FREE - Pacific Paddler magazine

august 2010
FREE
PRSRT. STD. U.S.
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Honolulu, Hi
Permit No. 583
Covering Hawai‘i’s State Team Sport since 1996
Contents
Aloha
Pa’a Eono Hoe
6
A 4th of July Tradition
8
Waikiki Beach Boys Regatta 10
OHCRA -Pete's Pics
14
Battle Of The Paddle
16
Da Keiki Ocean Fest
18
Molokai Hosts States 20
Racing in Gibons, BC
22
New Caledonia World Sprints24
Hamilton Island Cup
26
SCORA Closes Iron Season
28
Improve performance
with Chinese medicine
32
Na Wahine O Ke Kai
34
What's Hot?
36
Weekend Warrior
38
Publisher/editor:
Ropati Hebenstreit
(808) 351-2398
Writers: Meg Blaser, Jim Foti,
Cheance Adair, Harvie Allison,
Gaylord Wilcox, Cheryl Skribe,
Liko Wallace, Cara Mazzei
Photos: Peter Caldwell, Brian
Vestyck, Harvie Allison, www.
photo-ducos.nc, Jon Brunk
Photography: Ropati Hebenstreit
Proofreader: Amy Hebenstreit
Pacific Paddler
August 2010 Vol 15.3
One thing I've
noticed in this issue is
that there are plenty
of smiling people.
To point out the
obvious, that means
people are having
fun. I have noticed,
and it makes me feel
like I'm missing out; it
makes me want to get
back into a canoe. I
miss the excitement
of lining up for the race, the adrenaline rush
when my body moves into overdrive. It would
be nice just to get out on the water and take a
leisurely paddle in my OC1, but that wouldn't
be the same as sharing the experience of
a race. The coaches briefing, the warm up
paddle to the starting line, a quick glance at
the other crews, sizing up the competition,
lining up and waiting for the yellow flag to
start waving, then the red, green! The start,
the explosion at the line, and hopefully the
feel in the boat of six paddlers in harmony,
humming down the course, and the finish, the
last push, the search for the extra bit of power
Waikiki Beach Boys Regatta. See
followed by the relief of crossing the finish
page 10 for more pics.
line, the need for oxygen. Lots of it. Whether
Photo by Ropati
we are first (most of the time not) or last, it's
back to the beach, back to the club tent, back
to going over the race and reliving it, sharing
our experiences with teammates, family and
Pacific Paddler
friends, then the anticipation for the next race.
Address: PO Box 300345,
Our magazine is a collection of stories
Ka‘a‘awa, HI 96730
like that. We get them from around the world
(808) 351-2398
and share them with you. I don't know about
info@pacificpaddler.com
you, but when I see
pacificpaddler.com
the pictures in the
magazine, I want to
Printed at Trade Publishing Co.
jump into a
Honolulu, Hawaii
canoe.
On the cover
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A MAGAZINE FOR PADDLERS
BY PADDLERS
Mission Statement: to bring the
excitement of outrigger paddling
to a larger audience. We feel that
Pacific Paddler’s hui of supporters,
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© 2010 Pacific Paddler is published six
times a year. No reproduction without permission. No responsibility is assumed by publisher
as to the contents’ accuracy or completeness.
Pa’a Eono Hoe
Ptotos by Peter Caldwell
Pacific Paddler August 2010
On May 23rd the Paddlers Athletic Association held an
Iron OC6 race from Papohaku Beach on Molokai’s West End
to Maunalua Bay on Oahu. Out of 27 teams, Team Kamanu
finished first in three hours, 56 minutes, 40 seconds. The crew
was made up of Travis Grant, Bill Pratt, Justin Watts, Scott
Hendrix, Luke Evslin and Jimmy Austin. The major difference in
this race was that it was open to any type of canoe, whether
traditional or modern. Another difference was that it was an
iron race. Team Kamanu easily won the race in their new
design. Team Livestrong finished second in a time of four hours,
nine minutes, 10 seconds. Team Pa’a took third in 4:12:36,
racing in a traditional-style boat.
Amongst the women, Free Agent, made up of Michelle
Arnold, Grace Emanuel, Sarah Van de Vanter, Claire
Townsend, Arlene Holzman and Madisen Minkel, finished in
four hours, 55 minutes, 36 seconds. Waikiki Beach Boys took
second in 5:04:33 and Kailua Masters 50 third in 5:18.38.
A 4th of July tradition
The race that
everyone looks
forward to is the
Fourth of July
Walter Macfarlane
Canoe Regatta,
hosted by the
Outrigger Canoe
Even the best
bury it
Club for the past 68
years. This year, the
sun was out, the surf was up, and 16
OHCRA clubs were packed in amongst
tourist from around the world. A win is
a win, but the points from today's races
don't count towards the season total. So
no pressure, just have fun and fly your
ama.
Overall, Lanikai won the AAA
Division with 98 points, Outrigger was
a close second with 93, Kailua 49 and
Hui Nalu 27. In the AA Division, the
top three were Keahiakahoe 31, Hui
Lanakila 29 and Healani 23. In the
A Division, Leeward Kai 29, Anuenue
21, and New Hope 11.
In the prestigious — winner gets to
guzzle out of a trophy — one-and-ahalf mile women's Senior race, Lanikai
was first in 12:11.59. The crew was
Heidi Hansen-Smith, Megan Clark, Lisa
Sauer, Ann Dewey, Torrey Goodman
and Jim Foti. In the men's Senior race,
it was Outrigger with Kristin Brown,
Scott Gamble, Ikaika Harbottle, Jimmy
Austin, Evan Rhodes and Karel Tresnak who won in
10:42.10. Second went to Leeward Kai, 11:04.45
and third Hui Lanakila, 11:13.55.
For tourists and paddlers alike, it was another
fabulous day in paradise.
Flying the ama, a 4th of July fly by, and going out beyond the
reef to join the flotilla
L to R: Mel Mau, Harold Akeo, Boy Kalama,
Ken Bailey, Tom Arnott
Pacific Paddler August 2010
pacificpaddler.com August 2010 Waikiki Beach Boys Regatta
"We had the best wipe-out of the day."
There was plenty of action with big swells
rolling into Waikiki. There were lots of hulies along with plenty
of hooting and yelling both on the course and from the beach.
The crowd would spontaneously break out in a collective "ah"
as a lucky crew found themselves charging down a huge wave
followed either by a cheer from the beach as the steersman
managed to keep his canoe straight or a wincing sigh of disbelief if the steersman lost control and flipped. Sometimes it was
less dramatic. With the wrong angle on a wave, a canoe can
fill up in seconds; but thanks to the water safety crew out patrolling on jet skies, getting paddlers and canoes back to the beach
didn't take as long as it had just a decade earlier.
Waikiki Beach Boys and Hui Va'a hosted the event which has
only been canceled twice due to large surf. The Waikiki Beach
Boys was formed in 1973 by local 'Beach Boys' Moku Kamaka,
Kimo Makua, Ted Bush and Bob Nagatani who wanted to
extend the aloha of paddling like they had done with surfing.
The AAA Division had only one club, Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i
who scored 62 points. Koa Kai was one point shy with 61
points to win the AA Division. Lokahi followed with 53 and
taking third was Waikiki Beach Boys 45. The A Division's winner
was Kumulokahi-Elks with 25 points, Ka Mamalahoe 20 and
Hawaiian Outrigger 13.
"Conditions are up and down, said Pali Palakiko from
Windward Kai. "It's very exciting; anything can happen."
