In the 1980s and 1990s, during canoe polo season, there were about 18 teams competing weekly at a variety of venues throughout the Illawarra. Today, there is only one. What happened to Wollongong's lost sport?

David Slattery, a dedicated local with a passion for paddling, and owner and director for Australis Canoes and Kayaks in Bellambi, described canoe polo's competitive intensity as being on par with other major sports in the area.

"Originally, we had quite a few teams and it was pretty well done," David said. 

"A lot of the schools had teams, so with it being a school sport it was quite competitive and popular." 

Canoe polo was played at a number of locations in the Illawarra. David said venues included the Continental Pool, Mullett Creek in Dapto and even the University Pool. This amount of choices provided ample opportunities for players to engage in the game.

So, what exactly is canoe polo?

For those unfamiliar with the sport, it might be mistaken for a version of water polo, but it's actually closer to basketball on water. Played with five players on each side, the game involves intense paddling for a total of 20 minutes.

“If you throw a ball in the water and you give two kids logs to sit on, they're going to fight over the ball and that’s kind of what Canoe polo is based on,” said Shoalhaven Canoe and Kayak Club's DJ Dubose, a mechanical engineer who lives in Wollongong and has been paddling for 30 years. 

“It’s highly intense, you have to play very technically well together to be successful and have to perform at maximum effort and intensity for two 10-minute periods.”

DJ is also a member of Paddle Australia's national committee and plays a crucial role in shaping the canoe polo curriculum. The primary focus is on elevating the country's overall skill level and restoring the sport to its former glory, to the peak standards witnessed in the 80s, 90s and 2000s.

“In the early 2000s, it was at a point where the Australian team wondered if it was even worth it to play the Kiwis, now it’s the other way around,” DJ said.

“Australians just haven’t been as competitive, mostly because our base isn’t wide."

What caused the sport's decline?

In 2004, an arsonist destroyed the Illawarra Canoe Club shed in Kanahooka, resulting in the loss of canoe polo players' equipment and identity.

“We lost the venue and all that work that was put in just went up in smoke, it was doing very well before this incident,” DJ said.

“Canoe polo is very dependent on the venue, we can’t just go find a patch of grass somewhere, we need healthy water and access to it.”

David explained that venues dried up due to the high cost of pool rentals. 

"The cost of the pools was one of the biggest hassles, they would cost like $300 for two pools for only three to four hours," David said. 

Then teachers retired, leaving no one to coordinate canoe polo students.

"Once a lot of those teachers and volunteers moved on, no one came in to take over," David said.

"If people won't volunteer to organise it, then these things fall over." 

The once-booming sport started to die out.

DJ said: “The other issue for the sport is equipment, we used to have a manufacturer in Australia, but now we don’t.

“New Zealand has two manufacturers, and they are absolutely killing it at the moment.”

Aiming for a comeback

However, canoe polo in Australia is trying to make a resurgence, leveraging the increased accessibility and inclusivity of paddle sports. Paddle Australia aims to drive this change and rekindle interest in the sport.

“Your options for paddling are vast, it's really accessible at the moment, anyone can buy something as simple as an inflatable paddle board and go paddle on the water,” DJ said.

“A lot of people recently are taking up paddle sports and they don’t even realise that with more training and know-how they can really fall in love with the sport.

“I hope the sport continues to expand and that we can take advantage of those people in the Illawarra who love paddling.”

One appealing aspect of canoe polo is its ability to create an inclusive and team-oriented space where it takes a whole team to succeed and have fun.

“I’ve played gridiron, soccer and water polo as well, and yet canoe polo is the only one where a LeBron James-level player can’t carry you to a championship,” DJ said.

“It’s just a great way of building a connection with your teammates.”

For paddlers or those wanting to try a new sport, canoe polo offers an exciting opportunity to turn your leisure pastime into an addictive competitive sport.

“Get out on the water and give it a try,” DJ said.

“The players that love it, love it for life, canoe polo is life.

“It’s very contagious, some people give it a try because they know someone doing it and they typically catch it pretty quick.”

The Shoalhaven Canoe and Kayak Club will start training in Bomaderry from the last Tuesday of August. Newcomers are welcome to join and the first night of training is free. So, hop in a boat and give it a try!

Where to find more information and paddle craft

• Check out the Shoalhaven Canoe and Kayak Club's Facebook page and Youtube channel.
• Visit Paddle Australia's website.
• To buy canoe polo equipment, DJ recommends Polo Mania’s Facebook or JC Polo, International Canoe Federation
• To buy or hire canoes and kayaks locally, check out the Australis Canoes and Kayaks website, call (02) 4285 2000 or drop into the factory office at 5 Watts Lane, Bellambi.