Canadian Outrigger Racing Association

What Canadian Outrigger Racing Association does

The Canadian Outrigger Racing Association (CORA) is a Canadian non-profit association founded on May 1, 1992, and headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. It is the recognized national governing body for outrigger canoe racing in Canada, with a mandate to sanction races, set equipment and safety standards, organize competitive events, and represent Canadian paddlers internationally. CORA delivers its services through a volunteer board of 14 directors and an Executive Committee, and provides third-party liability insurance to members during sanctioned training and racing. It is a member of the International Va'a Federation (IVF), enabling Canadian paddlers to compete at World Sprint and World Distance Championships, including the 2026 Singapore World Sprints.

CORA's product portfolio centers on five areas: (1) the annual CORA Cup Race Series and National Sprint Championships for OC6 and small-boat categories; (2) the membership program providing liability insurance and race participation rights; (3) the Team Canada selection and international competition program; (4) educational resources, safety manuals, coaching materials, and a Canoe Registry tracking registered canoes across Canadian clubs; and (5) a Racing Products and Services Directory listing approved equipment and coaching vendors. There is no proprietary technology platform, no API surface, and no AI/ML capability.

The revenue model is a non-profit membership-and-events structure: recurring annual membership fees (individual paddlers and clubs), race sanctioning and registration fees, Team Canada selection-trial fees ($80 adult / $40 junior) and paddler berth fees (~$500 per paddler), and grant administration for member clubs. CORA serves two primary segments — individual paddlers across age categories (Keiki through Golden Master) and 50+ member clubs concentrated in British Columbia and Ontario, with growing presence in Alberta and Quebec — plus secondary segments of race directors, coaches, and high-performance athletes.

Name

Canadian Outrigger Racing Association

Legal name

Canadian Outrigger Racing Association

Website

https://canadianoutrigger.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Short description

CORA is Canada's non-profit national governing body for outrigger canoe racing, founded in 1992 and headquartered in Vancouver. It sanctions races, provides liability insurance to members, coordinates the Team Canada international program via IVF, and serves 50+ member clubs and individual paddlers across Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Governing Body

NAICS

Spectator Sports (71121), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events without Facilities (711320)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional Sport Governing Bodies & League Sanctioning Authorities (MPAKAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

International Sport Federations (IFs) (MPAKAFAB)

Keywords

• Outrigger canoe racing
• Race sanctioning services
• National sports federation
• Paddler membership programs
• Competitive paddling events

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees providing third-party liability insurance coverage for members, coaches, officers and volunteers during CORA sanctioned events and training in Canada, plus access to international racing community through IVF membership.
2. Race Sanctioning Fees: Fees collected from member clubs to sanction racing events, including application processes for CORA-sanctioned events and race director training/education programs.
3. Team Canada Program Fees: Registration and participation fees for Team Canada selection trials and international competition participation at IVF World Championships, including uniforms and program costs.
4. Grants and Travel Support: Grant programs for repair, maintenance, equipment, travel, coaching education, and clinic hosting provided to member clubs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CORA is Canada's national governing body for outrigger canoe racing. It sanctions racing events across Canada, administers an annual membership program that provides third-party liability insurance coverage to paddlers, coaches and volunteers, manages the Team Canada program that selects and fields athletes at International Va'a Federation (IVF) World Championships, and sets standardized racing rules and safety requirements for the sport.

