I saw a link around here somewhere to the Super Aito results in Tahiti but can't find it anymore. I saw that Lewis Laughlin won the overall race. That makes him Molokai Solo champion on a surfski and Super Aito champ on a rudderless canoe. My guess is that this is unprecedented.
I'd love to hear more about the races from anyone who was there. The pictures on the website looked amazing.
Submitted by kimo on Mon, 08/20/2007 - 6:57pm
We are working on getting some stuff up.
#1 Mon, 08/20/2007 - 7:59pm
Kimo - here was my earlier post:
The results for the first three stages are up at:
http://vaatahiti.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=158
The longest stages were up yesterday and today… its not going to be pretty.
I must say those Hawaii guys had mucho guts come down to the South Pacific and take that one on.
We know that race down here, and wouldn’t even attempt it without at least a solid year on a rudderless canoe - otherwise it could be your worst nightmare - make Molokai 2007 look like a picnic.
Hope the guys finish well though - good luck!
So, not sure how the Hawaii guys finished up in the end, it has been difficult to find the full results, other than the top ten. Lewis sure is a legend though!
#2 Tue, 08/21/2007 - 9:29am
Props to our guys for competing. Gotta start somewhere - right on Luke! Fa`aitoito!
#3 Tue, 08/21/2007 - 11:18am
Thanks. That was the link.
The level of competition looks unreal. 10 minutes out in most one man races and you are still in the top 10 or even the top 5. In those races you are out of the top 50.
Maybe Luke can fill us in when he gets a chance. Interisland races in a rudderless canoe is hard core. I'd love to hear more about it.
#4 Tue, 08/21/2007 - 12:31pm
Crazzola! And to think I was actually upset having to use a weed rudder for our time-trial!
#5 Tue, 08/21/2007 - 3:17pm
.
#6 Fri, 03/02/2012 - 9:08am
Iaorana brothers of va'a, for your support of Super Aito Tahiti.
all results and photos on vaatahiti.com
maururu Charley.
#7 Thu, 08/23/2007 - 8:07am
The canoes up there are made of fiberglass but also a huge portion of the racers have full carbon boats that are super light. The boat with wood strips you saw was built right before the race and was also fairly light the deck was made of carbon.
#8 Thu, 08/23/2007 - 10:02am
Luke, great job on the completion of this amazin paddling race and the well written race story...
IMO rudderless va'a is the true test of your "oneness" with the ocean.
#9 Thu, 08/23/2007 - 1:54pm