2014 Race Announcement

New York Outrigger is proud to announce its premiere outrigger race, the Hawaiian Airlines Liberty Challenge, will take place on Saturday, June 21, 2014 at Hudson River Park’s Pier 26 in New York City.

The origins of outrigger paddling date back thousands of years to the Polynesian Islands. The sport has quickly spread across the world as an exciting means to experience the water. The Hawaiian Airlines Liberty Challenge not only celebrates the tradition of the sport but is also reimagining it for the future. The Liberty Challenge features the world’s best athletes in a competition of athleticism and endurance in some of the fastest human-powered watercraft ever designed set in the chaos of one of the world’s busiest urban harbors amongst thousands of spectators in the shadow of the iconic New York skyline. The Liberty Challenge is the ultimate urban outrigger racing experience!

Each summer crews from around the world travel to New York City to compete in its challenging and kinetic waters. Crews not only have to gauge the strong tidal currents with their dramatic and sudden shifts, but they must also negotiate the vast number of ferries, cruise ships, tour boats, barges, tankers and pleasure craft that fill New York Harbor, the East River and the Hudson River.  Men, women, and co-ed crews race along a challenging and visually-stunning course, which includes landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge and Ellis Island.  The regatta is comprised of three races run in heats over the course of the day.  The men’s and women’s races cover a 15 mile course, while the mixed race has a truncated course of 11 miles.  All races are iron.

Athletes from Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Canada, Panama, France, England, Sweden and all across the United States and Hawaii have expressed interest in competing making the Liberty Challenge a race that truly bridges the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Adjustments to the classes and divisions have been made to focus on the rising level of competition. We are introducing a new Unlimited class on an exhibition level to showcase the future of the sport and its evolving super-lightweight hull design. More information may be found on the Registration page. Registration is set to open shortly. Athlete Lodging for athletes and their guests have been confirmed at the New York Marriott Downtown.

Hawaiian Airlines will once again be offering discount airfare for athletes, guests and spectators to travel to the Hawaiian Airlines Liberty Challenge. Be sure to book your flight on Hawaiian Airlines and take advantage of this special offer.

This year’s race coincides with the summer solstice and New York Outrigger is going to take advantage of the longest day of the year with a full schedule of activities at the Liberty Challenge Festival, Athlete Village and Grandstands located at Hudson River Park’s Pier 26. The Festival, free to everyone, is shaping up to be our largest yet with entertainment, vendors, food, family activities and a variety of events and exhibitions for people of all ages both on and off the water. These events  are made possible through the generous support of Liberty Challenge title sponsor Hawaiian Airlines, park partner Hudson River Park and volunteers from New York Outrigger who have donated tens of thousands of hours to make this event happen.

We invite everyone from around the corner and around the world to participate and celebrate the first day of summer Island Style on Saturday, June 21 at Hudson River Park’s Pier 26 on our own island of Manhattan.

With much Aloha,
The Directors of the Liberty Challenge