It appears this year’s Women’s and Men’s Molokai will be very competitive and challenging- I would love to here everyone’s thoughts. The pre-season races are certainly providing the fuel to the drama
Na Wahine O Ke Kai-Women’s Molokai
Team Bradley will be challenged by very, very hungry Team Hui Lanakila and Waikiki Beach Boys. I am sure there are some other women’s teams in Hawaii who want to fly under the radar before Molokai but who are also looking for respect on race day. Also we have to consider an Australian, California, or Canadian All-Star Team showing up. I am not in the know, but others might know if they are coming or not.
I am always thinking about a Tahitian women’s team as well. With all of the great men’s paddlers in Tahiti, I am surprised a women’s team hasn’t won Molokai yet. Maybe they are on the way this year. Imagine the party in Tahiti if they won both the Men’s and Women’s race in the same year.
Molokai Hoe-Men’s Molokai
Again like the women the competition will be crazy.
I don’t know exactly who is showing up (others might fill in the blanks) but I can make some guesses.
I imagine Tahiti crews will look to repeat-Matai Shell and others. I don’t need to go into how strong those crews are.
Team Tiger-Australia- Since they won Hamilton they probably gained a lot of confidence but know how hard they will have to work to win Molokai. It appears they have the horses, but can they put it together.
Lanakila California-They have improved every-year and will push hard again
Hawaii-Crews
There are many Hawaii crews who will battle this year-
Lanikai, Team New Zealand-Hawaii, Outrigger, Hawaiian, Tui Tonga, and others. It is hard to pick a favorite and I would love to hear what people are thinking.
Submitted by Kona J on Mon, 09/03/2007 - 9:12am
If it's not a downhill/tradewind channel, I'd be amazed if Shell didn't win, but I like your Lanakila pick,too, kona J. With "traditional" conditions, look for a downwind duel between channel surfers Tresnak(outrigger) and Foti(Lanikai), with whatever crew Kai Bartlett is on also in the mix.
#1 Mon, 09/03/2007 - 9:54am
Jim,
Do you paddle?
#2 Mon, 09/03/2007 - 11:54am
Sometimes I paddle my monkey when he's bad.
#3 Mon, 09/03/2007 - 4:48pm
Paddling your monkey?? Dude, I thought the reason you didn't show for practice was because you were sick?! Oh heck. Hawaiian is going to be an interesting crew to watch for Molokai, as well as Outrigger. I'm always a little intrigued when JP coaches a crew.
#4 Mon, 09/03/2007 - 4:52pm
One of the Tahitian coaches at Kona this weekend said 4 of the top Tahitian crews were coming. He also said Shell Va'a was better than ever.
I'll be praying for heavy wind and big surf.
#5 Tue, 09/04/2007 - 8:21am
All I know is, theres no time like the present to shut down Tahiti. Great paddlers, but its about home turf and Hawaiian pride and tradition.
I hear they're sending 5 crews to claim "top 5" honors in attempt to discredit the title of "world championships". It will only further the competition and vigor.
Good job last year fellas. Flat water conditions can prove some of the variables that make a good crew while open ocean/channel address others. So yes, bring on the wind and waves.
Competition looks very tough this year. Outrigger, Lanikai, Hawaiian, Tui Tonga. No offense, but don't waste your keystrokes mentioning mainland crews.
#6 Tue, 09/04/2007 - 10:15am
I'm rooting for the Beach Boys womens crew over the rockstars.
#7 Tue, 09/04/2007 - 10:14am
i think in the womens race it will be extremely hard to beat the australian women - surf or flat - they will be there. in the mens i think tahiti if its flat - outrigger in the surf. team tiger top 3 flat or surf.
#8 Tue, 09/04/2007 - 4:10pm
I think if it's flat, Tahiti will smash...
If it's light-normal trades, Tahiti will smash..
If it's blowing normal trades, Tahiti will still win..
And if it's heavy trades, Tahiti will win, but by less.
Not to be anti-Hawai'i or anything, i would love to see Outrigger, Lanikai, Hawaiian, Steinlager, or Tui Tonga take it.. i just don't think it's going to happen this year.. or in the next couple of years.
#9 Tue, 09/04/2007 - 5:06pm
Luke... know where you live.
#10 Tue, 09/04/2007 - 6:42pm
What if gravity reverses itself and canoes must be paddled upside down with SCUBA gear on? Will the tahitians still be able to win? Even if they have to use radishes instead of paddles? I'd bet my mano'i oil on it.
#11 Tue, 09/04/2007 - 11:12pm
There's been other times in the past when they seemed just as deep and invincible. They're human, too. Luke, Lewis Laughlin is about 40 yrs. old. Don't you think if you paddled rudderless for the next fifteen years straight you'd be that fast? Use the force, Luke. Someone from Hawaii will win the channel this year...
#12 Wed, 09/05/2007 - 3:26am
What if they tested everyone for performance enhancing drugs? Would that change things?
Regardless, I'm putting my money on Outrigger this year. John Puakea is going to have those guys dialed in this year.
