What an impressive performance by Shell Va'a. Under less-than-ideal conditions and with no competition nearby to spur them on, they set a new record! These guys are impressively self-disciplined and in unbelievable condition. They have definitely set the bar for the rest of us and it is up to us to respond. No sniveling or whining permitted, just respond in kind.
Submitted by jerryguy on Sun, 10/10/2010 - 12:42pm
About 12 minutes between 1st and 2nd. About 20 minutes between 1st and 5th.
#1 Sun, 10/10/2010 - 1:01pm
That was amazing to watch. So what was their stroke rate for the majority of the race.... 75, 80? Higher?
#2 Sun, 10/10/2010 - 1:14pm
I timed it on one occasion when the picture wasn't hiccuping and they were hitting 84. It appeared to vary a little from time to time, however.
#3 Sun, 10/10/2010 - 1:18pm
Awesome job by shell.
On a more serious note, Luke Evslin was badly injured by an escort boat prop during the race. Please send your best wishes and thoughts to him for a successful recovery in the hospital on Maui. Also thoughts go out to Peter Konohia of team primo who was injured early in the race. Let's hope they both manage a speedy recovery.
#4 Sun, 10/10/2010 - 2:52pm
Gee, that is worrying, Lets hope for a speedy recovery for both of them.
#5 Sun, 10/10/2010 - 3:08pm
Luke getting badly injured certainly detracts from an otherwise enjoyable day. I join with the others, to wish him a very speedy recovery. Best Luke!!!
#6 Sun, 10/10/2010 - 3:16pm
For Luke and Peter, get well soon brothers!
#7 Sun, 10/10/2010 - 3:41pm
What a drag about the injuries. ...so sorry for that. We saw two escort boats leaving from Maunalua....there was an ambulance waiting at the ramp. So there may be more injuries . Unreal conditions out there...watching the water changes with the loaded boats surfing up to the change.....
#8 Sun, 10/10/2010 - 4:11pm
Luke got flown to maui from molokai after the accident. MAJOR PROPS to Don Leandro, Makana Denton, Hank Leandro for helping luke, it was the gnarliest/scariest thing I have ever seen. Everyone was giving us props since our crew had to iron it the whole way but these guys that got luke back safe are the true warriors, i definitly couldn't have dealt with it. Luke Evslin, your my hero and as far as I know I'm not sure your even human and I am honored to even know you my braddah! Biggest heart and strongest mind out there....praying for you!
justin watts
#9 Sun, 10/10/2010 - 4:31pm
Just heard friends speaking of "a guy getting ran over by an escort boat". Had no idea that guy was Luke:(
What the heck happened? Reguardless, prayers for Luke.
#10 Sun, 10/10/2010 - 4:49pm
So after the fifth time reading this thread and after hearing that Luke is okay, I had to laugh at the title word choice, cause Luke got Major PROPs today. I wasn't there, but spoke to those who were. It was pretty bad. I spoke to Luke very briefly this evening after his surgery. He sounded like his usual self and is very happy to be alive, knowing that it could've been much worse. Stoked he's okay.
Oh, and Shell killed it.
#11 Sun, 10/10/2010 - 7:33pm
Just talked to Luke about an hour ago. He is in the hospital on Maui and recovering from surgery. Don't want to say anything more than to relay that he is recovering and should be ok eventually. I've seen pictures of his injuries and he will have quite a long road to recovery. Basically Luke is extremely lucky. If his injuries had occurred anywhere else on his body he would have never made it to the hospital. Huge amount of credit to Luke's teammates, the race paramedics, the guys from Maui/Molokai fire... everyone involved. In all honesty they probably saved a life today.
This is a huge reminder for me personally. Canoe racing is DANGEROUS. We come on here (myself included) and talk smack all day long about teams and paddlers like they are commodities. I assign numbers and values to everything. In the end though we are all human beings with families and friends that love us to no end. This was a very good reality check for me.
Take care everyone and congrats to all who made it across the channel today. Go home and hug your family.
Edit: just saw Keizo posted while I was typing. What he said too.
#12 Sun, 10/10/2010 - 7:48pm
As Luke's sister, I just want to thank all of the people who helped him today. Thank you for thinking quickly and for all that you did for him. I second jc9, go home and hug your families!
