With the iconic Penticton sign on Munson Mountain overlooking them, paddlers from across North America are vying for outrigger gold this weekend on Okanagan Lake.

Teams from Hawaii, California, Montana and Washington joined hundreds of other Canadian paddlers on Saturday, Sept. 28, for the 2024 Canadian Outrigger Distance Championships.

Penticton was selected as the host of this year's event, which featured athletes in 15-metre-long canoes starting from the southernmost point of Okanagan Lake and racing to Naramata, Summerland and back.

Hosted by Penticton Paddle Sports and sanctioned by the Canadian Outrigger Racing Association (CORA), the event tasked the 69 teams in different categories to race either 21 or 10 kilometres.

"The registration numbers for this event have just exploded," Don Mulhall, executive director and head coach at Penticton Paddle Sports, said before the start of the event.

"With the help of Travel Penticton and City of Penticton, we were able to attract teams from as far away as Hawaii and California. The opportunity to showcase the Okanagan, plus highlight Canadian Outrigger Racing is immense."

Teams on Saturday were forced to contend with windy conditions.

The day started with a Women's & Mixed Masters race before the Men's and Mixed Open event kicked off at around 1:50 p.m.

A race that starts in Naramata and finishes near the Kiwanis Walking Pier in Penticton will headline Sunday's festivities.

Hosting duties for the annual event cap off a busy year for Penticton Paddle Sports.

The non-profit group has welcomed thousands of athletes and tourists alike this year for tournaments like Duel in the Desert and the Penticton Dragonboat Festival at Skaha Lake.