A story has been unfolding under the radar since 2023 that only recently caught fire after a “News Flash” was received by CORA from the Cook Islands in November 2025. This story began decades ago back in 2000. The BC Mens Provincial team delivered a first for Canada in 2000. A crew of paddlers racing as “Team BC” from Jericho, Pemberton, and False Creek including Hugh Fisher, David Ross, Cam Fagrie, Mike Parks, Rick Nu’u, and Don Irvine would finish Spec 1st place Open and 1st place Overall in the 2000 Catalina Channel Crossing US Outrigger Championships – the best ever showing for an all Canadian crew at Catalina.
And then after a 20+ year hiatus, it was time to the “put the band back together again”. It started shortly after the 2023 IVF Samoa World Distance Championships ended in August 2023. A Vernon Morning Star article has noted that a team by the name of Pac Northwest consisting of seven Canadians (Hugh Fisher; Cam Fagrie; David Ross; Laci Bujdos; Bob Woodman; Gary Parsons; Tony Van Buren) and two Americans (Alan Lipp; Brian Kummer) would finish Unlimited Mens Golden Masters (60+) 1st place and 28th place Mens Overall in the 2023 Catalina Channel Crossing US Outrigger Championships in September 2023.
![](https://www.canadianoutrigger.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/MI6-The-Gorge-Race-Logo-240x87-1.jpg"){kind=logo}
Fast forward to Summer 2025 when a team by the name of MI6 (Hugh Fisher; Cam Fagrie; David Ross; Laci Bujdos; Bob Woodman; Ronald (Nanaimo) Williams) would finish Unlimited Mens Golden Masters (60+) 1st place and 6th place Mens Overall at 2025 The Gorge Outrigger Canoe Race in July 2025.
MI6 did not attend every 2025 CORA Cup Series event, but every time that MI6 (Hugh Fisher; Cam Fagrie; David Ross; Laci Bujdos; Bob Woodman; Ronald (Nanaimo) Williams) did attend a 2025 CORA Cup Series event, MI6 would finish Unlimited Mens Golden Masters (60+) 1st place.
At the November 2025 CORA AGM, while Hugh Fisher was being recognized as the Hugh Town Memorial Builder Award 2025 Recipient, MI6 was away at the Vaka Eiva 2025 International Outrigger Canoe Festival in the Cook Islands enjoying the South Pacific. The MI6 Canadian contingent did very well in the OC1/V1 races with Hugh Fisher OC1 Masters 70+ Men 1st place, Laci Bujdos OC1 Masters 60+ Men 1st place, Ronald (Nanaimo) Williams OC1 Masters 60+ Men 2nd place, Cam Fagrie OC1 Masters 60+ Men 4th place, Tony Van Buren OC1 Masters 60+ Men 6th place, David Ross OC1 Masters 60+ Men 7th place, and Bob Woodman V1 Masters 60+ Men 2nd place.
The MI6 Canadian contingent raced together as a Mens Iron crew to the podium and teamed up with Fijian / Australian paddlers including world traveller Sandi Mitchell to race as a Mixed Changes crew to bring home Silver.
Catalina 2000 / Mi6 comments
After reading this article I wanted to share some additional background information and provide credit to those individuals involved in that 2000 Catalina victory.
The 3 team members not mentioned are, Dave Boone, Paul McNamara both with Jericho canoe club and Dave Velesik with FCRCC.
I believe our first attempt by a combined crew from Jericho, FCRCC and Lotus sport club was in 1998. The complete cast of characters I cannot recall. Team BC was coached by Drew Mitchell. Credit to him for handling a bunch of type A’s. Our results were far from the desired outcome, placing below the top 10. This is unconfirmed as records don’t go back that far and my memory has seemed to let it slide.
In August of 2020, after a training session at FCRCC, I made my way to Bridges Pub to replenish fluids. There I met a some Jericho lads and discovered they were not going to Catalina as a club team as originally planned.
The following day I called Rick Nu’u and Don Irvine suggesting a possible return attempt. Rick was all in as to be expected and was a true guiding force for that endeavour. Rick was an incredible person, paddler and friend and still truly missed to this day.
The final results were stated in the article. What is not conveyed is the sheer power that was in that canoe. Sitting in one seat I clearly remember the canoe literally leaping off the start line. An experience not repeated to this day for me.
For winning that race, we were awarded a coffee mug with “Catalina Channel crossing” printed on it. Some of the guys might still have theirs in a trophy case or cupboard. I chose to use mine daily as the designed intended until it broke after 6 or 7 years. I was told Don lost his the day after the race, drinking coffee in it during breakfast at a restaurant and leaving it on the table after the meal.
For me, maybe it should be more about the memories than hardware collected.
The genesis of the current 60 plus crew came post covid in 2022, during a conversation with Tony Van Burren, a former FCRCC member and someone I have crossed the Molokai channel on many occasions.
From there it was just a matter of contacting paddlers from the past that I knew embraced the same spirit and values that make a great team.
The Vaka Eiva ( Cook Island race) was an incredible experience and I highly recommend any Canadian crew to attend. The culture, people, food and racing were all that I think our our crew could ask for.
2026 will be their 20th anniversary event and they are expecting a large number of teams.
Looking forward to future adventures with Mi6.
I would jump in a canoe, any time, any race, with these guys.
Mahalo Cam