Paul Amoy who performed a barrel roll with his 60 plus
women's crew joked about it. "We were in first place, but that's
alright. We had the best wipe-out of the day."
Lokahi's Mike Cushnie prepares to
turn on the buoy
Getting plenty of air time, first across the finish
line is Manu O Ke Kai
Even with their canoe under water,
this crew paddles across the finish line
to make points for their club
12 Pacific Paddler August 2010
pacificpaddler.com August 2010 13
OHCRA
June 6th at the Clement D. Pai’aina Regatta, Keehi Lagoon, hosted by
Healani. The day's results: AAA: Kailua 114 , Lanikai 84, Outrigger 56, Hui
Nalu 48. AA: Hui Lanakila 31, Keahiakahoe 30, Healani 20, Leeward Kai
20, New Hope 6. A: Keola O Ke Kai 6, Waikiki Surf Club 5, Waimanalo 3,
Anuenue 2 , Honolulu Pearl Canoe Club 2, Pu'uloa Outrigger 1, Kai Oni 0.
Photos by Peter Caldwell
14 Pacific Paddler August 2010
June 13 at the King Kamehameha Regatta, Kailua Canoe Club, Kailua Beach Park. Overall results:
AAA: Lanikai 110, Kailua 98, Outrigger 56, Hui Nalu 41. AA: Hui Lanakila 33, Keahiakahoe 30,
Leeward Kai 19, Healani 14, New Hope 6. A: Waimanalo 10, Waikiki Surf Club 3, Anuenue 3,
Keola O Ke Kai 2, Pu'uloa Outrigger 1, Honolulu Pearl Canoe Club 1, Kai Oni 1.
pacificpaddler.com August 2010 15
Battle Of The Paddle
HONOLULU - (Sunday, June
13, 2010) – Stand-up paddling
(SUP) came full circle back to
its home of Waikiki, Hawaii
this weekend, surpassing every
conceivable expectation with
the ultimate combination of
sport and lifestyle. Over 600
paddlers from around the world
gathered for the inaugural
Rainbow Sandals Gerry Lopez
Battle of the Paddle Hawaii,
presented by Quiksilver Waterman Collection, and
thousands turned out to watch. When all was said
and done, everyone had a story to tell.
But it was Californian Danny Ching (Redondo
Beach), 27, who captivated the crowd this time
around, making a clean sweep of the 5-mile Elite
Battle and the 10-mile Downwinder.
In Saturday's Elite race, Ching was embroiled
in a 5-mile battle royale with dark horse Australian
paddler Travis Grant (Gold Coast). Punctuated by
19 buoy turns and two 75-yard beach sprints, their
race ended in a sprint for the shoreline that left
them separated by just 13 seconds after close to an
hour and a half of dueling. Ching then overcame
Sunday morning's fatigue to go on and win the 10mile distance race.
"I didn't expect that at all," said Ching. "I was
hoping to win one of the days, but luckily it panned
out for me. I definitely felt fatigued (in the distance
race). But once I got out into the surf, I was able to
build a bit of a gap. I was figuring that would hold
them off at the end because if you raced (the Elite
race), you were going to have a hard time making
the final push the last two miles."
"Sparky's Rainbow Sandal races are the best,"
said Ching. "He puts up the biggest prize purse, the
best competitors and the biggest event. Everything
about it is amazing."
Ching crossed the Elite race line in one hour,
22 minutes and 42 seconds to take $5,000. He
completed the 10-mile downwind race in 1 hour
and 26 minutes for an added $1,100.
Grant, 27, finished the Elite race in 1:22:55
for $3,500; and veteran Hawaiian paddler Aaron
Napoleon, 43, was third in 1:26:30 for $2,500.
Jamie Mitchell (Australia), the most dominant
paddleboarder in the world, was fourth in 1:27:00.
In the women's division, San Clemente's
Candice Appleby took out the Elite battle, earning
$2,500 with her time of 1:35:25. Second was
Australian Shakira Westdorp. In the distance race,
Maui's Andrea Moller took line honors.
Check www.rainbowsandals.com/battleofthepaddle/HI/ for results.
16 Pacific Paddler August 2010
The first race, 10 and under, is set to
go including this four-year-old who
finished fourth overall
Thomas Maximus, Paul McPhillips, Kent Kam, Jay "Sparky" Longley,
Gerry Lopez, Kelly Hupp, George Kam and Chuck Patterson
The battle of the Paddle set
up operations fronting Fort DeRussy, on
Waikiki Beach. There were large tents
set up with Rainbow Sandals, Quiksilver
Waterman Collection, Patagonia, Maui
Jim Sunglasses, Outrigger Hotels &
Resorts, Kona Brewing Co., DaKine,
Duke's Waikiki, and Surftech. There
were demonstrations offered, free
clinics and classes in SUP, history
lessons on building wooden surf
boards, products to protect paddlers
form the sun and demonstrations by the
top manufacturers in the SUP business.
"It's great for the sport because
people can try and compare different
boards," said Mark Raaphorst.
For Mark, owner of Sandwich Island
Composites, the chance to see how his
SIC boards compared with other brands
was useful.
Before the battle began with the first
round of kids charging into the lagoon
to race, there was a huge party to kick
off the event the night before.
"At the party," said Dale Hope,
"there was pig, all kinds of meat and
fish, poke, dessert stations, fresh fruit
and vegetables, open bar and great
Ron House certifies Aaron
Napoleon's board as legal live music. Sparky, George and Jerry
put on a fantastic event," said Dale "I'm
impressed by the caliber of the venders
here showing us what's going on in the
sport."
One of the big names in surfing and
SUPs is race promoter Jerry Lopez. He
said, "It's big. We had two of these
events in California, each one progressively successful than the previous."
Jerry said a lot of Hawaiians made
an effort to come over to California
to participate in their events. "Just the
Tom Pohaku Stone shows the kids
how to make traditional boards out
of wood
aloha feeling they brought with them
really made an impression on "Sparky"
so he said, 'Why not do one of these
things over in Hawaii?' and that's how it
came here," Jerry said.
Proceeds for the event are going to
Na Kama Kai said event sponsor Jay
"Sparky" Longley, of Rainbow Sandals.
"We are hoping that the kids will be
better educated and stay off the streets.
Quiksilver, Rainbow, Patagonia, Maui
Jim, DaKine are not here so much for the
money, but to give back a little bit."
Sparky said they did a contest for
Molokai and gave the money to the
Molokai School Association, and in
California they support any organization
that cleans the beach, environment and
educates.
On top of all the good the Battle of
the Paddle is doing, it is also dishing out
a total prize purse for the weekend totalling a whopping $25,000.
Dale Hope
pacificpaddler.com August 2010 17
Honolulu Elks Kumulokahi
Da Keiki Ocean Fest
June 5, 2010
18 Pacific Paddler August 2010
Often we
hear people say
“Lucky we live
Hawaii”. For me
yesterday was a
true example of the
slogan. The Honolulu
Elks Club hosted a
family-fun, ocean
day for members
and friends. It was
a celebration of ocean sports, community, and getting active.
Starting at 10am people started to
gather. Beneath a bright blue sky, we
joined for a blessing and the festivities began! Under the direction of Elks
member and Kumulokahi leader Mr.
Keoni Farias, registration was opened.
