MONTEREY, Calif. — A California sea lion became a viral sensation over Memorial Day weekend after leaping out of Monterey Bay and landing directly onto a racing outrigger canoe.
The encounter happened on May 23rd during the Monterey Hoe Wa’a, a long distance outrigger canoe race with an average of 200-300 paddlers. The team kept it together and avoided a capsize after the sea lion jumped from the water and briefly boarded the vessel with its teeth bared.
Despite the surprise mid-race visitor Outrigger Santa Cruz managed to finish in third place. Well done!
Monterey Hoe Wa’a Race
For more than 30 years, Hi’ilani ‘O Ke Kai’s annual Memorial Day Hoe Wa’a long distance race has been one of the destination races for Northern Californian outrigger canoe paddlers. Started as a small gathering of local paddlers, the race has grown over the decades and now welcomes an average of 200-300 paddlers, ages 12-70+, for an exciting day on the beautiful Monterey Bay. Ke Kai has been honored over the years to have clubs participate from the Pacific Northwest, Southern California, Arizona, and Hawaii, in addition to the many clubs that make up the paddling community in Northern California.
