2014 MoloSolo Predictions

Hoping for the best conditions so either OC1 or V1 will feel they have an adequate chance at the top. Everyone racing has done their training. I, personally, am excited to see a entrance to rudderless coming back to Hawaii as it is the traditional way to paddling throughout the rest of Polynesia - we, in Hawaii, need to consider all our options and not limit ourselves. It is a personal preference as well as another training vehicle. The first one man canoes here in Hawaii were rudderless. Our water is different so we need to be innovative and figure out our own style of rudderless that works for us. I think Kamanu has really taken the lead on this. Many other builders are working off other Tahitian styles here too, and getting very creative. Either way, both with or without rudder, Hawaiian or Tahitian - these are all forms of outrigger canoes. Have a great race everyone and be safe! History is in the making.

#71 Thu, 05/22/2014 - 11:46am

Stoked for the rudderless on sunday but IMO its only because there isnt enough wind. It will be exciting to watch this race but as far as paddling in it, I believe the majority of the field would prefer wind and a rudder. I would be interested to see how this entire thread may have been different had the forecast be for 20+ne?? And what would people predictions be for race finishers? I know the conditions are what they are but the race is designed to be a downwind channel crossing, and the race date was moved a month in order to try and have more favorable conditions.

#72 Thu, 05/22/2014 - 12:13pm

@Indar .. I am no expert here but a V-1 is 1 person Vaa... Oc1 1 person outrigger canoe. Now if you look at an OC6 OC4 V6 V3 to me a V1 is closer to those boats than an OC1 is if you look at design of the build. No rudder and sit in type boats . So for you to complain about who enters and what type of craft is stupid. If a race organizer has a category for it thats their decision.You dont like it dont race!! Simple

#73 Thu, 05/22/2014 - 12:47pm

From NOAA:
Tuesday should come sooner. Reel it in Bruce Almighty!!!

Scattered showers after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. Northeast wind 5 to 7 mph becoming southwest in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Saturday Night Scattered showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. Northeast wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Sunday Scattered showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. Northeast wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 66. East wind around 11 mph.

Memorial Day Isolated showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. East wind around 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Monday Night Isolated showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. Breezy, with an east wind around 17 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Tuesday Isolated showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Breezy, with an east wind around 17 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%

Tuesday Night Clear, with a low around 66. Breezy, with an east wind around 17 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.

Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 86. Breezy, with a northeast wind around 17 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.

#74 Thu, 05/22/2014 - 1:14pm

@Unklekahi (a.k.a. Lokahi) Don't care what u race nor was I complaing. Just stating facts for everyone. As for me I will be out there. Enjoying beining in the channel and happy to do what I love!

#75 Thu, 05/22/2014 - 1:44pm

WIND, NO WIND, RUDDER, NO RUDDER. IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO ONE THING.....THE ENGINE.......... KUA TRAINS WITH 50 LBS IN HIS V1 ALL YEAR, THATS WHY HE PADDLES LIKE A FERRARI ON STEROIDS. BIG ISLAND!!!

#76 Thu, 05/22/2014 - 8:51pm

Yep , it ain't the arrow it's the archer.
Good luck to everyone racing, may it bring out the best in all of you.
( despite the forecast I wish I was there now)

#77 Thu, 05/22/2014 - 9:18pm

Just paddle wit Aloha! 1st one to the Shack buys the beers!

#78 Fri, 05/23/2014 - 6:56am

Calling it now. They all race Pueos and Vance is the only one on a V1. Who like bet!

#79 Fri, 05/23/2014 - 3:20pm

Me loser buys a round next time we meet,
I hope you have a great race Indar

#80 Fri, 05/23/2014 - 3:32pm

Indar's got da scoop!

#81 Fri, 05/23/2014 - 3:40pm

well, i guess guys were asking for an "apples to apples" scenario.

there it is. so many apples you could make apple pie.

#82 Fri, 05/23/2014 - 3:56pm

My prediction is Danny 1st, Jimmy or Daniel Chun 2nd.
I don't think the Tahitians will be in the front because
1-the Te Aito is a 18 miles race. The Super Aito 20 miles race.They are not used to a 32 miles race. Don't tell me, they are used to the 32 miles in V6.
2-they are racing on Oc1. Tahitians are not good on OC1. They don't believe in it(been to Tahiti numerous times).
3-I saw on Viper Facebook that they are just leaving Tahiti today (Friday) for Molokai. Are they gonna train one day on Pueos before the race?
3- It ain't the arrow it's the archer. I agree but for the Solo, the arrow really matters. The Ehukai is a great arrow that can help a bad archer. If you are a Great Archer, you'll hit the Target gracefully.
Those 3 reasons are why i think the Tahitians will not shine. I think they will be good for the first 20 miles. Danny, Jimmy, Daniel can use them as rabbits.
They are racing under Viper Team. Why they are not using Viper V1?