Keoni is the Honolulu Elks’ resident
water expert who maintains the
canoes, and who without his participation, the Ocean Fest event would not
have happened. I would also like to
recognize Mr. Wily Rol and Mr. Jon
Takushi, Elks members and members of
the “New Hope Diamond Head Surf
Ministry and Da Crew”, who provided
much of the Stand Up Paddling (SUP)
equipment and lessons for everyone.
Participants had the options of taking
a ride in an Outrigger canoe, surfing,
and SUP. Throughout the afternoon,
more than forty children and adults had
signed up for the ocean action. I gave
SUP a whirl and had a blast. As I was
paddling out by the channel, weaving
between all the rock star ten-year-old
girls who were making it look easy, I
encountered some men. It was apparent
they were completing a long Hawaii
Kai stand up paddle run. As I passed
them, I heard them mutter, “Man it is
crowded today. And where did all these
girls come from?” I chuckled to myself
because I think the ten-year-old girls
were faster than the men!
In the end, one hundred and
fifty people came to experience
“Kumulokahi Da Keiki Ocean Fest”.
Many were members I recognized,
and there were also many fresh faces.
Being on the water with everyone
was truly a feeling of fellowship and
camaraderie. Everyone was helping
one another, making new friends and
laughing. My face hurt from smiling
so much! It was a sincere sense of
community reminding me I am “Lucky
to live Hawaii”.
Story and photos by Cara Mazzei
Molokai hosts States
This is a big year for the Hawaiian Canoe Racing
Association as it sponsors the 60th Annual State
Championship Regatta on August 7, 2010. Molokai Canoe
Racing Association (MCRA) will have the honor of hosting
our State’s Team Sport at Ke‘ehi Lagoon in Honolulu.
It was only six years ago that MCRA first hosted States. We are excited
to host for the second time, and even more thrilled to know that we will be
competing this year in our brand new koa canoe. Her name has a kaona pili to
our island - Kuaha’amakealapono. Kuaha'a describes the humble and proud
people of our ‘aina. Ke Ala Pono refers to the righteous path we each strive for,
the representation of our wa’a, and where it will take us. It is the manifestation
of the pure heart of which this koa wa'a was born, giving us a new beginning
as we holomua in unity representing our island in one spirit, one mind, and one
body with love and respect as that of our ancestors. Mahalo to the Matsuura
‘Ohana and Umikoa Ranch for donating the logs that helped make our dreams
of owning a koa canoe come true.
As we look forward to hosting, we would like to take a moment to look back
on the path that got us where we are today.
Mana’e Canoe Club
Kukui o Molokai Canoe Club
Mana’e Canoe Club was formed to
fill a need on the rural and remote East
end of Molokai. The club endeavors to
provide knowledge and cultural practice of canoe paddling, water safety,
team building and traditional and
contemporary ocean activities.
Mana’e Canoe Club was officially organized, adopted by-laws,
and joined Molokai Canoe Racing
Association in 1979. In 1980, Mana’e
Canoe Club began fund raising to
purchase two fiberglass canoes. At the
request of the new property owners,
in 1981 Mana’e Canoe Club Hale
Wa’a was erected at Puko’o. Mana’e
joined the Hawaiian Canoe Racing
Association as club #91.
In 1984, Mana’e Canoe Club Kane
raced for the first time in the Molokai
Hoe. In 1986, Mana’e became a not
for profit organization and successfully began apply for and receiving
grants to purchase competitive boats
and equipment. Mana’e Wahine
team participated in the Na Wahine
O Kekai in 1987 for the first time. In
1997 Mana’e participated in the State
Regattas in Hilo Bay.
Kukui o Molokai Canoe Club was established in October
2001. The organization was formed by a group of young
Hawaiian men from Molokai who wanted to represent their
island and compete in the 2002 Molokai Hoe.
The founders eventually expanded the scope of the club to
incorporate Hawaiian seafaring values and practices with the
goal being to utilize the wa‘a (canoe) to help care for the ocean,
the people, and the island. Today as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, our members defined the organization’s vision and
mission as being "to bring enlightenment, health, and balance to
the Molokai community, individuals, and natural environment by
promoting and practicing Hawaiian seafaring culture, stewardship, family building, and community service."
Wa'akapaemua Canoe Club
In 2002, Wa'akapaemua Canoe Club (Wa'a) was
created after long-time Molokai club Ho'opili ceased to exist.
The former Ho'opili members acquired boats and began the
task of creating a new club that would instill strong values in
our keiki and produce strong results on the water. In the 8
years since its inception, Wa'a has done just that.
Each summer, over 60
keiki are on the water for
regatta season. Both keiki
and adult women have won
medals at States, and adults
have posted strong showings in distance races on
all islands. To represent the
Friendly Island, we live by
the philosophy "one heart,
one mind, one spirit."
Mahalo, Liko Wallace, MCRA President, Molokai Canoe Club
Molokai Canoe Club
In 1962, a community baseball
team, the Hawaiian Athletic Club,
wanted to do something more than
just baseball, so the idea of paddling
was suggested. It was at this time that
Molokai Canoe Club was born, the
first canoe club on the island. The
founders included Frank Ka’ahanui,
Leiala Lee, and August Rawlins, Jr.
Its first crew crossed the Molokai–
O’ahu Channel in 1963. Two years
20 Pacific Paddler August 2010
later, they crossed the Channel again
and finished second. Paddling really
started catching on on the island,
and in 1982, Molokai Canoe Club
had its first women's crew who
competed in the Na Wahine o ke
Kai. The epitome of fun in paddling
together was in the infamous August
Rawlins, Sr. Master Blaster started
in 1985. Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, it continues to give
paddlers from across the state a
taste of what paddling was like on
the island back in the days. Since its
inception, Molokai Canoe Club has
practiced the tradition of welcoming
and teaching anyone interested in
paddling, never turning anyone away.
Here, you don’t just belong to the
canoe club; you are hanai as part
of the ‘ohana. Values taught in the
canoe provide lifelong lessons to real
life situations and how to cope with
them; promoting unity and harmony
with one another and to all we
compete against.
pacificpaddler.com August 2010 21
Photos by Jon Brunk Photography
www.brunkphoto.com
better, and that always puts a lot more
pressure on everyone.” Explains Kamini
Jain, the Canadian team coach.
Fortunately, the pressure and the
challenges of winter training paid off
for the small Canadian contingent
in New Caledonia. Their 7 medals;
including 3 gold, 1 silver, and 3
bronze placed them 4th in the overall
medal count behind Tahiti, New
Zealand and Australia.
Jain and the members of her open
and master’s teams were a huge part
of that success securing all but one of
those 7 medals. Leanne Stanley took
bronze in the open women’s V1 500,
Jain got silver in the master’s women V1
500 and Sheila Kuyper was 3rd in the
sr. master’s V1 500. The master’s team
of Jain, Kuyper, Leanne Zrum, Helen
Curry, Sue Porter and Cheryl Skribe
successfully defended their world title
from Sacramento in the V6 1000m. The
sr. master men’s team of Paul Pilon, Al
Birtle, Gord Wallace, Ken Crosby, Gord
Penn & Jan Urban took bronze in the
V6 500m. As the commentator of the
event continued to say, “The people from
Canada continue to surprise!”
Possibly the biggest victory however
came when Jain, Zrum, Curry and Skribe
were joined by Chelsey Tidmarsh and
Leanne Stanley to take both the premier
races in the open women’s V6 500m
and V6 1500m. An incredibly happy
ending to the long, cold, dark story of
winter training.