#13 Wed, 09/05/2007 - 4:14am
I reckon Mooloolaba Masters will hook a runner just off La'au Pt, ride it all the way to Diamond Head and be the 1st Masters crew to win outright, retiring as Legends and role models for the older gent.
Remember that classic bump from '96 off diamond Head light House.......
http://rambos-locker.blogspot.com/2007/05/molokai-hoe-bump.html
Rambo
#14 Wed, 09/05/2007 - 1:27pm
Rambo,
How how long did you paddle with the Mooloolaba Masters? I paddled with Hui Lanakilas Masters for years and Mooloolaba was always our nemesis. One of their guys paddled with us one year....I can't remember his name but he was a big strong guy and worked as a refrigerator repair guy. Real nice guy and it was his first time paddling Molokai.
We were only able to beat them once, in 2001, but that was a very big channel that year and Leighton outsteered Danny.
We always had a lot of respect for Mooloolaba. Real tough bunch of paddlers,
JH
#15 Wed, 09/05/2007 - 4:56pm
That guy was Phil Thistlewood (BIG Phil) he's paddling again this year. I missed selection in '94 and '95 at 70kg (the year Walter Guild and Todd Bradley paddled Hammo with us) and then they went for heavyweights and have ever since. I believe that's what cost them the race last year, too many big guys.
Love to see a bunch of fit lightweights win Molokai.
Rambo
#16 Wed, 09/05/2007 - 5:27pm
Tall people have the advantage of a larger lungvolume, an advantage for strength-endurance sports, also better biomechanics. Smaller people have the weight advantage.
Weight becomes less of an issue in OC 6 because of a higher overall weight compared to OC 1.Average height/weight olympic rowing champions: 6'4", 206 lbs.
Supposedly the difference in weight in % has to be divided by 6 to find the difference in speed in %. You can argue either way, I like boats with a good mix.
Hawaiian teams like Lanikai and Outrigger will always have a good chance, their steersmen are just extremely good.
#17 Wed, 09/05/2007 - 10:25pm
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2004/Oct/11/sp/sp10p.html
#18 Wed, 09/05/2007 - 10:35pm
Eckhart, that's another reason why we should be able to race unlimited lightweight OC6's. Instead of filling a 400Ib canoe to it's design displacement weight (currently 1100Ibs crew only) we could build a canoe to suit lightweight paddlers (say combined weight 954Ibs) and then be truly a level playing field. K1 is like this now. I'm sure the women would appreciate it too.
Actually it's not just weight, design could also come into it as a lighter crew would not need the same canoe volume, so beam could be narrower and wetted surface area smaller making for a faster canoe.
Is that not how it is with large and small volume OC1 canoes.
Cheers Rambo
#19 Thu, 09/06/2007 - 12:23am
Back in the day picking crews on the beach, the tall guys would always go first. It seems everyone knew instinctively what eckhart just said. Of course, these were really good tall guys, not just big for nothing. Rambo, aren't the Team Tiger guys pretty tall?
#20 Thu, 09/06/2007 - 3:59am
Jim said ....."Rambo, aren’t the Team Tiger guys pretty tall?"
Well let me put it this way Jim .. 2 of them are booked on as cargo with Qantas and the other 7 have been taking yoga lessons so they can maintain the lotus position for an extended period of flying time.
Rambo
#21 Thu, 09/06/2007 - 11:35am
Hi Rambo,
how would you think that should be done ? Different weight classes ?
Eckhart
PS sorry about your iakos ...
#22 Thu, 09/06/2007 - 7:00pm
Lanakila California will be the top non tahitian mens crew to finish. They´ve improved in every race this year finishing third at the Queen Liliuokalani Long Distance Canoe Race ahead of many of the top hawaiin crews and Team New Zealand. They placed second at Catalina ahead of Tui Tonga and a Tahitiian crew.
#23 Mon, 09/10/2007 - 8:14am
Whoever thinks tahitians can only win if its flat to moderate you are wrong. They can definetly surf and Nemo they aren't sending 5 crews to discredit the world championships. When I was there I learned that a tahitians dream is to win a Molokai and that to them that's the biggest race they could win. The super aito was developed to keep them competitive and training for the Molokai. So to come here and discredit it is a totally wrong thought.
#24 Mon, 09/10/2007 - 10:12am
hapakid, glad you bring a new theory to the table (ironing table) for the molokai.
errrr, how does lanakila become the best crew when they've not won a major race yet this year?
maybe they'll be one of the top crews, but to imply that they will be the first non tahitian crew to finish on the grounds that they've had a bunch of close seconds and thirds is kind of silly.
i'd just say that there are about 10 to 12 crews that could win the race on any given day and leave it at that, lanakila may be one of them...
#25 Mon, 09/10/2007 - 10:23am
It's not a theory it's a fact.
#26 Mon, 09/10/2007 - 10:27am
I don't think people are saying Tahitians can't surf. It's just that most of the times Tahitians have won (if not every time) it was relatively flat. There's no doubt that flat conditions are not ideal for most of the elite local crews.
#27 Mon, 09/10/2007 - 3:33pm
Molokai wasn't exactly flat last year and the Tahitians still dominated. It wasn't a big channel but we were surfing the whole way. Only way Tahiti doesn't win, is if it's epic surf (10' plus) That's when a couple of Hawaiin teams will have an advantage.