#83 Fri, 05/23/2014 - 6:09pm

Kemsoc1 they are not using a viper v1 cause it doesn't fit in the suitcase, and they are tahitian all they need is one day brah!

#84 Fri, 05/23/2014 - 7:07pm

If I was racing 32miles. I know I would train for it. As most entered have. I expect similar results to molo 9man. And manutea to be right up there on oc1

#85 Fri, 05/23/2014 - 10:44pm

What! Ching, chun, Chong, Wong trained to go against v1's now theta e to prepare for guys in pueos. Not fair.

#86 Fri, 05/23/2014 - 11:36pm

Daniel Chun will win. Danny barely beat him before and he's done nothing but train for this race since. He's beat the Tahitians in practice and hell do it again tomorrow. He knows his boat, well rested, and trains for a race like this. It'll be a good race but my money is on Kona for tomorrow.

#87 Sat, 05/24/2014 - 6:54am

Maitai is going to paddle a Boston Whaler ? He's going to blast everybody !

#88 Sat, 05/24/2014 - 10:30am

@Indar "Calling it now. They all race Pueos and Vance is the only one on a V1. Who like bet!" I like this! Not betting against it.

#89 Sat, 05/24/2014 - 11:54am

I haven't been in the race scene to much this year, but I know that one thing is for certain. Everyone is moving crazy fast right now, from the top of the pack to the bottom. I got to come out to Hawaii and see how many guys threw down during the Koa Nui in March and it was insane. You hiccup and you drop ten places. Kua, Daniel, Danny, Jimmy, Travis, etc all beat the snot out of each other.

To my understanding @Hunt West the trades haven't been around that much this year so guys are really putting in the time in the flats. I know Kona is known for it's hot flat conditions, but Tahiti and Cali aren't necessarily considered windy places either. This year is going to be about who can lock themselves in the pain cave longer.

My bet:
1. Cali
2. Maui
3. Big Island
4. Tahiti
5. Aussie
6. Oahu
7. Big Island
8. Tahiti
9. Maui
10. Oahu
11-14.Tahiti
15. Cali
16-25. Oahu

#90 Sat, 05/24/2014 - 12:43pm

easy to make a bet Indar, when you already know the answer.

anyone want some action on last years Super Bowl? I'm taking the Seahawks.

#91 Sat, 05/24/2014 - 1:36pm

Good post on outrigger zone from local top guys.

#92 Sat, 05/24/2014 - 5:20pm

http://outriggerzone.com/news/molo-solo-a-view-from-the-top/

#93 Sat, 05/24/2014 - 6:14pm

Soooo if a Tahitian wins, or better yet if those guys even come top ten, on an oc1 that would speak volumes to their paddling ability. The cards are really stacked against them. (Que steroid rumors/posts on ocpaddler if a Tahitian wins)
1) racing on a craft they've hardly (if ever) trained on. It will be hard for them to rely on the rudder and not intuitively steer with their paddle. Where everyone else has spent years paddling and training on their oc1's.
2) first time racing this course
3) arguably the most stacked competition in recent years.. And they've never paddled against any of the top (non Tahitian) paddlers in a one man race. That alone is a HUGE disadvantage in the mental game of not knowing how your competition paddles.
I'm personally cheering for Steeve so I can vicariously live thru his win on my Pueo :)

But unfortunately I think it will be too tall of an order for them to adapt and perform at such an elite level against : Kai, Daniel, Danny, Jimmy, Chong, Will, Travis, Kua, Kalei, Indar ;)

I do think this will spark a new international rivalry between Hawaii and Tahiti... It's too bad there aren't any "top" Hawaii paddlers willing to reciprocate and learn to paddle a v1 to challenge Tahitians on their home field. Not since the Foti's and others shook that bee hive years ago....

#94 Sat, 05/24/2014 - 7:56pm

I just hope that guys aren't bummed out too hard if they end up in the 20s because it's a high calibre field.

#95 Sat, 05/24/2014 - 10:23pm

My predication on race morning. Is that the Tahitians are the fittest, strongest paddlers and are representing Tahiti. Their passion for paddling and pain tolerance is over the top.

I think they will hang with the front runnners- then about 4 miles from finish explode past everyone.

