sprint Titles to be held in Hilo Hawaii next year. Karel Trasnek of Outrigger Connection is going to very busy, not only has he got an order for 20 Mirages for the World Sprint Titles but the Hawaiian Government has also recognised the qualities of the canoe by ordering, for the first time, one for every school in the state of Hawaii. That’s a total of 60 Mirage canoes to make in 18 months!
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