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Seattle Outrigger Canoe Club Membership

Outrigger Canoe Paddling is a way of life. It interweaves its way into your life and provides a way to keep you mentally healthy and in shape physically. Our modern lifestyles can get busy, so participating in a physically challenging, mentally stimulating, and spiritually uplifting sport can do wonders for your body and soul. Consider a Seattle Outrigger Canoe Club membership your ticket to a healthy lifestyle and your connection to Hawaii right here in Seattle!

New paddlers are always welcome! Simply reach out to [email protected] to learn more.

SOCC Kāne paddle at the 2018 Da Grind Race

Practices Times

The workouts run for 2 to 2.5 hours and occasionally longer on some Saturday mornings for competition crews.

All Year Round

  • Monday: practice begins at 5:45 pm
  • Wednesday: practice begins at 5:45 pm
  • Saturday: practice begins at 8:45 am. Note that cancellations may occur based on Be aware that on race Saturdays, there may not be a practice.

Spring and Summers “Novice Thursdays

  • Thursday: 5:45 pm. New and novice paddlers are always welcome to SOCC. As our schedule and resources permit, we will host a regular Novice Thursday practice. Dates and availability may vary, so please contact us at [email protected]! We offer an option of a trial period of 4 practices or one month, whichever comes first. After this, we ask that you become a member if you want to continue to practice with us.

Location

We are located at Waterway 18, at 2300 N. Northlake Way, on Seattle’s Lake Union, about 1/4 mile northeast of Gasworks Park.

Racing

Seattle Outrigger Canoe Club welcomes all recreational and competitive paddlers, and those interested in competing will find strong crews. For information on competitive racing with SOCC, see our Competitive Racing page.

Membership Fees for 2024

All dues listed below are based on memberships starting from January through September. Dues are prorated only after the race season is concluded in September and is equal to the fee x the portion of the calendar year remaining. Membership fees help to cover operational expenses of the club including land use of Waterway 18, maintenance on canoes and equipment.

All memberships include the following:

  • Full access to regular practices held throughout the week.
  • Access to small boat fleet of club OC1 and OC2s. Safety training and coaches signoff required. *New as of 2024*
  • Access to SOCC community message board on Slack.
  • PaddleSport liability insurance

Members Dues (2024)

  • Standard Membership$325
  • Family Membership – $275 per person in family of 2 or more members (family = any 2+ people living together in the same household)
  • Student Membership – $100 – Must qualify as a full-time student
  • Keiki/Na Opio (Youth Under 18) Membership $25
  • Winter-only Membership $25 per month from October through February

Need financial support or a special consideration? Just ask a coach or a board member! We at SOCC do not want money to be a deterrent for anyone who wants to go paddling. All requests are kept strictly confidential.

Required Membership Documents

  • Contact [email protected] for membership handbook and liability waivers. Along with your annual dues completion of these documents

Our paddling season:

The main paddling season starts in mid-March and runs through the summer until the end of October.

In mid-April, the OC-6 summer races start. SOCC sponsors our own race, Da Grind, in late July/early August at Alki Beach. Most long-distance races are between 6 and 12 miles, with a 26-mile change-out race on Lake Washington in late August. The sprint season runs from May through July, with roughly 5 different weekends of sprints (500 to 1500 meters) in the Seattle and Portland areas. More info is available on the PNWORCA website at www.pnworca.org.

Some Useful Links:

  • For paddling-related equipment, go to the Kialoa website: www.kialoa.com.
  • For fall and spring paddling, we recommend moisture-wicking clothing and a windbreaker. Warmer clothing is encouraged during the winter (neoprene booties and gloves). REI or any kayak outfitter has appropriate clothes for that purpose. Otherwise, we wear the same attire as in Hawaii for summer paddling.
  • Reading material can be hard to come by, though some eBooks are available via websites like Kanu Culture (www.kanuculture.com). Kanu Culture also had a 10-year series of annual volumes, with the last published around 2005. See their website for back issues, as well as other books.
  • Websites offer valuable information but can sometimes be confusing or contradictory, especially if you are new to the sport.
  • At least one magazine, Pacific Paddler, is available: http://www.pacificpaddler.com/.

Click here for contact information, or email us directly at [email protected]