Red Bull gives wings to an age-old sport

Red Bull Outriggd returned for 2021 bringing back the age-old tradition of outrigger canoeing to Sri Lanka after a two-year absence. All the action took place on 6 November at Port City, Colombo and this is the very first water sport event which took place on the beach promenade inside Port City.

Through this interesting competition of outrigger canoeing, the mind and body were put to the ultimate test as participants took on the choppy waters of the Indian Ocean for the first time in an outrigger canoe. 

The age-old sport of outrigger boat racing is one among many competitive events keenly contested in waterfront regions of the island. 

Bringing communities together and igniting the passion for unique adventure sports amongst Sri Lankans, Red Bull Outriggd grabbed the attention of a variety of contestants ranging from corporates to adventure-seekers, sports lovers, Paddle Associations, fishing communities and even students. Red Bull Outriggd is more than just a contest; the event is a competition and celebration with side activities for every participant and spectator. 

Red Bull Outriggd saw the participation of over 70 oarsmen and women including some who depended on it for a living. 

Red Bull Outriggd race track consisted of a few obstacles to overcome and it was not as easy as it seemed. Red Bull is known for giving sports an innovative edge to offer a memorable experience for participants and spectators alike. 

The champions were chosen under women’s, men’s and mixed categories and the winning teams were as follows: Women’s Final – PL Tharushi Dewmini Kure & SK Nimeshika Perera of Kelaniya 03 (team 3), Men’s Final – Mohomad Jalil Mohomad Rasan & M Ajeesh Khan of Balalu Wewa 02 (team 25) and Mixed Final – WPS Priyadarshana & PL Tharushi Dewmini Kure of Kelaniya 09 (team 6). 

The first Red Bull Outriggd took place at the Diyawanna lake in 2019. The event was not held in 2020 due to challenges posed by the global pandemic.