The Canadians are now looking
forward when the world comes to their
country in Calgary for the 2012 World
Sprints.
a time of 2:12.15, followed by Sail
Sandpoint in 2:16.01 and Kelowna
Outrigger in 2:18.48. Vancouver
Ocean Sports secured top spot in the
mixed division with a time of 2:29.32.
The next day’s small boat races
were well attended with many dragging themselves onto the water for
yet another bashing. The 10km mass
start race was a crowd pleaser as the
participants fought hard to secure their
line around the king tides that occurred
that morning. Alan Goto took the top
OC1 men’s spot in 52:15 and Kamini
Jain the top women’s OC1 in 55:27.
One of the remarkable aspects
about the Howe Sound Race is
the way the community of Gibsons
embraces the event. All the locals
get involved as enthusiastic hosts to
the many paddlers that descend upon
them over the weekend. Gibsons is
accessible from Vancouver only by
ferry or boat. It is a little ocean village
surrounded by mountains with snow
covered peaks. (Don’t let the mountain
snow fool you, the air temperature is
still warm enough for your bikinis and
shorts!) If you have ever considered
a race in Canada this is the one to
do. But plan accordingly because this
race is only held every other year so
your next opportunity to partake in this
breathtaking and grueling race will be
in July 2012. All the info you need
can be found at www.clippercanoes.
Canada
New Caledonia Highlights
By Cheryl Skribe
Winter training sucks! This is the
consensus of every member of the
Canadian team attending the World
Sprint Outrigger Championships in
New Caledonia this past May. Snow,
hail, sleet, wind and freezing rain were
just some of the hazards endured over
the winter of training. Add to this the
desire and hope to better the previous
performance and it created a serious
requirement for commitment.
“After our success in Sacramento in
2008 we had expectations. We were
heading into New Cal wanting to do
Racing in Gibons, BC
By Cheryl Skribe
After a year off, the Howe Sound
race in Gibsons, BC, Canada is back!
With a new course, this 11 year old
race has gotten the refreshing boost all
us paddlers in western Canada and
the Pacific Northwest needed. The
28km Howe Sound race is known for
its breathtaking scenery and its grueling
currents and wind. The new course
did not disappoint, and with the added
addition of a 12km downwind, it made
for some great opportunities to test
everyone’s skills.
The women’s division was dominated by False Creek (FCRCC). The
winning team of FCRCC-1 posted a
time of 2:30.32, with FCRCC-2 taking
2nd in 2:38.10 and Jericho rounding
out 3rd place in 2:43.11.
Mother Nature calmed herself
somewhat for the men’s and mixed
divisions making it more of a horse
race and less of a surfing race. Tides
and currents were pumping though
and this factored greatly into the lines
the teams took around the islands
and inlets. FCRCC-1 took the top of
the podium in the men’s division with
22 Pacific Paddler August 2010
com/outrigger/index.htm
New Caledonia World Sprints
Taaroa Dubois – V1 champ
Hawaii in yellow, back
row: Peter Konohia;
middle row: Tyson Kubo,
Alfred Van Gieson;
bottom row: Kekoa
Cramer, Kai Bartlett,
Mael Carey
By Gaylord Wilcox
In late May most of the world’s
best outrigger paddlers from fifteen
of the International Va’a Federation’s
Member Areas gathered on the clear
waters of Anse Vata Beach in the
French speaking capital of Noumea,
New Caledonia for the fourteenth
Va’a World Sprints Championships.
Veteran organizers Sandra Lavigne
and Jean Bernard Fukui, who organized the 1996 Sprints at the same
location, stepped up to take over the
hosting when tiny Wallis-Futuna had
to drop out due to logistical reasons.
The course was fair for all lanes, the
organization was good, and this
year’s races were blessed by good
weather for the 945 paddlers who
attended, the smallest turnout in over
a decade. The relatively poor turnout
can be blamed on the remoteness and
expense to travel to New Caledonia
in a tough world economy. But it was
good to see our European stalwarts
Germany, Italy and France (with good
performances in the Kayak exhibition events) as well as paddlers from
Oregon, California, Rapa Nui, Fiji, the
Cook Islands, and Wallis & Futuna.
The sport’s powerhouses – Tahiti,
New Zealand, Hawaii, Australia and
Canada – were all represented. As
usual Tahiti led the way, with 28 of the
48 gold medals and 62 of 144 medals
overall. Next came New Zealand,
which fielded the most paddlers, taking
home 11 gold medals and 42 overall
behind strong Junior and Master
24 Pacific Paddler August 2010
photos from www.photo-ducos.nc
efforts. Canada showed up with a big
and strong women’s crew that swept
both the Open 500 (straightaway) and
1500 meter (5 turns) V6 races, run
in Bradley canoes. Australia did not
show up with any of their top Open
paddlers, but their Masters won 17
medals, including 6 of gold. The New
Caledonians managed a silver and
two bronzes, but they placed many
finalists and eight 4th places.
V1
Apart from Master Women, Tahiti
is nearly unbeatable in the V1 race,
a 500 meter sprint in a rudderless
canoe for a single occupant. Of those
nine races in play, Tahiti won 8 firsts,
8 seconds and 5 thirds. In the Men’s
Open, Junior Men 19 & Junior Men 16
they are overwhelmingly dominant, as
they swept all the medals and placed
all 6 of their allotted entries into the 8man finals. In the Women’s division, the
two-time defending champ Evangelique
Tehiva came up 3 seconds short to 22
year-old 2006 Junior champ Hinatea
Bernadino, daughter of 1990 Men’s
champion Philippe Bernadino. Taaroa
Dubois was also a 3 second winner
in the Men’s division, and it remains
to be seen if this prodigy can match
the record of 5 wins by his great countryman Karyl Maoni. He is off to a good
start, with his second gold at 21 years
old, having won both the Junior 19 and
Open in Sacramento.
The silver medalist Golden Master
V12 crew (55+) comprised of Vanessa
Weiss’s Island Masters and Lanikai
included paddlers from 5 islands.
Front row: Pam Monahan, Mary
Bartlett, Crystal Egusa, Vanessa Weiss,
Camie Kimball, Jeanette Kaauamo;
back row: Terry Zelko, Judy Allen,
Mauli Aspelund, Miriam Fuchs, Sherri
Carney, & Penny Martin
Hawaii –
Few & Close
With less than 50 paddlers on
the water, this was Hawaii’s smallest
contingent since the last time the
Sprints were held in New Caledonia;
and most of these were Golden
Masters (ages 55+ for women and
60+ for men). These senior citizens
garnered 7 of Hawaii’s 11 official
medals, but as in New Caledonia in
1996, there were no gold medals
for anyone. However, the Men’s and
Women’s Open crews performed well.
The women’s crew started out to be
a Team Bradley crew, but after some
Kawika Goodale finishing a race
dropouts, it ended up a Kauai (Na Molokama), Oahu
(Waikiki Beachboys), Maui (Lauren Bartlett) crew, and
they took a silver (1,500) and a bronze (500). These are
Hawaii’s first Open Women’s V6 medals since Hilo in
2004, but not near the domination of 1998 and 2000.
The men, five Mauians from Team Primo plus
Nanakuli’s Alfred Van Gieson, were more impressive
with two second places against the Tahitians, who fielded
3 top V6 crews. In the 1,500 meter race, Primo hung
close and looked in striking distance coming out of the
last turn, but faded a bit in the last 250 meters to 2.6
seconds off the pace. The 500 meters was another close
one, with a sea of red Tahitian jerseys broken up by
Hawaii’s yellow. First to fourth were 1.56 seconds apart,
with Primo’s 2nd place missing being the 1st Hawaii
crew to ever win this race by a mere .43 seconds.
