About Us
Located at the base of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, Tamalpais Outrigger Canoe Club honors the tradition and culture of outrigger canoe paddling and extends the Spirit of Aloha to everyone who chooses to paddle with us.
Our Mission
Mālama I Ke Kai Respect of the Sea
Mālama I Ka Wa'a Respect of the Canoe
Mālama I Ka 'Ohana Respect of the Family
Mālama I Ka ‘Āina Respect of the Land
Mālama Kekahi I Kekahi Respect of One Another
TRAINING
March - September
Experienced Paddler Practices
Tuesday & Thursday 5:30pm
Saturday 8:00am
Novice & Rec Paddler Practices
Monday & Wednesday 5:30pm
Sunday 8:00am
RACES
May - September
Five months of long distance and sprint races throughout Northern California
WINTER SESSION
October - February
Experienced Practices
Tuesday & Thursday 5:00pm
Saturday 8:00am
Novice Practices
Tuesday & Thursday 5:00pm
Sunday 8:00am
Our Settting
Nestled beneath the Golden Gate Bridge, in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, our site boasts some of the best water conditions in Northern California.
Open Coaches
Kimo Garrigan
Born in Honolulu and raised in the Bay Area, it's in Northern California where I started paddling to connect to my Hawaiian roots along with the competitive nature that Outrigger paddling brings. I've been in and around playing and coaching sports, from football, baseball, and basketball long before paddling. I learned paddling from many coaches throughout the last 15 years and still learning from some of the best paddlers and coaches in the world today. The day I stop learning will be the day I stop growing and getting better. I learn something about myself every time I get in a canoe. Races I've been in include the prestigious Hawaiki Nui Race in Tahiti, Takapuna races in New Zealand, Molokai Hoe, Catalina crossing, countless races up and down the west coast from Seattle to San Diego, and numerous races throughout Hawaii and Tahiti. My goal as a head coach is to teach all paddlers what I have been taught and to make my paddlers better one stroke at a time. When not paddling, I'll be out mountain bike riding, snowboarding and long dog walks with Luna and Koa.
Ken Pacada
A native Hawaiian, born and raised on Oahu, Ken grew up around the water, but it wasn't until he moved to California that he took up outrigger canoeing, to be connected to his culture. Ken has devoted himself to the sport for more than two decades, serving as president of two outrigger canoe clubs (including TOCC), and has worked tirelessly as our coach for many years. Ken has raced premier races such as Catalina Channel Crossing and has gone back to his beloved Hawaiian islands several times to race in the famous Molokai to Oahu Molokai Ho'e, Na Pali Challenge on Kauai, and the Queen Liliuokalani race in Kona.
Novice Coaches
Richard Howard Gibbon
Richard grew up in Marin in and around the water and began his paddling career at TOCC. An avid kayaker, Richard spends part of the year in Brazil where he paddles with the local club. After spending many years and many miles honing his skills, he found his seat as the steersman of the canoe. Richard took on the role of coaching our novice crews in 2018, and continues to share the foundational skills of paddling to our newest members. Richard pours his mana (energy) into the canoes as the principal person who manages our canoe repairs.
Dave “Diver” Gissendaner
~bio coming soon!~
Lynne Meinert
Lynne, a Pittsburgh native who moved to California in Fall 2023, has dedicated over two decades to dragon boat racing. In 2005, she founded the Steel City Dragon Boat Association, a nonprofit supporting breast cancer survivors (BCS). As Head Coach of Pink Steel from 2005 to 2018, she led the team to national recognition, including a feature in Sports Illustrated.
Lynne represented Team USA in seven world championships across the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) and International Canoe Federation (ICF). Since 2011, she’s conducted paddling clinics throughout the U.S. and Canada, and in 2021, joined the 22Dragons Club coaching staff, one of Canada’s top clubs.
Her passion extends to outrigger canoeing, which deepened her connection to the San Francisco Bay. A coach at heart, Lynne excels at helping paddlers of all levels improve their skills, bringing energy, experience, and dedication to every training session.
