Darwin's only outrigger club, Arafura Outrigger Canoe Club, has been awarded a $10 000 grant in the Media and Marketing category of the Australian Sports Commission and Office for Women’s 2010–11 Sport Leadership Grants and Scholarships for Women initiative.

The grant will allow Arafura Outriggers to take a lead role with all water sport clubs around Darwin, to drive media initiatives aimed at widely promoting the club in the sporting and broader community.

Members of Arafura Outrigger Canoe Club paddle out on Darwin Harbour throughout the wet and dry seasons, braving the jelly fish and crocodiles, and making friends with the dolphins and dugongs.

Club member Sue Earle said she is committed to the development of the sport and has a vision for its extension beyond 2010, both on the local and national stage.

‘Attracting new members to canoeing can be difficult,’ Sue said. ‘Many women do not participate in water sports based on their fear of what is out there sharing the water space with us.’

‘One way we can overcome this is by increasing the awareness and profile of the sport through marketing opportunities.

‘To achieve this, we have teamed up with local canoe clubs, swimming clubs, surf clubs, kite surfers, triathlon and dragon boating clubs, to increase the profile of the sport by utilising traditional local media better, as well as learning more about social media methods and how to utilise them to raise the profile of the sport.’

Outrigger canoes originate from the Pacific and played an integral role in the survival and transmigration of ancient cultures. The canoes used today are lightweight, sleek and designed for speed. Outrigging racing takes on two forms: marathons and sprints, both in six person canoes (OC6), and solo or two man canoes (OC1/OC2). Sprint races are held over 500-3000 metres, while marathon races vary in distance between five and 30 kilometres.

The Sport Leadership Grants and Scholarships for Women program provides women in sport with support and access to leadership training and development opportunities to assist in establishing them in the sport industry.