Of interest were the age differences in the top crews.
The youngest Primo Paddler was older than the oldest
Tahiti I paddler, and all 3 Tahitian crews averaged 25
years old, while Hawaii averaged 34. The difference
was more pronounced between the Canadians, who
averaged 40 years old (5 were eligible for Masters) and
the top two Tahitian crews at 23 and Hawaii at 30.
With 2006 V1 bronze medalist Mike Judd at home
recuperating from a neck injury, Mael Carey was the
closest to making the Men’s V1 final, missing by a half
second, with Alfred right behind him to rank 10th &
11th out of the 63 entrants. Lauren Bartlett, 2006 silver
medalist, hoping to challenge the Tahitians, was leading
her heat when she got off line as she approached the
finish line. She tried to correct, then stopped with the
nose almost over the finish line in the correct lane (she
would have moved on if she had let the nose cross the
finish line and then knocked over the flag with the iako),
backwatered, corrected and finished last. Alana Goo,
in her first go at the rudderless, managed to keep it in
her lane and did make the Women’s final, finishing
8th. Only 3 other Hawaiians made a final, with Kauai
Golden Master Kawika Goodale beating Tahitian rival
Alain Tuahine in both the heat and semi-final, but getting
2nd in the final after being left in the blocks at the start.
Paddlers are looking forward to the next edition of the
Sprints to be held in Calgary, Canada in August 2012.
pacificpaddler.com August 2010 25
Hamilton Island Cup
photos and story by Harvie Allison
For the first time in the history of the race,
there are no teams from Hawaii, and with only
a handful of overseas competitors, the regatta would no
longer be classed as a major international event.But for all
the Aussies attending it is still the best race in the country.
The fact that the Hawaiians are missing means so much to
all of our paddlers. For the veterans like myself, we haven’t
seen old friends, and for the novice paddlers, they miss out
on the wealth of knowledge gained from you guys & more
importantly, learning about the spirit of Aloha that embraces
our wonderful sport.
With only 450 paddlers this year, Hamilton has slipped
on the best race list; Cook Islands Vaka Eiva has 900 registered paddlers for 2010, and given that Hawaiki Nui is
too much to handle for most, in my opinion would leap frog
Hamilton into third spot after Lilio and Molokai.
Day 1: OC1/2
30 knot winds, overcast & rain squalls. Accordingly, due
to safety concerns, the organizers who are now the Aussie
National body AOCRA, decided on an alternate course
8km out then back.
Off the start line, the pace was fast & furious. With a
strong wind behind and a flooding tide, the canoes flew;
only small wind chop to ride but still some long runs. Round
the half-way turn and heading for home conditions could
only be described as BRUTAL! A hard slog into the headwind & strong tidal current. The front pack soon started to
thin. At the 6km mark, Travis Grant started to open a nice
lead on his Kamanu rocket which he held for a comfortable
win from big Todd Cohen on a Stealth, then Matt “Rowdy”
Carter catching some great runners on the Scorpious came
third. The women's race saw a win for Kylie Muldoon from
Outrigger Whitsunday with only three staters. The OC2 field
was well supported in all divisions. A quick rest and then
line up again for the 250m sprints. Last for the day was the
8km marathon again in testing conditions, particularly for
the newer paddlers who make up the bulk of the field.
Day 2: OC 6 16k marathons/500m sprints
First for the day was the Women’s 16k marathon. With
strong winds again, the alternate course had to be run
instead of round the Island. A blistering start with a field of
only 18 saw The Surfers Paradise girls dominate from early
in the race to win by a comfortable margin in the new “Tiger
ROC” OC6. The Surfers girls continued through the day
winning the sprints as well. Mooloolaba Masters, also in a
ROC, dominated their division start to finish for a comfortable win of over 3 mins from Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
After the sprint finals, the Master men’s divisions raced.
Fortunately conditions had eased enough to allow the trip
round the island, although the seas were lumpy, the swell was
only small. Mooloolaba Masters & Senior Masters dominated
the field in both divisions with impressive winning margins.
Next the Open men, and although the wind had
regained some strength, the big boys went round the island
26 Pacific Paddler August 2010
first and second placing for Outrigger while Surfers Paradise
girls again dominated women's racing. It was great to see
a second place for the relatively new club from Victoria
Patterson Lakes; their masters crew also took gold in their
final. Mooloolaba Masters again dominated all divisions and
were looking unbeatable for the 42km on Sunday.
in messy conditions.
The scene was set for a battle royal, Team Tiger ROC
had won the sprint impressively, but with a slingshot start
from a favourable current, Outrigger Australia confirmed
their resurgence by handing out a paddling lesson to the
other teams; second was Team Tiger ROC who relegated
reigning Champs and 42k record holders Northcliffe to
third placing.
Day 3: 1000m sprints
With three turns on the 250m course, the steerers had to
nail every one to be competitive. The open men’s race saw a
Day 4: Hamilton Island Cup 42km
Waking to a fine day with light winds, the excitement was
building, crews up early checking gear and loading supplies
on support boats ready for a hard day at the office.
Forty-seven canoes lined up, a far cry from the normal
compliment of close to 80, off the line and the scene
was set for a battle of the Titans, gun open men’s crews,
Outrigger Australia, Tiger ROC, Northcliffe, and dark
horses Coffs Coast were grouped together. The two elite
women’s crews Surfers Paradise and Team Australia were in
close proximity.
1000m into the race and Outrigger started to show their
raw power which the other teams just couldn’t match. They
got their nose in front and gradually started to open up a
clear lead.
Round Dent Island several crews decided to lighten the
canoes weight by rubbing some gel coat off on the rocks,
a tight line was an understatement, and by now Outrigger
were clear by 100m and not to be challenged for the rest
of the race.
Reaching South Head for the all important trip out to
Pentecost, the canoes of choice, The Tiger ROC and Southern
Spirit were showing why they suit Aussie race conditions with
great uphill capability. Northcliffe were flying in the spirit
while Tiger and Coffs in the ROC’s were more than matching
them. By now Outrigger, also in a Spirit had cleared out and
it was obvious that another lesson in paddling was being
given to the rest of the field.
Back in the women’s race, the top two crews had left
the field well behind, but an incident at the bottom of Dent
Island where the Surfers Paradise girls in a Tiger ROC were
accidentally tapped from the rear causing the canoe to be
hit by Northern Beaches Mixed Team and loosening the rig.
As the girls struggled to lash the front Iako, Team Australia
in the Southern Spirit slipped past to take the lead. After
retightening the straps, Surfers recovered to Push Team
Australia all the way to the finish.
A win and new race record for Team Australia with
Surfers Paradise just under a minute behind. Third place
Patterson Lakes certainly gave Victorian canoeing a boost,
and although a distant 21 minutes behind the leaders in
their Mirage, the girls were euphoric with a podium finish,
even better there were three Cook Islands girls in the crew
(sorry, I’m biased!).
The final run from Pentecost saw Outrigger men in a
class of their own crossing the line with a winning margin
of five minutes. Tiger Coffs and Northcliffe were still all
tight, Northcliffe gradually consolidating their second place
by just over two minutes from Coffs. Fast finishing Team
Tiger had been gaining ground but decided to stop for a
swim in the final few minutes, the huli probably cost them
the third spot, but they were still pleased with their race.
