disqualification

I want to say thank you to all of the race officials and volutneers who helped out with the Moloka'i Hoe yesterday. I know that it must be more work than i can imagine. All of those officials out there put there time in because they love the sport-- it seems that a lot of them don't even paddle anymore-- yet they still put in countless hours working to put on these races.

However----
I have a short story to tell.

My crew got disqualified for not putting our race # sticker on our escort. For whatever reason, we couldn't find the race # when we got on the escort.. it probably fell out of our packet somewhere on the way to the escort. To add to that, we were having radio issues. We checked in with the officials verbally as the escort was coming out of hale o lono. But i guess that wasn't enough. Personally, I spent $375 from a very limited budget to do the race (airfare, accomadations, entry fee, escort).
I never realized what a... beauracracy (maybe not the right term...) paddling has become. Usually if a crew gets DQed you assume that they cheated or did something blatantly wrong. We didn't have 10 guys in our crew, we didn't not go around any buoys, we didn't jump the starting line.. we just didn't have a race number on our escort.
After all of the preparation for the race, all of the money spent, all of the time on the water, all of the long drives to go paddle as a crew, we get DQed for something that, ultimately, we couldn't help.
To me.. that is a huge slap in the face from the officials.
In the end.. i paddle because i love to paddle. When you're in the middle of the race, how your team will look on the results is the furthest thing from your mind. I debated posting this because i kept on thinking, does it really matter that we were DQed? It's not like we would've won the race... but yeah in the end it does matter.
I'm not going to go into it.. but this is the third time something like this has happened this season (in three O'ahu long distance races) to our crew.
Paddling has to be about the paddling. I realize that as the sport grows the officials have to get more and more strict about the rules.... but don't DQ a crew (especially in a race that takes so much to get to), because somehow they lost their race # and broke their radio (i'm not really sure what happened to the radio.. just that it didn't work).

Anyway-- goodjob to everyone out there who crossed the channel.. it was not a fun channel (unless you were from Tahiti.. then i'm sure it was great fun).

Submitted by luke on Mon, 10/09/2006 - 12:23pm



If that's all that happened to cause your DQ then that sucks.


#1 Mon, 10/09/2006 - 12:50pm


Sorry to hear your crew got DQ'd for not putting your boat number on your escort, but that is one of the rules. If you have ever tried to organize an event of this size and scope, you know you have to have means for keeping track of participants, as well as keeping spectator boats and other non-racers from impacting the event and/or course. As a result, crews have to put their entry number on both the canoe and the escort boat. It's the only way officials can know which escort belongs to which crew. For example, if there were an escort boat on the course behaving inappropriately (puposeful waking, interference, endangering paddlers during a change, etc.), officials would need to know which crew to address and/or "punish." Having entry numbers on both the canoe and escort, and a working radio in the escort boat, assist greatly in scenarios such as this. If one of your paddlers were to be injured during the event, a working radio could mean the difference between life and death. Ultimately, the safety of all paddlers involved is of paramount importance and given the safety record of this event, I feel race organizers do an admirable job.

While it sucks that your crew was DQ'd, you have to admit that every other crew managed to get the information and put the appropriate sticker on both the canoe and escort boat. Paddling is about paddling, but racing is about completing a course as fast as possible, within the confines of the rules. Unfortunately for your crew, one of the rules was putting your boat number on your escort boat, and since that rule was not followed the officials had little choice but to DQ your crew. Once the rules for an event are set, the officials must enforce the rules to be fair to the entire field.


#2 Mon, 10/09/2006 - 2:07pm


sorry to hear about that luke. if it's any consolation, you're still my idol.


#3 Mon, 10/09/2006 - 2:36pm


thats pretty harsh...during the kauai world challenge this year...we didn't even have the number on our boat...but i told them our number when i crossed the finish line and they were totally chill with it...


#4 Mon, 10/09/2006 - 4:17pm


I think we all agree that Luke and his crew were DQ'ed for no good reason at all. This was a simple error that should'nt have punished them for an honest mistake. We pay good money to race the channel and a little leeway and understanding would have been the best solution from the officials. I think that in Team Hawaii's case, it was personal. The officials have been hasseling them since the Henry... but that's another story. Nevertheless, I understand that the officials have a very tough job, but at the same time they should'nt abuse their power. To most of us the channel is our goal from the start, and for Team Hawaii to finish a difficult race and then find out they were DQ'ed is wrong.