#96 Sun, 05/25/2014 - 4:10am

That outriggerzone interview is telling... Sounds like the Tahitians are doing the local oc1 shapers a solid, not blowing up their spot sans-training wheels.

#97 Sun, 05/25/2014 - 5:43am

anyone see if there's a live stream available again? might be worth checking if you're not in touch with someone in the channel...

#98 Sun, 05/25/2014 - 7:55am

What time does the race start?

#99 Sun, 05/25/2014 - 8:08am

Quoting númerouno from other thread in an effort to consolidate.

"What a statement by the Tahitians!

Little or no experience on the OC1 and walk away with top spot, and what should have been top two spots, and four of top five .... Tahitians all on Pueos too. So much for everyone's speculation, I guess that's why the race is held... Scary to think how good they would be with serious training on an OC1...

Wow.

Awesome job by everyone!

13 Sun, 05/25/2014 - 3:22pm"

#100 Sun, 05/25/2014 - 4:36pm

.

#101 Sun, 05/25/2014 - 6:52pm

Top page results. Super stacked field.

#102 Sun, 05/25/2014 - 7:20pm

Kai,super proud of you,mauruuru rahi roa!!! 'Aito 'outou pauroa!

#103 Mon, 05/26/2014 - 1:25pm

I just wen look at the results page. Braddah Jimmy not even on the list? What happened? His escort boat stay broke or something?

#104 Mon, 05/26/2014 - 11:37am

wow. it was interesting to re-read this whole thread beginning to end. it looks like the Tahitians outperformed most everyone's expectations (including mine). they used an OC1 and along with Danny C launched into a massive 32 mile up and up battle. not really something i'd have predicted. i personally felt there'd be more Hawaiians at least in the top five mixing it up the whole race. that was the most exciting paddling event i've ever witnessed. huge props to Californian Danny for duking it out up there in the lead pack!

now that the Tahitians have come and used OC1, maybe some Hawaiians can go south and chance the V1? would be a cool exchange program for sure.

apples to apples.

outriggerzone.com/news/molo-solo-a-view-from-the-top/

#105 Mon, 05/26/2014 - 5:57pm

THAT WAS ONE INCREDIBLE RACE! THE TAHITIANS OWN KAIWI. DANNY CHING IS STILL SUPERMAN. THE LATEST WAVE OF YOUNG GUNS GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT THEIR TURN. INCREDIBLE HEART AND FITNESS LEVEL TO ALL THE TOP RACERS. HATS OFF TO A STACKED FIELD OF WOMEN ALSO.

#106 Mon, 05/26/2014 - 6:14pm

Congrats to the Tahitians and Danny- as well as everyone who finished. Very hard race. Where did the wind go this year, again!

#107 Mon, 05/26/2014 - 10:44pm

Where are the full results?

#108 Tue, 05/27/2014 - 5:07am

Full Results on the PAA Hawaii website.

http://www.paahawaii.com/uploads/1/0/3/1/10311016/14_solo_overall.pdf

#109 Tue, 05/27/2014 - 7:44am

Hoot Hoot!

How bout that race! And my old pal Jimmy Austin, What'a HOOT!

Bradda come back to me.
We are birds of a feather, meant to fly together.

Doing anything just to get you off my mind
But when the Molo Solo comes, I'm right back where I started again
Trying to carry someone else across the channel is just a waste of time
Baby come back, any kind of ama popping bro could see
There was something in everything about you
Baby come back, you can blame the centipede all on me!

And I have a few other feathers to get off my chest

I kept my beak shut since my younger brother was hatched in the 100% recycled air incubator on the polluted Quary Rd. But now that my biological father has started another family with Mao Tou Ying I gotta squawk this one out. To be honest I feel more used and abused then by a canoe owned by Healthyearth.

And I am tired of all this Tahitian talk. We all know the gas station provides them with seed, but I think they could paddle a 404 board and beat most local braddahs on anything with an ama. Sorry Dan, even though we used to fly together just keeping it real. And dont forget though, the 'arrow' does matter and its hard to contest I am the best around.

Finally did anyone see the new Scorpius XXXS? Hootalally, pretty soon we get more boats then stars in the scorpio constellation.

Jimmy come back.

Hoot hoot!

#110 Tue, 05/27/2014 - 2:04pm

I seen aLot of pueo and kai waa boats but no outrigger connect. Karel still making boats?

#111 Tue, 05/27/2014 - 2:14pm

Thanks!