For full results go to www.aocra.com
pacificpaddler.com August 2010 27
SCORA closes Iron Season
Everyone has done it, fly the ama
We started off in San Diego with
a big hoo-ra! Hosted by Hanohano
Outrigger, and we ended in San
Diego with a song and a dance at the
Championships hosted by Kai Elua.
In between we had a variety of
conditions and decisions, and as I sit
here, I contemplate what hat should I
wear for this publication as I summarize Part I of our summer racing:
SDOCC head coach, our women's
coach, the paddler, or SCORA race
director/ race day official???
Each perspective offers a slightly
different account of what transpires
during a given season.
As Race Chair, I am obligated to
uphold and enforce a variety of rules,
some of them as easy as velcro-ing
your shoe, some of them ,apparently,
as confusing as quantum physics.
None of them are “rocket science”
tho... and that’s where it’s cause for
pause, and in my best Jack-like impersonation (what would it be called when
one imitates their dog? Imcanineation?)
I tilt my head to one side, and look
incredulously at the speaker, and think
“huh?”. You might see me roaming at
any race and actually wonder “what
does she do?”. In my head, my mind is
reeling with scenarios, considerations,
possibilities, and probabilities. Not to
mention the “what-ifs” and “suppose
this..” And ultimately there nags a
little voice squealing “what does
LOCC have in store for me today?” ( I
28 Pacific Paddler August 2010
photos by Brian Vestyck, hampsterworks.com
or “Raise your left hand” – so I know
when I ask them to make a left turn
around a buoy, that they’re all going
the same direction, and then a little
more complicated questions like “What
is overlap?”, and “At a turn, who has
right of way?”, etc. After which I give
them the race course details and send
them on their way. Indeed at the next
race and meeting, their energy is still
pumped up, and of course some of
them did paddle farther than others as
they switch-back/slalomed their way
to the finish line, some of them did
indeed experience the real deal huli,
but they are back and ready to take on
the next racing challenge.
As Race Chair, I am surrounded by
an awesome committee of extremely
knowledgeable and talented people.
lovingly jest). Nevertheless, I try to put
my best at-ease face on and summon
what little stage presence I have as
I address my favorite audience: The
Novice Steerspeople.
Got to love their enthusiasm, and
eagerness. I need to be in their midst
so I can remind myself what this is
all about anyway. The newness, the
adrenaline pumping, the heart rates
racing, and all I did was ask them to
introduce themselves to someone new.
Why? B’cuz you never know 1) who’s
team you may be farmed out to next
year, and 2) who’s back you may find
your ama on.
We talk a little about what I expect
each of them to know like “What is the
shortest distance between 2 points?”;
pacificpaddler.com August 2010 29
photos by Brian Vestyck, hampsterworks.com
I would be nothing and races would
be chaotic without the support of Billy,
Bud, Bobby, and Shag on the water,
without Susie, Mishi, Caren, Nancy,
Jeannette, Mike, Jeff, and Team Miken-Denise on land at set-up, registration,
timing, sound and insurance. There
are many other volunteers who step up
at each race and help the event run
smoothly from set-up at o’dark thirty to
take-down at what feels like 20 hours
later. Thank you to all of you.
This Iron season tested our Officials
merit as we were forced to cancel one
race due to adverse conditions, and
mid-race alter another's course. The
Marina race was a-ok up until after
the women's race, at which point the
swell was too big to navigate and
keep canoes from being constantly
swamped.
And mid-race at the Pineapple
Express, we shifted a turn buoy and
cut the men's race down to prevent
any unwanted “turnover”. All in all the
decisions were definitely the right ones
made, and the resulting consequences
were that paddlers were forced to
hit the beach and bars a little earlier,
that’s all.
While the Marina race was being
cancelled, I was one day later (earlier?
I have no idea)... all I do know is that I
was far away and across the globe at
the World Va’a Championships in New
Caledonia, wondering if I could keep
a straight line in a rudderless V1. All I
wanted was to not embarrass myself...
I suspect I may have saved face on the
water, but my attempt to impress the
locals with my command of the French
language probably set the US back
years in international relations. Bonjour
to all my New Cali friends!
As the head coach of SDOCC,
I must make mention of my novice
team's great successes. In no way
due to anything I have done, this is
SDOCC’s winningest novice year in
my 13 year coaching history.
Coach Daisy is doing a stellar job
with them, and I pity the women once
they move on up to the open team and
I get my hands on them.
The mention of ending our Iron
season with a ‘song and a dance'
was because as part of 'novii’s' induction to paddling, Kai Elua designated
a dance contest as part of race–day
entertainment. And was it ever entertaining! In addition to the dancing
(BTW- SDOCC won that contest too,
hey! Im just sayin’), we had expert
dancer from 'So-you-Think-You-CanDance' fame Mark Kanemura on the
panel to judge the finalists. Thanks to
Margot and to Kai Elua for setting that
up. Good fun!
Our Sprint/Regatta season is
just about to end with State Champs
in Santa Barbara, hosted by Santa
Barbara Outrigger on the 26th. We
will wrap that up in the next issue.
I just want to leave you with a little
teaser to that segment of our season,
and leave you wondering about the
answer to, “What is a 9-man Sprint
Relay?”
See you on the water-Cheance
New racing format
Cheance forgot to
mention that we had
some rough conditions
at the champs. We had
some surf coming in
between 6 and 8 feet,
and at least a couple of
waves (swells) broke
inside of the channel to
give some interesting
paddling conditions.
Also, (left) we have
a new format out of
socal, the 9-man
sprints. Look to see
how it turns out in the
next issue of Pacific
Paddler.
Brian Vestyck,
hampsterworks.com
30 Pacific Paddler August 2010
pacificpaddler.com August 2010 31
Improve performance with Chinese medicine
by Meg Blaser, LAc, D.OM, LMT complementarycareclinic.com
More and more, paddlers are
• Acupuncture stimulates the
strengthen the body, thus promoting
turning to Chinese Medicine to speed
body’s built-in healing mechanisms.
increased health and resistance to envithe healing process of injuries, and
Acupuncture creates “micro traumas”
ronmental influences. Formulas contain
to improve their performance. With
that stimulate the body’s ability to
a blend of herbs that have specific
the use of acupuncture and Chinese
spontaneously heal injuries to the
properties that promote the healing of
healing herbs, Chinese Medicine can
tissue through nervous, immune and
injuries. Individual herbs have different
not only treat the symptoms of pain and endocrine system activation. As the
effects in the body. Some increase
discomfort, but can actually strengthen
body heals the micro traumas induced
blood flow, others strengthen tendons
underlying imbalances and prevent
by acupuncture, it also heals any
and ligaments, or help generate the
reocurrences.
surrounding tissue damage left over
growth of new tissue. There are herbal
The following are the most
from old injuries.
analgesics for pain, and herbs that are
common sites of musculoskeletal
• Acupuncture releases natural
anti-viral, antibacterial, and anti-fungal.
injury, according to a 2009 survey
painkillers. Inserting a needle sends a
A special herbal formulation can be
conducted by the John A. Burns School
signal through the nervous system to the prescribed that will contain the right
of Medicine on O’ahu: shoulder (40%), brain, where chemicals such as endorherbs for the condition being treated.
back (26%), wrist/hand (10%), elbow
phins, norepinephrine and enkephalin
Typically, a Chinese medicine prac(9%), & neck (9%). Other common
are released. Some of these substances
titioner will examine the overall health of
illnesses that are related
the athlete. A diagnosis
Acupuncture reduces both the intensity and perception of chronic is based on past injuto paddling are: heat
illness (33%), exposure
pain. It does this through a process called “descending control ries, along with other
to coral or sea creatures normalization”, which involves the serotonergic nervous system. health issues including
(32%), and skin infecstress, sleep patterns,
tions (24%). The use of acupuncture
are 10-200 times more potent than
nutrition, and the condition of the body
and herbs is being used to successfully
morphine!
as a whole. Treatment is then used to
treat pain, inflammation, and infection
• Acupuncture reduces both the
bring the patient’s mind, body, and spirit
in a way that boosts the body’s own
intensity and perception of chronic
into balance, promote and speed the
healing mechanisms.
pain. It does this through a process
healing of the injury or illness, and at the
Acupuncture and healing herbs
called “descending control normalizasame time optimizing the overall health
will relieve pain, reduce inflammation,
tion”, which involves the serotonergic
of the athlete.
release pressure, improve blood circulanervous system.