#5 Mon, 10/09/2006 - 9:12pm


turns out we had a radio-- just that it was handheld-- so the DQ was for no sticker.

i understand that rules are rules and they are in place for a reason. One more quick story though--

Last week i got a parking ticket for parking within 65 feet (or something like that) of an intersection, and this week i got one for parking facing the wrong direction on the street at Kaimana Beach (if you've never been there it's a teeny street that is made just for parking). Both of them pissed me off--- because.. even though i guess those are both rules, who ever heard of a cop actually giving a ticket for either of those reasons? Anyways-- in my mind, DQing us for a minor infraction that was out of our control is the same as if the cop arrested me for parking within sixty five feet of an intersection. Not quite.. but it's similiar---

Two years ago the crew i was with had our ama sink midway across the channel. So i think i give up on this whole Moloka'i Hoe thing. That means that 2/5s of the times that i've crossed the channel in a six-man i either was part of the only crew not to finish, or part of the only crew to get DQed. Hahaha--- nah-- i'm just trying to make people feel sorry for me. Parking tickets, ama sinking, alright i'm getting off track.

Anyways-- i'm over it.

oh by the way-- did you know that not only do officials have the power to DQ.. but that they can also fine you? I found out this season that $500 is a reasonable fine for a crew (even with no reasonable reason for it). So on top of getting disqualified and losing everything that you paid for an escort and entry fee, you can pay a fine (which would be like getting arrested and then beaten by the cops for parking the wong way).
Incredible. So i should be thankful that, unlike prior races of this season, there is no threat of a $500 fine. (Ultimately.. we were never fined.. but almost)
alright, i'm rambling.

Aloha.

(just one more quick thing.. i still do have a lot of respect for every official out there. I just wish they could've made a different decision (all season), and when i thanked them at the start of my first post.. i meant it)


#6 Mon, 10/09/2006 - 10:21pm


Luke that's too bad, man. It is quite the production- travel, money, time, time practicing, time away from family, work, etc. But hey, you guys finished it and that's what truly counts.

They could've let it slide but these rules are in place for a reason and once the officials let one team get away with something small then that gives other teams the impression that they can cut corners. On the other hand it could also piss other teams off who work hard to follow the rules. But you're right, it is pretty minor compared to other things that could happen but it's there for our safety.

You can only grow and learn from here bro! Use this situation to better yourselves and strengthen your crew. Next year is a whole new ball game. Fresh clean slate. The Tahitians dominated....now all the crews are going back to the drawing boards and analyzing, contemplating...it's gonna be crazy.


#7 Mon, 10/09/2006 - 11:17pm


It sucks to get DQ'd. I would look at it a little different. How did you do? Did you have a good time? Did you look around while out there and go "holy crap...this is amazing/beautiful/fantastic/(insert own adjective)?"
Did everyone in your crew make it home safe? Did you guys paddle the best race you could?
If the answers to the above questions are positive, I would concider it a good race that you didn't get actual credit for, but you know where you stand.
Congrats for finishing DQ'd or not, still an acomplishment to be proud of! J


#8 Tue, 10/10/2006 - 1:37am


Sorry to hear that Luke...
Sounds like they're enforcing the rules word for word with no gray area. That's a bummer, there are way to many instances in racing where there needs to be some common sense involved in a major decision like that.

Rules are rules and they should be followed to the best of everyone's ability. I'm sure when this rule was created it wasn't intended to DQ teams who lose their escort boat number. I'm sure it was a safety issue. And I don't quite see why a handheld radio isn't good enough to check in. My crew came from overseas and secured an escort boat over the phone. We never saw him until race day. When we boarded the escort boat I noticed he only had a hand held radio. Now what are we supposed to do. After paying all this money, training, and flying over, do we not race because our radio is not attached to the boat. It still worked... So we checked in with a hand held and then proceeded to race. As I said before, there needs to be a little gray area when it comes to enforcing the rules.

We must remember, it is also a very tough decision on the part of the race officials. The rule was broken and warranted a DQ. However, they did not cheat, they weren't in danger, and in no way did they interfear with any other canoe. With all the confusion in setting up logistics for such an important race it is very understandable that the escort boat sticker is the last thing on a coaches mind.

With that being said, the officials also put in a lot of time and effort in to putting on this race and they most be aware of all the race rules and regulations that many of us skim over or never read at all. And I'm sure most of us are grateful they do it so that we don't have to.


#9 Tue, 10/10/2006 - 5:48am


Hey Luke, at least you were able to race. Imagine if something happened that wasn't your fault that prevented you from racing after all the $ and preparation. Like an idiot on a powerboat running your canoe over as you exit Hale o Lono harbor for the start of the race.

Yeah a few years ago our canoe was run over by some idiot showing off his new boat before the start of the race. He ran us over full throttle and chopped our boat in half. Luckily there was no major injuries. One guy had to have shoulder surgery.

at least you were able to do the race....


#10 Tue, 10/10/2006 - 11:21am


imagine if you couldn't paddle at all because you blew out your back. but still, i feel for you luke...


