Any thoughts or info on the new race and route? I understand that it will be finishing in Waikiki. I guess you can't hold back progress in that its a world class event and all, but its definitely a bummer with the additional miles for those who are on the borderline for completing the race. I could wish that they just organized and held a seperate race for the professional paddlers, and left this race for ther local paddlers.
Submitted by bluesea on Mon, 01/29/2007 - 2:23pm
I've done the solo twice, and it was fun, and stupid at the same time.....this new course, just sounds stupid.....and very very painful.
#1 Mon, 01/29/2007 - 10:55pm
I've done it once and the worst part was paddling to Kona Brewing Co. into a 25kt headwind. Given a choice, I think I would rather keep going downwind. If it's flat that's a different story.
Bluesea said this race should be left for local paddlers. If you look at the top 20, at least for the one man division, it's nearly all local paddlers. I think one of the great things about the event is that is open to non "professional" paddlers. You can line up against the best in the world and see where you stack up. I raced knowing I would be nowhere near the leaders. It's still a great feeling of accomplishment to do the race and there really is no better feeling than being in the middle of the channel playing in the surf on a one man.
#2 Tue, 01/30/2007 - 6:33am
bottom line, none of us know why the course changed except for the organizers. maybe Kona Brew didn't want to be a sponsor any more, maybe a better sponsor stepped up, maybe maybe other paddlers were complaining about last years finish line. we don't know, and until we know we probably shouldn't be calling the kanaka ikaika officials and thier ideas stupid.
will the course really be that much longer? if you change your course across the channel it may not be that huge a difference. nobody says you have to come across the channel and make a beeline for hawaii kai.
hmmm, what else can we complain about? since the kanaka people run the races to further paddling as a sport, and basically loose money, let's pile some more criticism on them. last year, the kanaka guys had so many complaints about providing a league for local and international paddlers to complete, that they were contemplating not even having a season this year...maybe that would be more fun.
and no, i do not help with the kanaka races, i wouldn't want to deal with all the complaints and insults.
#3 Tue, 01/30/2007 - 10:06am
Accept the present. Intend the future. Chopra
What I have heard regarding the Solo is that Epic is the major sponsor and have purchased the rights to organize and control the race. A web site will be coming out in a couple of weeks as well. Should be interesting. And yes, it is slated to finish in Waikiki. I'd recommend more Aleve, another camel pack and lots of cold Sierra Nevadas at the finish for this one.
#4 Tue, 01/30/2007 - 10:47am
Darn Course Change!
Now all of my diligent research charting the Hawaii Kai Marina's current patterns, tide lines and wave patterns is only good for Makai to HKai runs. :-(
On the brighter side- A downwind run is almost always preferable to an upwind leg after 30 miles of paddling.
Additionally it should be particularly interesting for escort boats in Waikiki and for those tired, brain drained, miscalculating paddlers who venture too far inside at Diamond Head...Been there and done that, its not pretty.
#5 Tue, 01/30/2007 - 12:06pm
so for those of us who only know that its longer....how much longer is it?
#6 Tue, 01/30/2007 - 5:12pm
It's not way longer but definetly gonna hurt probably like 6 to 8 miles longer. Course change is kinda exciting but yet I raher go to Hawaii Kai. I made up like 6 spots this past race. hahah due to some larger waves that were in front of me but hey i'll take it
#7 Tue, 01/30/2007 - 6:19pm
Hapakid2-
Go fold some shirts or something.
It is like 6-8 miles longer, but probably only like 20-40 min more paddling (good wind and tide).
Keep in mind, as jc9_0 put it, " nobody says you have to come across the channel and make a beeline for hawaii kai."
#8 Tue, 01/30/2007 - 8:06pm
I think it's awesome that the race is going a little bit further... I'd rather go 40 more minutes downwind than 20 minutes straight upwind anyday. Paddling into Hawai'i Kai is... horrible.
#9 Tue, 01/30/2007 - 9:00pm
Too far, but Waikiki is way funner than Hawai'i Kai Marina!
#10 Fri, 02/02/2007 - 3:15pm