What is the methodology behind crew selection?
Those crews fortunate to have coaches, will tend to have to some degree a rule of thumb that they apply. This generally includes a range of prerequisites. Billy Whitford, one of the sports most successful coaches, based in Hawaii and coach of Californian club Offshore, bases his criteria on: Attitude, talent, attendance at practice, finances, solo outrigger performances and a bottom line… Each one of these is not necessarily as straight forward as it may seem incorporating many facets that relate to personality, fitness, mental and physical strength, technical ability, experience and even the ability to get along with others in the crew. Increasingly solo outrigger canoe paddling is being recognized by coaches and paddlers alike, as one of the best means of selecting a six person crew, made up of the best solo paddlers as a means of guaranteeing results. The Tahitians began this principal some time ago, selecting their top six person crews from solo canoe time trials and past results