#11 Tue, 10/10/2006 - 12:25pm


alright alright--- you guys are right.
we got to race.. and i didn't care at all until hours afterwards.. or the next day. So it's not that big of a deal. Our canoe didn't break in half and i didn't blow out my back. All that happened is that on the results it says DQ. Not that big of a deal. I just needed to complain about something.


#12 Tue, 10/10/2006 - 1:09pm


dudes, getting dq'd or your boat chopped in half is nothing. Try staining your shorts from the runs as a result of eating too much food at the tentalows the nite before and having to paddle in it for 41 miles.


#13 Tue, 10/10/2006 - 2:12pm


...your story is the hands down winner =)


#14 Tue, 10/10/2006 - 4:47pm


i'm actually speechless. perhaps someone else should take over the poopoopaddler name.


#15 Tue, 10/10/2006 - 5:50pm


Actually, the "worse" story is from the guy(s) who had to share that seat. "...I had to rotate into a seat where a guy had s*** his pants...."


#16 Wed, 10/11/2006 - 6:41am


Sorry to hear about your DQ, However if you hire some one to drive your crew. You needed to trust that he had required KNOWLEDGE of what is expected. YOUR escort driver should have been at the meeting, His packet should have been hand carried to Hale O Lono. Mike Tongg was down there passing out the requirements. I took all this stuff to my driver, and he had plenty of channel experience. IF any thing you should ask for some of your money back.. After all What if you had come in first. You would have wanted to ring his neck. JUST my two cents. GET'EM next year LUKE.. But make sure you hire an experienced ESCORT DRIVER!!!!

Nalu


#17 Wed, 10/11/2006 - 7:56am


Hey Snarfblat I think I need to relinquish the poopoopaddler name. That's one crappy story. Poops, sorry for that slip. Aww damn sorry again, how sh@tty of me. Aww crap, frick.

But Snarfblat, at least you could race....

Haha


#18 Wed, 10/11/2006 - 8:13am


hey luke!

Great job to you and the rest of the guys in the crew. This distance season you guys have done so well. I definitely agree with pakechris when he says that the DQ's were personal. I understand that officials are officials and they have to play by the book. But, I honestly feel that the mistakes that were made by Team Hawaii Kailua, we also made by other crews, that seemed to be overlooked (henry ayau race). As for the channel, yes this DQ was petty. But to tell you the truth, to hear the names of all the crew members announced over the PA when you guys crossed that finished line, was better than any piece of paper showing what time or place you guys finished. All I have to say is that, you guys worked hard, paddled hard, and even though other people may not know what place and time you guys finished, you know that you guys spanked all except 13 crews out there. Good job Luke.


#19 Wed, 10/11/2006 - 3:27pm


Yes, it sucks to be DQ'ed for something stupid like that. On the other hand, your coordinator/coach (or somebody responsible and super-anal in your crew) should have guarded that number with his/her life and personally made sure it ended up where it was supposed to go. The crew I coordinated had to put the number on the wrong side of the escort boat (wouldn't stick on the correct side) and they weren't DQ'ed, so at least the officials hadn't gone completely mad with power. Too bad you didn't have a piece of paper, a sharpie, and some duct tape -- you could have just made your own...

When you spend THAT amount of time training and THAT amount of money to race, it makes sense to also find someone with the organizational skills to make sure ALL your ducks are in the proverbial row. Checklists only work for people who are organized enough not to lose the checklist. Paddlers are notorious space cadets and tend to forget what the rules are in the first place, so maybe somebody's mom can tag along and be the team nag?

The poopy pants story is great (as long as I'm not directly involved)!!!!!!!!!


#20 Thu, 10/12/2006 - 11:11am


Aloha Luke,
DQ - $375 (Bummer)
FIne $500 (More Bummer!)
Being able to cross the Kaiwi Channel...PRICELESS!

I don't Paddle, but I love watching from the shore or on my board!

there is always next year, plus you probably gonna be winning some one-man channel crossings ...real soon!
A hui hou!


#21 Thu, 10/12/2006 - 12:17pm


LOL. hahaha, i dunno about winning any channel crossings any time soon.
Thank you everybody for the responses-- i wasn't expecting this many people to respond. I just wanted to vent my frustration a little bit-- but i'm all vented, so it's all good. Crossing the channel is my favorite thing in the world and i feel very fortunate to have been able to do it two or three times a year for the last couple of years. Plus i never shit my pants before--- so i'm fortunate for that too :)
anyways--- thanks for your sympathy--- everybody posted some pretty valid comments, and at least it got the forum active again. And DQ and all-- the channel is still worth every penny.

A hui hou aku no----


#22 Thu, 10/12/2006 - 3:27pm


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