Page 63 - Tropic Magazine Issue 27

TROPIC • SPORT

OUTRIGGING
A sport with an ancient history,
outrigging is a mix of canoe racing and
sailing. These vessels are an important
part of the Austronesian heritage,
being the first true ocean-going ships.
Outrigger canoes can accommodate one,
two or six paddlers, and races can be
either marathons or sprints.

CHECK OUT: Hekili & Cairns
Beaches Outrigger Clubs

SAILABILITY
Have a look at Sailability Cairns and their boats for wheelchair-bound folk –
the first of its kind in Australia. Running twice a week, the program provides
opportunities for people with a disability to discover the joys and the challenges
of sailing.
CHECK OUT: Cairns Yacht Club

TRACK CYCLING
Track cycling is traditionally Palm-fringed path
done around banked, Imagine being able to walk, cycle,
oval-shaped tracks on bikes run (or even roller skate!) seamlessly
with only one gear and no from Cairns to Palm Cove. Well, that’s
brakes. With both sprinting the Council’s plan for the Northern
and endurance events, Beaches Leisure Trail. Key sections
ROLLER SKATING it’s adrenaline fuelled, of the 20-kilometre path are already
Not just for kids, roller skating has competitive and exciting. completed, including:
become popular among all ages and Head down to Cairns Cycling
Cairns is the place to get into the slippery Club’s new clubhouse to give Cairns Esplanade - Barron River
sport. Not only do we have the second this speedy sport a shot. Yorkeys Knob - Trinity Beach
largest skating rink in Australia, our Cairns Cycling Club Clifton Beach - Palm Cove
Esplanade stretch is the perfect place to A couple more parts are currently
practise your magic moves. CHECK OUT: under construction, including the
Cairns Cycling Club
Barr Creek bridge between Holloways
CHECK OUT: Cairns Skating Centre Beach and Machans Beach, and
some segments still need to
receive funding.
Division 8 Councillor Rhonda Coghlan
told Tropic the Council is undertaking
PICKLEBALL the project “one leg at a time”
Pickleball is a paddle sport that with support from both the State
Government’s Cycle Network Local
combines elements of badminton, Government Grants and the
tennis, and table tennis. Two or four Federal Government.
players use solid paddles made of “The Queensland Government found
wood or composite materials to hit that every dollar invested in cycling
a perforated polymer ball, similar infrastructure returns almost $5 in
to a wiffle ball, over a low net on a reduced traffic congestion and health
badminton-sized court. Although it benefits,” Cr Coghlan said.
was only introduced to Australia five “But we’ve found that return to be
years ago, Cairns already has quite an much higher here in Cairns.
appetite for the competition. The Redlynch Connection Pathway for
example has brought in $12 for every
CHECK OUT: Cairns Pickleball dollar invested.”

63 • tropicnow.com.au