Fiji Outrigger will open their 2026 season tomorrow with V1 distance racing at the USP Marine Campus in Suva, marking the start of a full competitive calendar and the build-up to the Wai Tui International in April.
Fiji Outrigger President, Loretta St Julian-Ooms says they are thrilled to begin their season on a high, as paddlers of all ages come together to kick off competition and start building strength and momentum towards the Wai Tui International.
St Julian-Ooms says the Wai Tui International which is returning after 14 years will be held on the Easter long weekend from 3rd to 6th April at Wailoaloa Beach in Nadi and will feature V1 and V6 marathon and sprint racing across Junior, Open, and Masters divisions.
She says early interest from across the Pacific and beyond positions the event as one of the region’s major paddling gatherings for 2026.
Tomorrow, athletes from Kai Wai Outrigger Canoe Club, Nadi Bay Canoe Club, Taf’aga Outrigger Canoe Club, Takia Outrigger Canoe Club, USP Islanders Outrigger Canoe Club, Vai Outrigger Canoe Club, and Vuda Canoe Club will line up in the Junior 13 (Mixed) & Novice — 3km, Junior 16 Boys & Girls — 8km, Masters 50 Men & Women — 8km, Junior 19 Boys & Girls — 12km, Open Men & Open Women — 12km
and Masters 40 Men & Women — 12km.
The Fiji Outrigger President says they are particularly encouraged by the rise in junior entries, as interest in the sport has grown steadily over the last few years.
She says this is where they must continue to invest for the long-term sustainability of paddling in Fiji, while their Open and Masters paddlers push to improve their times ahead of international competition.
St Julian-Ooms is encouraging families, friends, and the wider public to attend regattas throughout the season and support the athletes as they compete.
She says the 2026 season and return of Wai Tui International also carry a deeper sense of purpose
as the paddling community continues to honour the legacy of the late Colin Philp, whose lifelong commitment to paddling, traditional voyaging, and ocean conservation helped shape the sport in Fiji.
The President says Philp's work in establishing paddling pathways, strengthening club culture, and championing ocean stewardship remains a guiding influence.
She says many of the athletes lining up this weekend began their paddling journeys through programmes he helped build, and the revival of the Wai Tui International stands as a tribute to his vision for a vibrant, connected, and environmentally conscious paddling community.
St Julian-Ooms says Philp played a central role in establishing outrigger canoeing as a national sport. He co-founded the Fiji Outrigger Canoe Racing Association (Fiji Outrigger), helping formalise paddling in Fiji and creating opportunities for local paddlers to compete internationally.
Under his leadership, Philp coached the first Fiji paddling team to the 1995 Tahiti Pacific Games when the sport was introduced to the regional event, and a Fijian crew was taken to the Moloka‘i Hoe in 2006, the world’s premier long-distance outrigger race held annually in Hawai‘i.
She says Philp’s environmental legacy is also visible through his work with the Uto Ni Yalo Trust, which he co-founded to revive traditional navigation and promote ocean stewardship.
The President says the trust became a symbol of Fiji’s commitment to climate action, sustainable oceans, and cultural revival.
She says through educational voyages, community outreach, and marine conservation initiatives, Philp helped inspire a generation of young Fijians to see the ocean as both identity and responsibility.
His passing on 25 December 2021 at age 57 was widely felt across Fiji’s maritime and conservation communities, with tributes recognising him as a navigator, mentor, and environmental advocate.
