“Writing, researching, coaching, mentoring and training instructors whilst maintaining my own commitment to being on the water as much as possible, go hand in hand. None are mutually exclusive as part of a dedicated lifestyle approach to my work which requires constant learning.”
Steve West is one of the world's foremost ocean sports writers, educators and ocean sports participants, a career spanned across some 40 years, as a professional windsurfer during some of its foremost pioneering days, some 20 years involvement with the sport of outrigger canoeing throughout the Pacific, as a writer, researcher and competitor and for the past 7 years a full time involvement with stand up paddle boarding. Living for 25 years on Australia's Queensland Sunshine Coast, world famous for its ocean sports and sports men and women, Steve has been fortunate enough to live amongst some of the world's most accomplished ocean sports paddlers and surfers. He has been a team member (outrigger canoeing) with such names as Grant Kenny, Australia's most famous Iron Man and multiple Molokai to Oahu surf ski winner, Jamie Mitchell, the worlds best ever paddle board champion, Danny Sheard, Chris Maynard and many other world class ocean athletes.
Writing Career
1980 - 1987 Freelance Journalist for UK, Australian and USA Based Windsurfing Magazines, 1995-2005 10 Books produced - Kanu Culture – Outrigger Canoeing International Handbooks, 2003 Level One Coaching Manual AOCRA Ratified by Australian Sports Commission, 2005-2007 Kanu Culture Ocean Sports Magazine, 2006 The Art and Skill of Steering - Outrigger Canoeing, 2007 A Paddler’s Guide to Outrigger Canoeing, 2010 AALA SUP Good Practice Guide UK, 2011 Level Two ASI SUP Exposed Waters Course Content, 2011 ASI SUP Water Rescue Course Content, 2012 Stand Up Paddle - A Paddlers Guide, 2012 Level Three ASI SUP Downwind Course Content.
“Steve West should be regarded as one of the best practitioners of the sport, supporter of the culture, chronicler of current races, canoes, trends and so on. His analysis of technique, canoe development, racing history and other aspects of our life, is way more thourough than most. He has a deep and true appreciation for the true feeling and spirit of outrigger canoeing. The photos are the best. I cannot recommend his books too highly enough!”
Since 1994 he has devoted his time to the development of Outrigger Canoeing throughout the Pacific. Ten books later, he is considered a world leading authority on the subject, writing the worlds first outrigger canoeing coaching manual and was Australia’s National Coaching Director for five years and Fiji's National Coaching Consultant to the South Pacific Games Squad for 6 years. He has twice won the world championship Masters division of the prestigious 66km Molokai to Oahu, Molokai Hoe race and the Hamilton Cup International event on numerous occassions and remains a record holder in the 16km and 500m team events. His focus now is on the development of Stand Up Paddlingboarding in the UK and Europe, bringing with him a wealth of knowledge of open ocean canoe sports.
He is a former RYA and IWS senior instructor and UKBSA open water examiner. As one of the UKs pioneering windsurfing professionals during the late 70s early 80s, he worked extensively in the promotion of windsurfing demonstrating at London, Brighton, Southampton boat shows, water sports events, appearing on TV and radio, contributing regularly to magazines, technical articles, equipment testing and reviews and was a member of the British Boardsailing Display Team.
“Steve is a fantastic writer and photographer and has been an extension of the KIALOA family for many, many years. Actively involved in SUP and Outrigger Canoeing, we welcome him as an ambassador for KIALOA.”
Finishing as Britain's 2nd highest place getter at the Bacardi World Cup in 1981 in the Freestyle event and highest finisher in the Ins and Outs event, Steve's preference was for wave sailing without rules. Traveling to Lefkas island in Greece in the early 80s he provided a feasibility study to create what is now one of the largest windsurfing holiday centres in the world, Club Vassiliki. He moved to Australia in 1983 to further pursue his windsurfing career working for magazines, sail makers and event organizers. In 1983 he was the Australian National Freestyle Champion.
“Rarely have I seen a sports publication that delivers this kind of quality and value. For those of us just getting started with paddling, your volumes are a gift from the Gods.”
He has raced and paddled in some of the world's toughest outrigger canoe events and has worked extensively with Tahiti Tourism, Fiji Visitors Bureau and the Travel Associations of Palau, Guam and Saipan and with Australia's Hamilton Island Resort Management over 14 years in the development and promotion of their International Outrigger Canoeing event.
British Windsurfing Display Team Member
UK Board Sailing Open Sea Examiner
Royal Yachting Association Senior Instructor
International Windsurfing Schools Instructor
First windsurfer to sail on the River Nile.
Co-Founder of the UKs Around Hayling Island Race
Level 1 Coaching Principles (Aust)
Level 2 Coaching Principles (Aust)
Level 1 Outrigger Canoeing Coach (Aust)
Elements of Shipboard Safety (Coxswains)
Co National Coaching Director (Aust) with C. Maynard (5yrs)
Co National Coaching Director (Fiji) with C. Philp (6yrs)
Founder of AOCRA Coaching / Author of Manuals
Founded Kanu Culture 1994
Author of 12 Books on the subject of Outrigger Canoeing
Founding member and Vice President Mooloolaba OCC 1990
Former Vice President Australian Outrigger Canoe Racing Association
Former Secretary Australian Outrigger Canoe Racing Association.
Team New Zealand Crew 1998 New Caledonia
Former International Polynesian Canoe Federation Delegate.
2009 AALS (UK) Authored the Good Practice Guide for SUP
2010 Team Starboard Racing Team UK (SUP)
2011 Academy of Surfing UK SUP Trainer and Director
Has raced in these events either once, twice or on multiple occasions.
Hawaiki Nui Va`a (French Polynesia, Huahine, Raitea, Taha, Bora Bora) x 5
Newport to Catalina (California) x 2, 2nd)
Molokai Hoe (Molokai to Oahu - Hawaii. Master Mens Winner '97 and '98)
Hamilton Cup (Hamilton Island Australia x 15 medals, 10 gold)
Gold Coast Cup (Gold Coast Australia x 7 medals 5 gold)
Marlin Coast OC1 Challenge (Cairns to Port Douglas 35km Winner with C. Maynard)
Micronesian Cup (Saipan and Palau)
Bay of Islands (New Zealand - Winner)
Hauraki Hoe (80km change race - Auckland New Zealand x 2 - runner up on both occasions)
Ouvea to Poindimie (130km Change Race - New Caledonia with Team New Zealand)
Fiji International (Fiji x 3 times)
Giglio Cup (Italy)