#13 Sun, 10/10/2010 - 8:14pm
Very happy to hear Luke is recovering. I have to say, Lukes crew are the winners today of the Molokai hoe in my opinion. To have had to keep paddlling across that channel not knowing how your brother was and to have done it iron, my god...you define the meaning of the word team.
God was with Luke and his crew from Kailua today. I am in awe of you all and there are some deep lessons to be learned on all sorts of different levels.
xoxo
Terry
#14 Sun, 10/10/2010 - 8:25pm
Like the addict I am, I just got on here to check out the results. After reading this post, I am crying for the first time all day. There is so much love in the paddling community that it's overwhelming. I'm on an iPhone and on heavy painkillers, so this might end up incomprehensible.
I wanted to say a couple of things.
This was in no way the escort drivers fault. It was a combination of bad factors that led me to be under the boat.
I'm not sure what the future has, but this really affected my life. It can happen so quickly to anyone out there. You always hear people saying how shocked they are when something really bad happens, that you never thought it would happen to you. It can happen. No matter what were doing, we could all die in a flash. And we should never forget that. I feel like I want to go home and give everyone in the world a hug, especially the paddling community. I am blessed to know a lot of paddlers, and I feel honored to have each of those relationships.
Ive definitely learned from this. Live life to the fullest. Love everyone, especially your friends and family.
Thank you guys for the kind words, I really am still crying.
Huge thank you to don, Hank, Makana, and every single person who helped me along the way. Everyone has been awesome. You guys all saved my life today.
And huge props to Kailua canoe club. Those guys are incredible for ironing the channel.
In a manly way, I really love you all. :)
#15 Sun, 10/10/2010 - 8:44pm
You will soon be paddling.
#16 Sun, 10/10/2010 - 8:49pm
Luke, you are such an example of what a real man is. I just called the driver to read him your post, he is so grief stricken and I know what you just said is something that will help him start to heal as well. You are loved by many and I wish you all the love in the world.
xoxo
Terry
#17 Sun, 10/10/2010 - 9:11pm
we did it for you buddy!
#18 Sun, 10/10/2010 - 9:12pm
Chicken skin all over! When I first heard....and now. Luke, the outpouring
for you is a reflection of what you bring to us. Thank you
for demonstrating your strength in the face of adversity. A lesson
for us all. Godspeed my friend.
#19 Sun, 10/10/2010 - 9:28pm
wish you a full and speedy recovery luke. i thank God that you are still with us. bought a pueo from you guys fairly recently and while i love the boat, the thing that stands out the most about my purchase from Kamanu Composites was the way you treated me from the time i put my order in, till the day i picked up my boat. treated me with true aloha! also, aloha to the rest of the gang at kamanu, terrific product along with great service. let's all pray for luke, for he is a true bruddah!
#20 Mon, 10/11/2010 - 12:51am
Glad that Luke is doing well and expected to recover fully.
So, the official results show Shell only beat their record by 15 seconds, originally it was over 3 minutes. Anyone know what's up with that?
#21 Mon, 10/11/2010 - 2:47am
This series of posts reflects the love and brotherhood within the paddling community; but more importantly, it reflects the contributions of, and appreciation for an exemplary human being. I had huge respect for Luke prior to this accident; but now, his response in the face of extreme adversity, is humbling, someone so relatively young in years that can serve as an example for us all, keiki to kapuna. Thank you Luke, for being Luke, and choosing paddling as your sport. We are all the better for it.
#22 Mon, 10/11/2010 - 3:38am
Luke, thanks for the heart warming note. Stay strong.
#23 Mon, 10/11/2010 - 4:50am
Luke,
I have always had an immense amount of respect for you as a paddler, a businessman and as a person. You treat everyone with the same respect, appreciation and aloha. That's just who you are. I'm not surprised by the outpouring of love and aloha being sent your way. You are a class act and well-respected in the paddling community across the world. I wish you a speedy recovery Luke and please let me know if there is anything I can do. You are young man with much wisdom and after reading your response from your hospital room I too cried, then hugged my children and wife. Thank you for touching all of our lives.