Product overview

The Canadian Outrigger Racing Association (CORA) operates as a non-profit national sports organization that provides a unified platform for outrigger canoe racing in Canada. The core offering consists of race sanctioning services, standardized racing rules, and membership programs with liability insurance coverage. The organization coordinates the CORA Cup Race Series and National Championships, manages the Team Canada program for international IVF competitions, and maintains a comprehensive canoe registry. Supporting services include educational resources (safety manuals, coaching materials), grant programs for member clubs, and a directory of approved racing products and services. The organization does not offer a technology product with API capabilities or AI/ML features.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CORA Individual and Club Membership Program Annual membership tiers for individual adult paddlers and junior paddlers (under 19) plus member clubs. Membership provides third-party liability insurance coverage during CORA-sanctioned racing and training, race participation rights, and eligibility to compete internationally through the International Va'a Federation (IVF).
• CORA Race Sanctioning Service Application and approval process for race directors and member clubs to obtain CORA sanctioning for outrigger canoe events, including OC6, OC1, OC2, V1, SUP and Ski categories. Provides liability insurance, safety standards framework, and organizational legitimacy for sanctioned races.
• Team Canada Program National team selection and representation program for International Va'a Federation (IVF) World Championships in sprint and distance events. Includes selection trials registration, paddler berth fees, and program coordination across age categories.
• CORA Cup Race Series Annual multi-event OC6 outrigger canoe racing series across Canada, with crews earning points in the Unlimited division across age classifications. Five-event season culminating in National Championships.
• Canadian National Sprint Championships Annual national championship event for outrigger canoe sprint racing in Canada, bringing together top paddlers from across the country to compete for national titles across age and boat categories.
• Outrigger Resources and Education Educational materials and resources including safety manuals, canoe blessing guides, crew selection resources, etiquette documentation, coaching materials, and training videos for outrigger canoe clubs and paddlers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Third-party liability insurance coverage for members, coaches, officers and volunteers during CORA-sanctioned racing and training activities
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Va'a Federation (IVF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCORA is a member of the International Va'a Federation, the global governing body for outrigger canoe racing. This membership enables Canadian paddlers to compete at World Sprints and World Distance Championships internationally. CORA participates in IVF Board discussions regarding the sustainability and governance of international outrigger racing.
• Kialoa PaddlesminorOthersPaddle manufacturer listed in CORA Racing Products and Services directory as a recommended equipment supplier for outrigger canoe paddlers.
• Quick Blade PaddlesminorOthersPaddle manufacturer listed in CORA Racing Products and Services directory as a recommended equipment supplier.
• Waters Edge Sport PerformanceminorOthersCoaching service listed in CORA Racing Products and Services directory as a recommended resource for paddlers seeking professional coaching.
• Right Angle PerformanceminorOthersCoaching service listed in CORA Racing Products and Services directory.
• Kamanu CompositesminorOthersUnlimited OC6 canoe manufacturer and distributor. CORA tracks 2 Kamanu V6 OC6s at Canadian clubs (H2O Outrigger and Wai Nui).
• ARE Va'a Tahiti (Matahina)minorOthersUnlimited OC6 canoe distributor. 9 ARE Matahina OC6s at 6 CORA clubs (Lotus, False Creek, Suncoast, Pacific Reach, Star Nation, Penticton).
• Outrigger Zone (Vortex)minorOthersManufacturer of Giblin Vortex unlimited OC6 canoes. 15 Giblin Vortex OC6s at 10 CORA clubs.
• Outrigger Zone (Malolo)minorOthersDistributor for Puakea Malolo unlimited OC6 canoes. 22 Puakea Malolo OC6s at 12 CORA clubs and 3 non-CORA Canadian clubs. HanaHou Paddle Sports (BC) and ColdWater Canoe (ON) are Canadian distributors.
• Kai Wa'a (Hydra)minorOthersManufacturer of Kai Wa'a Hydra unlimited OC6 canoes chosen as official V6 for 2026 Singapore IVF World Sprints. 12 Kai Wa'a Hydra OC6s at 6 CORA clubs and 4 non-CORA Canadian clubs.
• Ocean River SportsminorOthersLocal dealer of paddling apparel and gear listed in CORA Racing Products and Services directory.
• Northwater Rescue and Paddling EquipmentminorOthersSafety and rescue equipment supplier listed in CORA Racing Products and Services directory.
• Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational governing body for canoe and kayak sports in Canada. Listed alongside CORA in associations directory.
• Pacific North West Outrigger Racing Canoe Association (PNWORCA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional outrigger racing association covering Pacific Northwest (Washington state, BC). CORA participates in shared racing events including PNWORCA Winter Series.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• International Va'a Federation (IVF): Global governing body for outrigger canoe racing of which CORA is a national member. IVF is a tier above CORA in the same governance structure, coordinating World Sprints and Distance Championships that CORA feeds athletes into.
• Canoe Kayak Canada: Canadian national governing body for canoe and kayak sports. Listed as an associated organization alongside CORA. While broader in scope than CORA, it competes for similar paddler participants and oversees adjacent paddle disciplines.
• Dragon Boat Canada: Canadian national federation for dragon boat racing. While not outrigger-specific, it governs one of the paddle sports that competes with CORA for club memberships and recreational paddler participation in Canada.

Regional players

• New Zealand Outrigger Canoe Racing Association (NZOCRA): National outrigger governing body in New Zealand, operating with similar functions to CORA — race sanctioning, club affiliation, and international team selection — but serving a different (Oceania) geography.
• Fédération Tahitienne de Va'a: Tahiti-based outrigger federation — the historic heartland of the sport. Functions as a national association in Tahiti and represents one of the strongest outrigger communities globally, competing alongside CORA on the international stage at IVF events.
• Australian Outrigger Canoe Racing Association (AUSCRA): Australian national federation for outrigger canoe racing, also an IVF member. Comparable in structure and mission to CORA, sanctioning domestic races and fielding international teams, but focused on the Australian market.

Direct peers

• Pacific North West Outrigger Racing Canoe Association (PNWORCA): Regional outrigger racing association covering the Pacific Northwest (Washington State and BC). PNWORCA is a direct peer sharing members, hosting joint racing events (e.g., PNWORCA Winter Series), and operating in the same discipline with comparable sanctioning/insurance services.
• Hawaiian Outrigger Canoe Racing Association (HCRA): U.S. state-level outrigger racing governing body in Hawaii, the historical heartland of the sport. HCRA operates the same national-association role for Hawaiian clubs that CORA performs for Canadian clubs, with comparable sanctioning and season structures.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/CdnOutrigger
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CanadianOutrigger
• Facebookfacebook.com/canadianoutrigger

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Canadian Outrigger Racing Association