Ageless Hong Kong women outrigger canoe paddlers more than happy to keep on going

A six-paddler female team are among the city’s 43-strong squad taking part in all categories at the World Sprint Championships in Singapore

For a few hardy Hong Kong outrigger canoe paddlers, non-professional athletes in their fifties and sixties taking part in the International Va’a Federation (IVF) World Sprint Championships in Singapore this month, age is “definitely” just a number.

“For me, it’s not about proving that I can compete despite my age,” said Adrienne Ng, 54, one of four paddlers who spoke to the South China Morning Post before departing for the tournament at Marina Bay.

“It is about proving to myself that there is still so much I can achieve because of the experience, strength and confidence that come with it.”

Fellow paddler Polly Snaith started with “a bit of dragon boating and some outrigging” on and off 30 years ago. A bad back injury led to a decade-long absence from the sport for her, and she revisited paddling only in 2017.

What was meant to be a “take it easy and very wary of injury” approach quickly became something a lot more serious after the 60-year-old artist also started surf-skiing in 2019.

“I am really excited to experience new waters and races around the world with my paddling mates; we are quite a gang of over 50s,” said Snaith, who is a part of the OC6, or six paddlers, crew. “Queen Lily Race in Hawaii is on the cards for 2027!”