Who we are
Brendan Curson
Brendan Curson is the Program Director for the Outriggerzone Community Paddling Initiative. Brendan has over 40 years of paddling experience and over 20 years of coaching experience at the national and international level across a variety of paddlesport disciplines. Following university, where he studied Education, Brendan completed his NCCP Level 3 (Comp Dev) Coach Certification and became a Coach Developer for Canoe Kayak Canada, certifying instructors and coaches throughout Canada. After taking up outrigger canoeing in 2019, Brendan has coached and competed for various clubs in Chilliwack and Vancouver, and developed the junior outrigger program at the False Creek Racing Canoe Club. Recently at the 2024 IVF World Sprints in Hilo, Brendan coached the Canadian junior teams as well as competed in V1 and V6. As the program director for the Outriggerzone Community Paddling Initiative, Brendan hopes to help others find their passion for coaching and give back to the paddlesport community.
Outriggerzone
Outriggerzone is a Maui-based canoe manufacturer with a network of dealers that spans the globe, including Hana Hou Paddlesports. The company was founded in the mid 90s by canoe designer Mike Giblin whose passion for outrigger paddling was sparked when he joined Hawaiian Canoe Club in 1991. Mike built his first OC6 canoe for the club, then followed that with a series of OC1s, leading him to design winning canoes that are still used around the world. Ozone's goal is to continuously improve canoe design allowing paddlers to enjoy their time on the water recreationally and competitively. They build for the top canoe and paddle designers in the industry - Fai Va'a, Kai Wa'a, Puakea Designs and Palafamala - and are known for their innovative manufacturing techniques, producing the highest quality products on the market. As a canoe manufacturer owned and operated by paddlers, Ozone maintains the unique ability to fully understand the designers goals and put the best possible product on the water.
Hana Hou Paddlesports
*pronounced “HAH-nah Ho” ~ a Hawaiian phrase of encouragement Hana Hou Paddlesports was founded in 2011 by long time friends Rick Nu'u from New Zealand, and Don Irvine (Canada), after Rick and his wife Zoe moved from Maui to Vancouver Island, BC. (If you look at the fish hook logo, inside the hooks you can see an “r” and a “d”.) Initially the business involved manufacturing canoe paddles, and coaching outrigger canoeing. While living on Maui, Rick and Zoe had become close friends with Michael and Wendy Giblin, founders/owners of Outriggerzone. In 2013, Rick's life ended way too soon. Several months later, the Western Canadian dealer position for Outriggerzone opened up and Zoe and Don decided to keep the business going, switching the focus of Hana Hou Paddlesports to representing Outriggerzone products in western Canada. Don has competed nationally and internationally in marathon canoe, whitewater kayaking, sprint kayaking, dragon boat, and both sprint and long distance outrigger canoeing. Career highlights include competing in the 1984 Olympics in sprint kayaking, and winning a silver medal in open men's V1 at the 1992 IVF World Sprints. A co-founder of False Creek Racing Canoe Club with a BA in Exercise Physiology, Don has been a coach and mentor to hundreds of paddlers over the last 4+ decades. Zoe Norcross-Nu'u is an accomplished paddler and marine scientist. While living in Hawaii for 13 years, Zoe fell in love with paddling outrigger canoe and surfski. In 1999 she was a member of the first ever women's crew to cross the Kaiwi Channel from Molokai to Oahu as an iron crew. With three top-five finishes in Na Wahine O Ke Kai as well as top three finishes in both the Molokai World Championship surfski race and the Molokai to Oahu OC-1 relay, Zoe's real love is for downwind paddling. Hana Hou Paddlesports is focussed on assisting individuals, clubs and communities in their pursuit of improving their skills and enjoyment of outrigger canoeing. Hana Hou is committed to helping paddlers find the equipment that best suits their needs, and to providing ongoing support for customers as their skills evolve; personalized service has always been Hana Hou's priority. As such, Don and Zoe could not be more excited to be partnering with Outriggerzone to bring the Outriggerzone Community Paddling Initiative to communities in western Canada.
Hana Hou Community Outrigger Foundation
Founded in 2025, the Hana Hou Community Outrigger Foundation was created to provide support to first nation and rural communities, to paddling clubs, and to youth groups, to encourage development of junior and novice outrigger and va'a programs. Through introductory clinics and coach education, the foundation helps to increase opportunities for communities throughout BC to discover and build outrigger and va'a programs close to home. Board of Directors: Mike McCall - President Daniel Point - Vice President Jan Chavarie - Secretary Gordon Mason - Treasurer Isaac Dutka - Member at Large Zoe Norcross-Nu'u - Member at Large
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