#112 Tue, 05/27/2014 - 7:04pm

@kem0c1 you were saying what about the tahitians?.. Mate you're dreaming if you think tahitians are not going to do well.. Now you can use the steroid excuse. Steeve has now won Te Aito, Super Aito, Hawaikii Nui & Molo solo. Rete would of won of course but thats another story, he has also won all those. If taaroa was not sick, thats another tahitian in top 10, & to think the others didn't go to molokai would be freaky!! (kevin, clovis, damas, revi, christopher, yoann.. etc.. Congrats on all who raced & HA HA to the keyboard warriors that thought tahiti boys gonna flop..

#113 Wed, 05/28/2014 - 11:53am

peowpeow, well said. i had a good laugh with basically every sentence and bullet-number in kem0c1's post.

ouch.

#114 Wed, 05/28/2014 - 12:30pm

Nice Job on predictions @kemOC1....not

If the boys had a little more knowledge of the china wall, they may have been 1 2 3.

Great Job by Danny, Manny, and Kai for battling the Tahitians to the bitter end... what an amazing race.

If possible could someone in the top throw in a average speed for their race? It would be really cool to see what kind of speed Rete, and Steve were at for that death march...Just curious.

And HUGE props to Vance Hashimoto, great job!!!

#115 Wed, 05/28/2014 - 12:50pm

Anybody know what happened to Jimmy and Taaroa?

#116 Wed, 05/28/2014 - 2:27pm

To Peowpeow, The Tahitians outperformed my expectations. You are right, i was wrong. My soccer Coach used to tell me that a game is never won on the paper but in the playground. Molo Solo was a great reminder. I don't understand why you are talking about steroids(chapter closed). What i learn from the Molo Solo, when you are a great Paddler, it doesn't matter what vessel(Oc1 or V1), you are using. The Tahitians did use a different stroke. There is another way to paddle the OC1(lesson learn). That's very interesting. You can watch the Manutea video from Kamanu FB during the Solo.
After talking to paddlers from Papeete, the Tahitians did train on OC1 in Tahiti for two weeks. My predictions for the Solo were based on sport logic but not on anything else. When you are a gifted paddler (specially the top Tahitians and Danny( he is a part of that group now and well deserved), the paddling logic does not apply.
I believe we have to go to Tahiti to learn about how they are paddling. It's a way of life not just a sport!!! If you want to be good at basketball, you better come to the States.
This Solo was a confirmation that Tahitian paddling works. I know that other countries( NZ, Fidji, Australia) are adopting Tahitian way of paddling(training, v1). No more predictions from me( banned).
Can you tell me who were escorting( boat escort) the Tahitians?
Maururu

#117 Wed, 05/28/2014 - 8:46pm

We all make wrong predictions at times mate, @makule, Taaroa said he wasn't feeling good 2days prior to the race he was still going to race if he got better but he didnt. Big props to the braddah on the v1!!

#118 Wed, 05/28/2014 - 9:45pm

Well said Kems Oc1 ,
A humble statement , it's easy for Peow Peow to mock you but I don't think he made a pre race prediction,
I did and was wrong as well but had Steeve 2nd ahead of Danny,
Kona J was the most correct.
I think the result was great for paddling in General and was the closest the Solo has ever been to a real World Championship, hopefully more Tahitians will race next year,

#119 Wed, 05/28/2014 - 9:48pm

I don't find it a complete trashing. I was at the finish under the bridge and tried to tell Stevie the wrong direction to the finish but he would listen, but I remember feeling pissed it was a Tahitian and when I saw the local guys I was relieved it wasn't a blow-out like Molokai Hoe. Also, the guys predicted to do well didn't. Kai behind Manny, (Look I love Manny and he knows that I"m always trying to strengthen our friendship or whatever we have together, I mean he knows who I am so that has to mean something.....it's complicated) when was the last time that happened. Plus Manny was sidelined most of the year with pain. Will and KChong did as expected or better. Travis, Chun, Kua, Did far worse than expected we all thought should have been somewhere near Manny or ahead, right? Did a lot the top contenders just shit the bed.

Last year DC was right next to Ching, this year he couldn't even see Ching finish. So maybe Ching just got super fast but I compared him to Chong last year and this year. Least year (2013) Chong was 10 Min behind Ching, this year he was just 8 Minutes.

9 local guys finished within 3% of the top finisher. Primo was 8% slower than Shell last year.

So if you choose to only look at results and not the times then yes we got beat good. But, if we dig a little deeper I'm not so sure it's as bad as first glance.

