Is outrigger canoe racing governed by a universal governing body?
No. The closes thing is the International Va’ a Federation Founded in 1981 originally as the International Polynesian Canoe Federation, created with the intention of promoting the sport within primarily the Pacific region amongst islands who’s cultures had cultural links with the outrigger canoe in one form or another. They also wanted to play an authoritative role in being able to distribute information relating to outrigger canoeing to anyone interested in the sport and have as one of its goals, to make the sport reach Olympic status. However, a universal set of rules does not exist, be it racing rules or canoe specifications which must be adhered to by all countries and states. Each country and state, is essentially a law unto themselves. They have their own associations which in turn set their own rules and canoe specifications, which are all fundamentally taken and modified from the Hawaiians. In this respect the IPCF has no say, only at its own event, the IPCF World Sprint Titles
