Murray, Auger win first warm up race of Expedia.com Kauai Challenge

Perfect surfing conditions and spectacular scenery treated early arrivals to a great run in 15-20 knot trade winds. The course was Kalihiwai Bay to Haena along Kauai’s beautiful north shore.

Mike Murray from Australia edged out over 40 competitors and will certainly be one to watch in the 4th annual Expedia.com Kauai World Challenge. Steve Cole of Kauai was a strong second with Luke Evslin right on his heels. Kauai’s Noe Auger easily outdistanced a strong field of women. A couple of people missed the entrance to Haena Beach Park and continued along the coast for additional sightseeing including Kai Bartlett who had a commanding lead at the time. After realizing his mistake he paddled upwind and finished in the middle of the pack. A full rescue operation was initiated by the Kauai lifeguards and fire department helicopter after British racer didn’t show up at the finish. He was later found on the Na Pali coastline enjoying beverages on a Charter catamaran at Kalalau Valley, about 10 miles further down the coast from the finish.

Friday's warm up race runs from Wailua Bay to Kalapaki Bay and will provide completely different and challenging conditions as the wind and swells approach the side of the canoe. This gives everyone participating a chance to become familiar with the ocean behavior for Saturday’s first two legs of the Expedia.com Kauai World Challenge 34 mile coastal relay.

Mike Murray AUS                 1:11:13
Steve Cole KAUAI                1:12:18
Luke Evslin KAUAI               1:12:21
Greg Long AUS                   1:13:33
Kelly Foster Kauai              1:13:55
Dave Beck Kauai                 1:14:09
Mark Frazier Kauai              1:14:26
Butch Keahiolalo  Kauai         1:15:30
Alfred Van Gieson Makaha        1:15:35
Mark Cluney Oahu                1:16:33
Ken Powell Hawaii               1:17:40
Miller/Reichenstein (OC2) 
    Newport Beach, Cal          1:18:06
Eric Rafter Kauai               1:18:40
Clint Roberts AUS               1:18:41
Sreve Whippy AUS                1:19:12
Adam Mermel So. Cal             1:19:20
Brenden Dews AUS                1:19:31
Steve Baker Kauai               1:20 06
Kanoa Doyle N.Cal               1:20:16
Omar Manansala N. Cal           1:21:26
Noe Auger Kauai                 1:21:34
Kai Bartlett  Maui              1:22:05
Lambert Lee Loy Hawaii          1:22:42
Neil McGuckin AUS               1:22:48
James Young AUS                 1:23 17
Alana Goo Kauai                 1:25:33
Mick Callahan Kauai             1:26:11
Tim Cotchay Kauai               1:26:25
Nick Rudesky So. Cal            1:26:34
Shin Lu Stokesbury So. Cal      1:27:24
Darcy Gray Kauai                1:27:32
Bobby Furby England             1:27:34
Kentaro Matsuo Japan            1:30:26
Jeanne Barrett So. Cal.         1:30:40
Jill Schooler So. Cal           1:30:45
Aimee Spector So. Cal           1:32:07
Sueo Higa Kauai                 1:33:11
Brian Miyake Kauai              1:41:32
Takumi Nagai Japan              1:42:06
Brian DenHolm England           DNF 

Posted by keizo on Fri, 05/12/2006 - 12:44pm