Mark Inouye, a member of Lokahi
tion, boost the immune system to promote
• Acupuncture relaxes shortened
Canoe Club, paddles, runs and weight
healing, increase endorphin levels to
muscles. This in turn releases pressure
trains every week. His ability to perform
create calm and focus, and increase
on joint structures and nerves, and
was affected by sciatic pain that had
energy. In addition, herbal formulas can
promotes blood flow.
gradually worsened over the past three
be administered to effectively treat bacte• Acupuncture reduces stress. This
years. ‘‘Acupuncture worked wonders to
rial, viral and fungal infections.
is perhaps the most important systemic
reduce the pain from sciatica that was
Acupuncture has been used for
effect of acupuncture. Recent research
affecting my ability to sprint. After only
over 4,000 years to treat health
suggests that acupuncture stimulates
two treatments, I was able to return to
problems and associated pain, and
the release of oxytocin, a hormone and
my previous running form.” The road to
for good reason. How does it work?
signaling substance that regulates the
improved health and well-being begins
The following lists several ways that
parasympathetic nervous system. You’ve with relief from pain and suffering, but
acupuncture promotes healing, and
probably heard of the “fight-or-flight”
it doesn’t end there. Chinese medicine
reduces pain and discomfort:
response that is governed by the sympa- is a form of true health care because it
• Acupuncture promotes blood
thetic nervous system.
addresses the body as a whole. Through
flow. This is significant because everyThe parasympathetic nervous system balancing and harmonizing the systems
thing the body needs to heal is in the
has been called the “rest-and-digest”
of the body, it supports the natural
blood, including oxygen, nutrients we
or “calm-and-connect” system, and
processes that maintain health.
absorb from food, immune substances,
in many ways is the opposite of the
Meg Blaser is a licensed acupunchormones, analgesics (painkillers) and
sympathetic system. Recent research has turist at the Complementary Care Clinic
anti-inflammatories. Restoring proper
implicated impaired parasympathetic
in Kailua on O’ahu. She uses many
blood flow is vital to promoting and
function in a wide range of autoimmune healing methods, including massage
maintaining health. Blood flow decreases diseases, including arthritis, lupus, rheu- therapy, herbal medicine, acupressure,
as we age and can be impacted by
matoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel and other therapeutic techniques. She
trauma, injuries and certain diseases.
disease. The use of Chinese herbal
draws upon her skills to create indiAcupuncture has been shown to increase formulas is another powerful healing
vidual treatment sessions that respond
blood flow and vasodilation in several
method. Unlike prescription drugs,
to the needs of each patient as they
regions of the body.
herbs not only treat the symptoms, but
seek relief from pain and discomfort.
32 Pacific Paddler August 2010
The Allwave Cup is more
than just a paddling event; it is
an Italian classic. In the style
and fashion of outrigger events,
the Allwave Cup has all of the
elements of a local race with
divisions for any paddling craft
that might enter, but in Italian!
There was even a race for the
keiki with special kid's canoes.
This was the coolest thing ever.
The event was on GIGLIO
island. Giglio is a little island
about 5 miles long and a mile
or two wide. It is less than
1000 feet in elevation, has a
lot of vegetation, some really
nice beaches and lots of rugged
coastline. On the West Coast,
a little north of Rome, Giglio has
pacificpaddler.com August 2010 33
32nd Annual
Na Wahine O Ke Kai
DATE: Sunday, September 26, 2010
LOCATION: Hale O Lono, Molokai, to Duke Kahanamoku
Beach, Waikiki
REGISTRATION/MDSE SALE: MONDAY, SEPT. 20, 5pm to 8pm,
Outrigger Canoe Club, Honolulu
CANOE SHIPPING: Tuesday, Sept. 21, Young Bros., Honolulu, 5:30 am
REGISTRATION/MDSE SALE: The former Pau Hana Inn, Kaunakakai,
Molokai on Friday, Sept. 24, 9 am to 5 pm and Saturday, Sept. 25,
9am to 12 noon
COACHES’ MEETING: Saturday, Sept. 25, 4:30 p.m. at the former
Pau Hana Inn
RACE DAY: SUNDAY, SEPT. 26, 2010
6:45 a.m. Hale O Lono – Blessing
7:30 a.m. Race start
12:30 p.m. First canoes expected, Duke Kahanamoku Beach, Waikiki,
fronting the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort and Spa
Awards Ceremony to follow on the beach fronting the Hale Koa Hotel
Race Merchandise available for sale at the finish site
Defending champions: Team Bradley are going for their sixth consecutive win. They hold the Course record with 5:20:05 in 2008.
RACE COMMITTEE: Hannie Anderson, Race Director; Haunani Olds,
Carleen Ornellas, Rosie Lum and Shelly Gilman
email: huaka1@hawaiiantel.net or visit www.nawahineokekai.com
34 Pacific Paddler August 2010
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… on the subject of sharks
Ian Foo, of HYPR Designs
recalled a story he heard
from a customer who had
purchased the 'Spear Flame'
from him. The youngster was
SUPing around 5:30 one
evening on the Kona side of
the Big island when a 12 foot
tiger came up to try to bite
him, so he used used his Spear
Paddle to poke it's nose and
push him away. Ian said that
he also heard of a paddler
who used it to hit a clown fish
on the reef, and knocked it
out — it ended up as dinner.
Here Ian Foo, from HYPR
Designs, demonstrates another
use for his new Spear Flame
SUP paddle.
Go to pacificpaddler.com,
enter subscription giveaway and answer the question "What is Ian doing?"
All entries win a one year
subscription to Pacific Paddler.
Competition ends October 31.
36 Pacific Paddler August 2010
WANTED: 170 Crazy People
to row the World's largest oar-powered ship
In the summer of 2012, the H.N. Olympias, a replica of
a 4th century BCE Athenian warship, will conduct sea trials
in New York City. To conduct these sea trials, she needs a
crew. During a season of sea trials in Greece in 1992, several
Hawaiian Paddlers participated. The head coach was so
impressed by their performance that he remarked, "I wish we
had more of you."
So join the crew and make his wish come true. Any paddler
age 18 and over is welcomed to sign up. For more information, check out the website: www.trireme.org.
copyright Michael Ives
Above, 'Lanikai Evening', 38" x 32", acrylic on
canvas. This piece was Buzz's Lunar calendar 2009.
'O Kai
Lani', 60" x
48", acrylic
on canvas,
depicting the
windward life
of old and
the men who
worked the
sea.
Win A Free Subscription
for 1 year & go for the sticker
Go to pacificpaddler.com and tell us
what Ian (left) is doing. Clue, it's in
the blue caption. All entries win.
