Paddling toward philanthropy

NEWPORT BEACH — Susan Anderson yanked her paddle out of the water, reached forward and plunged it in again for another pull. She was exhausted and who could blame her. She paddled for not just one but two teams back-to-back at the Imua Outrigger Club’s Corporate Challenge Sunday at the Newport Dunes.

More than 100 teams competed at the 15th annual event, meant to raise money for equipment repairs and for donations to local charities. From 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. friends, families and co-workers paddled in teams of five for a sprint across the resort’s lagoon.

With all her might, Anderson, 44, of Aliso Viejo and her team just couldn’t pull ahead for their first heat of the day. They may have come in last for that round but the group was all smiles as they exited the outrigger canoe onto the shores of the resort.

“I didn’t realize my heats were so close together,” Susan said.

Susan said she loved the event because it gave her an opportunity to share the joy of the sport with others who may not want to commit full-time to a club.

“It’s great exercise and lots of fun,” Susan said. “We practice at 6 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. You get a nice evening paddle with the sun setting. What could be better?”

Her mother, Marjorie Anderson, a novice to the sport, became easily convinced.

“I thought we were going to go farther, Marjorie said, adding that just as the team felt like they were in one rhythm the race was over.

“But it was fun. I would do it again,” she said. “I felt like a winner.”

“It’s a pretty big thing to put on,” said Imua Vice President David Martyn, adding that with each year things improve. For instance, Sunday each heat began with a single Imua paddler dropping a flag in the middle of the lanes, drag-race style. Last year those referees sat on the side and were unable to properly judge lanes on the far side of the lagoon, Martyn said.

The different groups come prepared for a full day on the shores, hauling all sorts of beach goodies out, easy-up canopies, coolers, folding chairs, beach toys, and so on.

As the teams signed in early that morning they were treated to a breakfast and team photographs to be inserted into hand-designed frames by artist and Imua member Cat Perry.

The lighter side of life definitely held as a prevalent theme for the day’s events with team names such as “The Wet Bandits,” “Team Chuck Norris,” “Shark Bait,” and “Ship of Fools.” One outrigger canoe functioned as a cooler, filled with ice and stuffed with bottled water and soda cans.

Imua races again on Labor Day weekend in Kona, Hawaii, in a 36-mile overall race. The next weekend they will compete in a co-ed race from Newport Beach to Catalina and back.