Hawaii Modular Space Molokai Hoe Pre Race Interviews
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Diane Fujii Johnson, Johnson LLC
Cellular: 808-381-9763 Email: DianeFJohnson@aol.com
The battle is on for the Hawaii Modular Space Molokai Hoe
With possibly the largest contingent of crews ever, the 52nd annual crossing of the
Molokai Channel will be a fight til the end
Honolulu, HAWAII (October 10, 2003) - With just two days until race day, tensions are running high and battles have already begun as crew members fight for their spot among their club's first team. Only when that team is selected can they focus on the bigger picture, winning the war. The war in this case takes place in the open ocean, in the 41-miles it takes canoe paddlers to cross the infamous Kaiwi Channel. This will be the 52nd year for the Hawaii Modular Space Molokai Hoe and over 100 teams are expected to participate with as many as 25 being international crews.
Months of mental and physical training will be put to the test this Sunday, October 12th, as crews will battle strong trade winds and choppy seas. Last year's conditions were the exact opposite with no wind and flat ocean conditions leading many to believe that those favored the reigning champions, Rai of Tahiti whose finish time was 5 hours, 11 minutes and 35 seconds. We interviewed some of the favored local contenders: Team New Zealand/Hawaii, Lanikai and Outrigger Canoe Club.
Bill Pratt who sits in seat 1 of Team New Zealand/Hawaii speaks of the conditions expected this weekend, "With trade winds in the 10-20 mile an hour range, course management is going to be the key to victory. There are a number of crews that can win this thing and the crew that minimizes mistakes will cross the line first." When asked of the drive and determination of the team, Pratt goes on to say, "We want it bad. Everyone's been training hard and it's been a fun year and a great season. Things can change after this year so we definitely want to make this year a good one for us." Team New Zealand/Hawaii is made up of various crews from both locations that train separately for the most part, and paddle as a crew once or twice a week as training. They won the Molokai Hoe in 2001.
Lanikai from Kailua, Oahu currently hold the record with a time of 4 hours, 50 minutes and 31 seconds, set in 2000. Mike Judd who paddles for Lanikai speaks passionately about the race, "This is it, it's the Super Bowl. You can win all the races all season long but they don't really matter when compared to this race." Lanikai realizes that this race will prove to be a difficult one. Judd speaks of this past season, "We haven't had a big victory all year long but this is what we are gearing up for. Hopefully we can bring this back to Lanikai. We shall see on race day."
Another team to watch is Outrigger Canoe Club from Waikiki which has won the Molokai Hoe more than any other team - an astounding 16 times. Kala Judd, coach of Outrigger says, "We're ready, we've been doing solo practices, crew training and the Molokai Race has been our goal all year. We have veterans, younger crew members this year and they're all hungry. Our goal is to win and we'll be doing our best to achive that goal". Crew member Tim Twiggs-Smith follows up Judd's comment, "It's a culmulation of our entire season and we want it. I wake up every morning looking forward to the moment we jump off the starting line".
Come down and watch the exciting finish at the Duke Kahanamoku Beach fronting the Hale Koa Hotel. First crews expected to cross the finish between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. After race festivities include the Hinano Tahiti Beer Garden at the Hale Koa, and then a post-race party showing race day footage will be held at Ocean Club beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Laser Eye Center of Hawaii is giving away a LASIK eye surgery to the person guessing the closest finish time of the winning crew. For more information, visit www.lasereyehawaii.com or listen to Hawaiian KINE 105.1 F.M. Winners must be eligible candidates for LASIK. Keep it tuned to KINE to also hear live updates on race day and cheer for your favorite team.
Mahalo to all the sponsors that helped make this race possible: Hawaii Modular Space, Hinano Tahiti Beer, Ocean Club, RCI Construction Group, Hawaiian 105 KINE, Laser Eye Center, XCEL Wetsuits. Friends of the race include the Hale Koa Hotel, Happy Shirts, Pacific Paddler, Menehune Water, Kualoa Ranch, Reid Inouye Productions, JOSS Photo and Ocean Cable Channel 16.
RACE DATE: Sunday, October 12, 2003
- Crews will start at 7:30 a.m. at Hale O Lono Harbor located on the southwest end of Molokai, paddle across the Kaiwi (Molokai) Channel to finish at Duke Kahanamoku Beach located in front of the Hale Koa Hotel in Waikiki on Oahu. First finishers are expected between 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
- Oceanic Cable Channel 16 will air the race on Sunday October 26 at 7:00 p.m. and have 6 repeat airings that week.
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_________________________
Diane Fujii Johnson
Johnson LLC
P.O. Box 61303
Honolulu, HI 96839
ph. 808-381-9763
Posted by keizo on Sat, 10/11/2003 - 3:32pm