#28 Tue, 09/11/2007 - 4:40am
Oh yea, Lanakila will be one of the top three teams to finish outside of the Tahitians.
#29 Tue, 09/11/2007 - 4:42am
any given sunday anything can happen
jc9 0 take a look in the past, sometimes it dosent take a great season or any wins for a team to perform well for the final race of the year
#30 Tue, 09/11/2007 - 5:49am
kelly, I was not there, and so I propably shouldn't speak on it. But I can imagine there are different opinions over there as there are here.
I watched some video of the tahitians paddling molokai, and shoots, they can catch waves.
#31 Tue, 09/11/2007 - 8:35am
Anyone want to revise their predictions after seeing the Ayau results?
In the waves, OCC took off.
In the flats, OCC went farther.
On the flat desert that is the leward side, OCC went farther again...
#32 Mon, 09/17/2007 - 11:07am
I'm sticking with my original picks of Hawaiian and Outrigger...but, does anyone know the deal with Lanikai using a koa boat? Are they training to run the Channel in the koa class?? I'm not smart enough to see the prep benefits in this decision.
#33 Mon, 09/17/2007 - 11:59am
Come to think of it, it would be sweet to be able to race a koa and still come in third!
#34 Mon, 09/17/2007 - 12:04pm
It would be sweeter to race koa and win the whole thing.
Just like how jc9-0 is going to win molosolo on his rodomold oc-1 next year. see you out there
#35 Mon, 09/17/2007 - 12:57pm
Maybe Lanikai is conceding the overall victory and wants to break the koa course record. The Hokulele is a nice boat, but I doubt it's faster than a crispy new fiberglass one. Looks like Coach Puakea has the Outrigger boys totally dialed for Molos. He's gotta be the premier coach in the buisness nowday, outside of Tahiti anyway. jc9, your back's really gonna be sore after soloing aboard the roto mold!
#36 Mon, 09/17/2007 - 2:26pm
Well it looks like those Lanikila boys were beatable after all judging from Maui 2 Molos and Henry Ayau . No harm ment but I was suprised with there performances in those races considering word on the street that they were channel contenders . They seem to be fit as any and fast in the flats but I cant remember them ever killing it in a surfing race . I know Californian's have a different idea on what surf actually is but Hawaii crews have at least 3 crews that will take them out in a ruff channel, and im sorry last year I dont remember any white caps ? If it goes flat they will perform better than if it is a big channel . No diss just my thoughts ...
#37 Mon, 09/17/2007 - 11:51pm
2nd and 6th place... paddling how many miles on consecutive days? a disappointment? how could those results turn them into anything less than contenders? These are tune ups my friend. Dont get your panties in a bind because a couple people on this forum support crews outside Hawaii. Sure Lanakila isn´t the #1 contender, but not to consider them as a top 5 team who have competed in races in Hawaii so far this year is a joke and not to consider a top 5 crew a threat is nonsense.
#38 Tue, 09/18/2007 - 9:00am
whats the word?
oh yeah...
BARNEY!
#39 Tue, 09/18/2007 - 10:53am
Sounds like a pretty solid performance considering they probably weren't in the Islands for long prior to the "double duty". I imagine they'll improve as they rest and acclimate.
#40 Tue, 09/18/2007 - 3:19pm
Yes, Lanakila got second in Maui to Molokai, but they were nearly nine minutes off of first place in a surfing race, but they were also beat by Livestrong. Granted Livestrong was in a Tahitian stye boat, but Lanakila was beat pretty handily nonetheless. If five crews beat Lanakila in the Henry from Hawaii how will they face up to Team Tiger and other crews. You can support who ever you want and make salty comments like "Barney" and say things like "dont get your panties in ruffle " but the bottom line still remains , you Californians will be getting worked in the bumps . Not these "Catalina style" bumps you folk talk about LOL " Kaiwi real deal Hawaiian style" bumps . You only hope is that it goes flat .....
#41 Tue, 09/18/2007 - 9:53pm
Yeah, Paddle Pimp, if it's blowing 15-25 trades their overall placing could be affected dramatically. Of course, I'm always cheering for my windward side crews, but it looks like Outrigger is about the only crew that has a legitimate shot at the Tahitians, and then only if it's blowing hard. And yes, add Team Tiger to that list of top contenders. I imagine they'll be somewhere in the Hawaiian/Team NZ/ Lanikai range. Rambo, besides Mooloolaba and Tiger, what other Aussie crews will be there? What about the North Cliffs team that won one of the Hammo races?
#42 Wed, 09/19/2007 - 4:01am
Jim, Mooloolaba are only sending a Masters crew this year and the Northcliffe crew pulled out some time ago. Team Tiger are my pick.
Not aware of any others from here.
Cheers Rambo
#43 Thu, 09/20/2007 - 11:24am
Paddlepimple... you obviously haven't spent much time on the north shore, although I am getting older now, back then barney was what we refered to as california kooks... just wanted to clear that up.
#44 Thu, 09/20/2007 - 5:16pm