Few things can be heard on the shores of Cayuga Lake early on a Sunday morning. The water is calm apart from a few stray waves, and the boats rest peacefully at their docks. P.J. Rusello and his Cayuga Outrigger Canoe Club cause the only commotion as they crash through the water.

“We just want to get out there, go fast and have a good time,” Rusello said. “We love to paddle, and we’re just glad to get a chance to go out on the lake.”

Rusello heads the New York nonprofit organization that uses outrigger canoes — boats that are popular in both the Polynesian and Hawaiian islands. Unlike regular canoes, an “outrigger,” or a floating hull, runs parallel to the side of the narrow boat and is attached by two horizontal poles. It provides balance and prevents the canoe from capsizing or flipping over.

Tired of hitting the water in his one-man outrigger, Rusello decided to create a club that would attract people who enjoyed outrigger canoes also.

“I was just bored of paddling alone all the time,” Rusello said. “I began contacting as many people as I could, and soon I had a group of 10 or so people that started coming regularly to practices.”

The group has grown to about 15 to 20 members, who pay yearly dues for the May to mid-October season. Practices are usually four times a week, and the club competes during the summer as part of the East Coast Outrigger Racing Association.

Ithaca College senior Krista Fieselmann took advantage of this opportunity while working at Cornell University this summer. One of her co-workers introduced her to the COCC. Fieselmann decided to try out the free three paddles the club offers to new members. After her last paddle, she was hooked.

“I never really appreciated Cayuga Lake before I started to outrigger canoe,” Fieselmann said. “It’s such a relaxed sport, but you get such a good workout in, too.”

Over the past year, the COCC has taken steps to bring the sport of outrigger canoeing to Cayuga Lake.  On Saturday, their respect for the sport will be put to the ultimate test at the first Cayuga Ho’e. A 14-person team will attempt to paddle the entire length of Cayuga Lake — a total of 39 miles.

“It will definitely be a big challenge,” club member Paul Wiech said “It’s all about endurance and technique, and we’ll need both for the Ho’e.”

According to the club’s Web site, no individual or team has ever successfully paddled Cayuga Lake in its entirety. The COCC will begin at the northern end at Cayuga Lake State Park and will end at the southern tip at Stewart Park. They anticipate an eight-hour trip.     

The canoes only seat six people, so teammates need to rotate every few miles. They will need to perform “water changes.” The outrigger will pull up to shore and six people will jump out and a new rotation of paddlers will jump in.

“It’s something that we really need to practice,” Rusello said. “The timing can get tricky, so we need to get the hang of it before we can do it at the Ho’e.”

Along with executing complicated water changes, Rusello said the COCC will need to focus on the mental aspects of paddling to get them through the 39-mile trek.

“You get more mentally exhausted than anything,” Rusello said. “A big part of paddling is concentrating on your technique, and eight hours of that can get really tiring.”

The Ho’e is not only an opportunity for the COCC to make Cayuga Lake history, but also gives the club a chance to establish recognition in the Tompkins County community. They are hoping the event will attract attention and offer opportunities for fundraising. The club is accepting donations online through Amazon Payments and Google Checkout on its Web site.

Currently, the COCC has one outrigger canoe that they use for both competing and practicing, which limits how many people can paddle at one time. Fundraising from the Ho’e will give the COCC a chance to purchase another boat, so they can race and compete against each other at practice.

“We’ve teamed up with the Ithaca Youth Bureau, and they’re helping us to get this event set up,” Rusello said. “Ultimately we would like to start a youth paddling club in Ithaca, and a second boat would really help us out.”

As the club grows, the demand for space will leave Rusello and his crew unable to accept new members to the club.

“Unfortunately, the club has been retaining its size with the restriction of having one boat,” said David Makar, member of the COCC and participant in the Ho’e. “It would be nice to have two boats, so the people who missed out on going out the first time could finally just go out paddling with everybody.”

The COCC members not only have a passion for their sport, but also a respect to its tradition and culture. The first Cayuga Ho’e will be a testament to their hard work and dedication and will be extended to lifelong paddlers and newcomers, Rusello said.

“We’re just out here doing something that we love,” Rusello said. “There’s not a better feeling than paddling out together into that open water.”

 

For more information about the first Cayuga Ho’e go to www.cayugaoutrigger.com.