(limit one per household)
For the extra prize, a
Pacific Paddler sticker,
answer this riddle, "Who
is the man (right) behind
the new Hinano Kialoa
paddle?"
nuhC evaD
to reveal answer, read above caption in
mirror
copyright Michael Ives
.
Below, 'Makaha Moment', a version of the previous
piece but this is painting on my iPad with an art app
called brushes.
There is a
movie of this
piece being
created on
my website in
MOVIES. More
images can
be seen at my
HAWAIIAN ART
Page at www.
ivesart.com.
Michael Ives
copyright Michael Ives
Noticed last issue (April) you had an unidentified photo of
my 18 year old son, Taylor Hopkins (above) on his surfski
(pg 10 from Koa Nui races). This issue you
have a really nice photo of Taylor and me at the
Kanaka Ikaika awards (pg 14). Taylor won the
junior surfski long course, I won the 50's short
course. I am usually one of the last to finish,
but enter every race. Taylor on the other hand
is doing really well; I expect you will see a lot
more of him and thought I should introduce him
to you (he's done two Molokai relays and last
year's Epic solo, he was second in the state in
ILH distance kayaking this year (his school, Le
Jardin, won this year's ILH varsity division). He
is currently stroking the Lanikai 18's and also
doing HCKT and HVA and building a canoe in
our back yard in Hakipu'u. Taylor has one more year of high
school, so it will be a blast to watch him race. I also have a
younger son Coburn Hopkins (15) which you correctly identified
in the February 2009 issue (pg. 6).
FYI, Mike Dowsett did a couple of the short course races on
OC-1 this season and is a classmate of Taylor's at Le Jardin. I
am sure there will be a lot of laughs about the mix-up.
We love your magazine and always flip through first to see
who we know and then again to actually read it.
If a home subscription helps you stay afloat (I was reading
some of your challenges on OC-Paddler), we would be happy
to sign up for one.
Since you must live in Ka'a'awa, I expect you pass by our
house all the time ("Fresh Flowers" cart in our driveway).
Mahalo, Kathleen McGovern-Hopkins
Thanks for the clarification and your support. I'm sure we will
see more of your sons in the future. I do remember where your
flower stand is. We stop by occasionally to buy flowers. It's also
the same place we got our pot belly pig, Curlie. He is circled
below during one of our fanciful family outings at Makaha.
Weekend warrior
Our weekend began with a long
was rocking. We didn’t last long. Like
disorganized. The big ship pitched and
journey, which would take us from Redondo rockets we flew high, exploded and faded slowly rolled, then jerked wildly, awakBeach to Catalina Island and back, a
with a whimper.
ening me in the dark. It was a fitful sleep.
distance of about 100 miles or so. It was
9:00 a.m. we were up and paddling.
Morning couldn’t come soon enough.
a cold gray day. The mother ship, Born
The backside of Catalina is seldom visited
Staggering, rubbing our eyes, 6:00 a.m.
2B Wild, two escort boats and two OC6 s
by people, except for fishermen. The rock
came early. My crew paddled ahead unesheaded into the channel. The wind picked
formations and steep cliffs are incredibly
corted. Running with small swells we were
up a little and the cold water flying off the
captivating. Water glimmered in stunning
subdued. It was very soothing. In a mantra,
paddles constantly flicked into my eyes.
fluorescent electric blue. It was so unnatuthe stroker broke the stillness and called
Keeping the course was taxing as the bow
rally beautiful we were mesmerized. We
the changes. In silence we sensed water
of the canoe dipped into swell after swell.
passed an erect vertical rock rising out of
rushing by. Everyone was lost in eternity.
Later the mother ship sped ahead to Cat
the ocean. The women giggled as I steered
Unable to see through the morning
Harbor Catalina, while the two canoes
haze, I steered by the shadow of the
raced along making changes off the
“You’ve already broken two rules. iako across the ama to keep my course.
escort boats.
The escort arrived. I turned downwind
Five hours later, the canoes reached No bare feet and no wet shorts.” and picked up speed with a fresh
Cat Harbor. The waiting mother ship’s
crew. Replacing me, Josh Crayton
anchor was jammed. Exhausted from
our canoe as close as possible to it.
soon began to smile. They were picking
paddling 39 miles we had to wrestle the
Twenty-two miles later, we pulled into
up swells. They weren’t big ones, but they
monster anchor on deck and replace the
Avalon; and made our way to Coyote Joe’s. were coming at us one after the other,
heavy anchor chain with a nylon line.
As I walked in, my bartender friend Rene
some doubling up. Our motor revved
Selecting the strongest guys, which luckily
said, “You’ve already broken two rules. No higher and higher. We started cheering.
I wasn’t, the skippers directed them as
bare feet and no wet shorts.” He looked
Suddenly they dropped in on one memothey heaved and strained. The rest of us
at my customers and said, “Sit down and
rable wave. Surfing wildly, stroker Steve
shouted our two cents.
hide your feet under the table.” I answered, Cadwell did a head-stand; others laid
With the job done, the sun settled
“We’ll have a beer.” Three hours later,
back and threw their legs skyward in a
orange, then red. We enjoyed a deliRene was happy and so were we. As we
V. Incredibly the wind blew us directly
cious salmon dinner cooked by chefs Jane
were leaving, Skippers Jerry and Alvro
toward our harbor. Home at last, we
Crayton and Tammy Ellet.
showed up. Of course, they ordered a
hauled the heavy canoes up an 8-foot
Skipper Jerry Marcil asked me if I
beer. And it all started again. Whew.
ramp, our bodies suffering one last indigcared for some Aleeve, I answered, “No
Like drunken sailors returning to ship
nity. That night, I closed my eyes, not to
thanks. I don’t take pills.” But I asked,
we knew there was work to be done. After
stir again for hours. The weekend warrior
“Do you have a medication called,
cleaning up, we partied like troopers till
was finally done. Mahalo, Al
“Patrone?” With that, he returned with a
we had enough. “Tomorrow we paddle
large bottle. Our spirits soared. The tired home 39 miles.” I thought, “Again?”
For more stories and insights from Al
and the sick were miraculously healed.
Darkness closed in, the wind picked up.
Ching visit his website, mudbrookracingThough the ship was in calm waters, it
Boats banged together, out of rhythm and
paddles.com
38 Pacific Paddler August 2010
‘I’ll Remember You’
a race dedicated to all our friends and family
There are over 300 Wounded Warriors in the state of Hawaii.
These brave men and women have dedicated their lives to the
safety and well being of our country.
We'll Paddle,
We’ll remember,
RESTAURANT & BAR
We’ll race and after,
We’ll celebrate with a party at Jimmy Buffett’s
Proceeds go to The Wounded Warrior Program
Hawaii Supports Our Troops
Entry fee is $25 per paddler.
Registration details at www.pacificpaddler.com
Open to OC-1, OC-2, OC-4, OC-6, OC-12, Surf Ski, Kayak, SUP, Paddleboard
You park your car at Magic Island and register. We paddle out, toss flowers into the ocean and have a
moment to reflect. Then we race out side of Waikiki, and return to Magic Island where we load our
canoes back onto our cars. Next you can ride the trolly buses to Jimmy Buffett’s where there is food,
entertainment, raffles, door prizes, drink specials and awards. After the party you gat back on the trolly
busses which will take you back to Magic Island — or you can park at the Waikiki Beachcomber, it s free.
www.pacificpaddler.com