New York Outrigger strives to create a safe environment for training to develop safe, competent and experienced paddlers. We promote Polynesian paddlesports in New York City with integrity, goodwill and competitive team spirit while bringing community pride to our surrounding waters. It is our hope that in creating strong paddlers, we also create strong leaders who, in turn, will enhance not only NYO but also the local community.
Our paddlers represent a true cross-section of New York City and with that diverse membership comes a diverse set of expectations. Ranging from recreational paddlers to the competitive athlete, New York Outrigger has a seat for all paddlers.
Novice Programs
Introduction to Paddling
New York Outrigger offers free public, introductory paddling events during the summer season. Our outrigger canoe novice sessions begin with an introduction about the canoes’ historical significance in the lives of Polynesians and affords visitors the experience of paddling in an 6-person outrigger canoe together with our experienced volunteers. Our stand up paddleboarding novice sessions offer safety tips and techniques with the guidance of experienced volunteers for an enjoyable connection with the Hudson River estuary.
Group Events
New York Outrigger offers unique team building opportunities for group events. We work closely with your group to create a custom, memorable team building event in our fleet of 6-person outrigger canoes. Our events offer true team building as paddlers must work in sync to move the 400 pound canoes through the ever-changing Hudson River tidal conditions.
Contact us to learn more about donation opportunities for group events.
Coached Programs
For Volunteer-Members
New York Outrigger’s volunteer-members can join our coached programs which are structured practices that serve a range of experience levels and paddling development goals. Our coached programs are accessible through a low-cost, annual membership fee or through grants based on financial need.
GROWTH - Beginner to intermediate level, focuses on building and refining foundational paddling and water safety skills.
PADDLEFIT - Intermediate level, focuses on building situational awareness and the environmental features of the lower Hudson River estuary.
ALAKA’I - Advanced level, follows the Hawaiian word for leader and focuses on developing leadership on the water including planning routes, navigating challenging conditions, guiding new paddlers, and learning racing tactics.
NYO/Makapo Program
For Disabled Athletes
With mentorship from the Orange County Makapo Aquatics Project, New York Outrigger established the NYO/Makapo Program in 2015 to share our robust coached programming with blind or visually impaired paddlers. Our NYO/Makapo adaptive paddlers are volunteer-members and receive a grant to cover membership fees, tailored training through the coached programs, and equipment to paddle safely.
Become a Volunteer-Member
Ready to join our community of dedicated volunteer-members? New York Outrigger offers unparalleled access to our waterways through low-cost, coached programming and social events. Whether you are a seasoned outrigger paddling champion or an outdoor enthusiast new to Polynesian paddlesports, we welcome you to join our diverse community and share our mission to increase equitable access to NYC’s waterways.
Contact us to learn more about volunteer-member privileges and commitments.