Also, I have slo-mo footage of Tahitian stroke. One thing for sure is that the blade does not go past their butty hole and top arms are solid like lamp post and it was never fully extended. One guy did that thing that supposed to be unique, then pull water under canoe stroke, but it still looked like the energy didn't go under the canoe like it's supposed to. The other guys didn't.

#120 Thu, 05/29/2014 - 9:46am

@healthy was it the 8th place guy who looked like he was doing extra effort to pull under canoe?

Also could you see the wave action at china wall from there?

Yes Danny did unreal to be right there with them.

Post your footage :)

#121 Thu, 05/29/2014 - 10:50am

well, we read some post on tahitians paddlers before the molo solo race and yes, we were disappointed and sometimes hungry ...We paddle on V1, hawaiian paddlers on OC1, that's okay but i really think that some people must learn what respect is, no matter where you are from, which "vaa" you're training with...Predictions are only prédictions, you can say all you want but only the results on the playground are good. In french we say : “on ne vend pas la peau de l’ours avant de l’avoir tué”. When hawaiian paddlers come to the aito, we don’t say anything on them, it’s good for the sport, negative comments have no place cause of RESPECT.

#122 Thu, 05/29/2014 - 12:35pm

Kind of disappointed that only Vance was on a V-1,to me,he deserves all the respect,hopefully next year all Tahiti boys will be on V-1,never mind win or lose.

#123 Thu, 05/29/2014 - 12:36pm

my apologize for my english, i am french...In my post above, please read Angry and not hungry...

#124 Thu, 05/29/2014 - 12:40pm

@Fana de rame: i agree. it is embarrassing as a hawaii paddler when someone slights someone (specifically tahitians) for trying to do something that is way harder than OC1, i.e., the V-1.

please note, not every hawaii paddler shares those disrespectful sentiments, and most respect paddling excellence. in a way, i believe, it is a sort of jealousy.

mate, dont hate!

#125 Thu, 05/29/2014 - 5:15pm

Fana,hungry is good too,hungry to paddle that is.Fana,don't worry,it's only the fans(fanatics) typing those things,keyboard warriors as someone wrote,the real paddlers are too busy training!!! fans are passionate and will do/say anything to advance their team/paddler,etc;note healthyearth post above about trying to make Steeve go the wrong way! I hope he was just joking(Do you thinK Danny would have been happy to win like that if that had happened?)Being from Tahiti myself,I can assure you that the vast majority of Hawaii paddlers have only positive things to say about their Tahitian cousins..My hope,no secret, is that everybody gets comfortable paddling a canoe without a rudder,in all conditions,as our tupuna did.I do not know the reason for the boys switching to a oc-1,maybe it was to show respect to the race,since it was oc-1,when I see them,I will find out.Next year,more boys will come over,a lot of the top guys who did not come this time,to me it would be a shame to race on oc-1 because easier just to win or place in the top.In Tahiti,oc-1 is not considered a traditional canoe,just as in Hawaii OHCRA rules would not allow to put a rudder on the wa'a.Talk in Tahiti is that Hawai'i went down the wrong path with oc-1,so why the heck you gonna race on one?Maybe someone out there knows the answer.So me too I am FANA,give me a Fai 3x,a Pure v-1,or an Aukahi.Now they have dual foot pumps ,can TATA,bail,as you paddle,no need the clorox jug,or stand up on the coral and turn it upside down.

#126 Thu, 05/29/2014 - 6:32pm

Dis fakka healthyearth not from hawaii. He no mo aloha. Thats only obvious.

Talking all kine smack and he never even race. Shame.

#127 Thu, 05/29/2014 - 6:56pm

@Kava...our Tahitian brethren raced on an OC-1 for the same reasons why our boys raced on a V1 when they went down to Tahiti to do the Te Aito and Super Aito, to respect the spirit and principle of the race, and to compete on a level playing field. Them doing so well this past Sunday leaves no question to their ability and paddling prowess.

On a side note, while Healthyearth is a excellent keyboard jockey, like many others on this message board, I love dat guy! He's actually done a lot more to grow our sport than some other keyboard jockeys will ever do.

#128 Thu, 05/29/2014 - 7:16pm

Cool boys, Im not on here often to comment but at least he not as bad as that waka dude.. ok, comment again next molo. have fun everyone!

#129 Fri, 05/30/2014 - 10:37am

Aloha pp.........yep, that "bad" waka dude is having a laugh about the Tahitians using rudder on one-mans.
Next thing they may be paddling the lighter sit-on oc's, like the ones made in China.

Niether of which makes any difference to those who are into the soul of paddling rather than an ego boost

#130 Fri, 05/30/2014 - 1:28pm