Overview
- A sea lion leaped onto an Outrigger Santa Cruz racing canoe during the Monterey Hoe Wa’a race on May 23, a moment captured on a 360-degree camera and later posted by the team.
- Racer Alan Luckow loaned the camera that recorded the encounter and described the experience to reporters after the video went viral.
- Participants said the animal and paddlers were not hurt and that the boat’s stroker stayed composed, which prevented a capsize and kept the crew racing.
- The team posted the clip to Instagram with the caption “So this happened,” and local and national outlets published the video and first-hand quotes on May 27.
- Sea lions are common in Monterey Bay and sometimes approach boats, so the episode highlights both the region’s active marine life and the importance of steady paddling and coach direction in narrow outrigger craft.