With much respect,
Ron Mizutani
#24 Mon, 10/11/2010 - 5:50am
Hey Luke,
Great to hear from you ... Thanks for putting up some stuff for us all worried.
As you recover, don't worry ... NOTHING is over ... You are only just beginning man.
Its not the meds either Luke ... The way you are seeing things right now with such clarity is your new life bra.
Get your music on, cry it all out ...
Take it easy but remember move it or lose it too : )
big hug,
aloha,
pat
#25 Mon, 10/11/2010 - 8:28am
I hope you have a speedy recovery. Hearing your incident on the race radio was chilling. When my foot hit dry land, the first thing I spoke about to my family was about it. Hugged the kids, everybody.
We'll see you on the water soon.
Aloha
#26 Mon, 10/11/2010 - 8:48am
get well bro
#27 Mon, 10/11/2010 - 9:15am
So sorry to hear about your injury, Luke. All of us on Maui are glad to know you are okay. Will stop by MMC today to check in on you. Anything I can bring you? Anything you need?
#28 Mon, 10/11/2010 - 9:26am
Luke, you have made me proud to be your brother. Reading everyones' responses to your accident have made me realize the impact that you have had not only on your family but on the paddling community as well. Thank you to everyone who helped Luke out his family appreciates what you guys did for him. Luke, come back to Kauai to recover.
#29 Mon, 10/11/2010 - 9:54am
Luke,
We're praying for a speedy recovery. I just know you'll be ready to paddle the new Kamanu rocketship in the Paa iron man race next year. All the best. Regards, Kimo
#30 Mon, 10/11/2010 - 10:25am
Luke,
Every year when we get ready to leave the beach at Hale O Lono, we wish fellow paddlers good luck and a safe crossing. At the same time, we know from experience that there are hazards out there. Hearing about your injury afterwards, my heart sank, and as my family and I ate dinner together, you were in our thoughts and prayers.
What you had to say to us couldn't be more true, and we all thank you for reminding us how special each day is.
As a physician, one is constantly reminded of the inspiring ability of many people to deal with adversity in terms of dealing with serious injury and illness. Even though we see it over and over, the capacity for the human body to heal is always pretty amazing. You'll be a prime example. Here's to your speedy recovery, and best wishes from all of us at Anuenue Canoe Club.
Aloha,
Dr. Pete
#31 Mon, 10/11/2010 - 11:31am
We send our prayers from all the paddlers from Kauai. We wish you have a speedy recovery....take one day at a time. Time will heal and you will move on as a stronger person/paddler with a new vision of life. Take care....you will not be forgotten....
#32 Mon, 10/11/2010 - 1:50pm
luke,
You are an inspiration to us all...is people like you that make this sport what it is today.
Get well soon and get some well deserved rest.
Best wishes to you and your family from the San Francisco OCC
#33 Mon, 10/11/2010 - 3:42pm
Aloha Luke,
We were the Medical boat that responded to your incident. I'm glad to hear that you are well on your way to a speedy recovery and know that you have a lot family in this great organization to help. We were lucky to be in the right place to help in a short period of time and you were awesome in helping our EMT's with your situation. Take it one day at a time and soon you will be back!
Me Ke Aloha No,
Craig,JK,John and Dan
#34 Mon, 10/11/2010 - 5:19pm
Hey Luke (and the paddling community near and far)
I am in Australia, with a love one in Hawaii who has just completed the Molokai Hoe. I have been brimming with excitement and enthusiasm for the race and to share in the ocean paddling journey of yesterday (via a computer in this case). Along with the zest and exhilaration, there is always the sobering reality of the risks involved in endurance ocean racing.
When I read of Luke's predicament, and of other unfortunate injuries to other competitors, I was instantly distressed, and then subsequently concerned for my partner who did the crossing. Was he safe? Was he well? His team, our friends, are they ok?
And then I read your words Luke, which have really struck deep inside of me. To live life fully, and outwardly show our love to not only family and friends, but to everyone around us in fact.
I am grateful for such an important, STRONG reminder of the blessing of life, loved ones, mates on the water and off, health, strength,and the privilege to paddle often. I intend to keep spreading it around !!!
Steadfast recovery
Pura vida
Lynwen
#35 Mon, 10/11/2010 - 5:50pm