by Ingrid Juchem
 
Just because the local racing season is over, that does not mean the Port Douglas Outrigger club just stops. They just go overseas!

I recently returned from my native Germany, competing in the Lake Tollensea 20km challenge in the City of Neubrandenburg.

Racing on fresh water is different than on the ocean, something I am not used to. So, I was very happy coming second in the women OC1 race.

Wendy Morris, Monique Johnson, Mia Messenger, Lili Jensen, Rose Torcasio and Simone Wagner went to the Cook Islands to compete at the Vaka Eiva Ocean Event.

They joined up with paddlers from Clubs in Cairns (including local resident Steve Johnson) and Townsville to make up Team FNQ.

Monique Johnson won silver in the 12km OC1 race, while husband Steve came eighth in his race. Lilli Jensen steered the mixed crew of Mia Messenger, Monique and Steve Johnson and two male paddlers from Cairns to a silver medal in the 12km iron race.

Wendy Morris and Rose Torcasio where part of the bronze medal winning team at 36km change over Vaka Eiva event.

"Simone Wagner steered the mixed team around the 36km around the island event and did a fantastic job", Lilli Jensen said.

"Half (way) around the island we were in third position. However, on the next changeover we flipped the canoe. I was in seat number two and found myself looking around in the water, thinking, what the heck happened?

"It all happened so fast. We quickly got the canoe upright again but three canoes had overtaken us. We caught up during the race and ended up being fourth out of 17 canoes. It was a great effort."

The club is taking a well earned rest over Christmas before retuning in the new year to take on the Australian racing calendar once more. 

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