Wild conditions for Rio Va’a 2003 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

[Photos] Photographer:Jean Jacques Limbourg

Polynesian traditions and Molokai Hoe Conditions for Rio Va’a 2003, Latin America's largest international va’a (Polynesian canoe) race.

Rio Va’a 2003, Latin America's largest international Polynesian canoe race was held on December 19-20 on Praia Vermelha, next to the Sugar Loaf and along Rio de Janeiro's fabulous beaches and Guanabara Bay.

The event started on the 19th, with Latin America's first one-man canoe race,
using Tahitian style V1s on a 2 km course along the Sugar Loaf. This new
category should grow very fast in 2004 as new designs are being introduced into
the local market.

The skies opened up for Saturday’s big 6-man race and large waves, strong
currents and gusty winds created rough sea conditions that made the race a very
challenging one, with Molokai channel conditions.

The race started with the blessing ceremony of 4 new canoes, named “Lokahi”,
“Kawaihae”, “Kila Kila” and “Pili Ohana”, celebrated in Hawaiian by LOKAHI
steersman Keone Pasion. The 4 canoes were blessed according to Polynesian
tradition : Pacific ocean sea water, ti leaves and Molokai salt brought by the
Lokahi team and Mauna Kea lake water sent by Kawaihae Canoe Club president Manny
Veincent were essential ingredients to a unique ceremony that consecrated
Brazil’s place in the Va’a/Wa’a ohana.

After equipment and security checks on the canoes, race officials blew the
starting horn of the Rio de Janeiro Yacht Club escort boat, for the all-category
race start – with the master men’s, mixed and ladies teams paddling the 19
km course along Copacabana and Ipanema beaches and the open men’s doing the 28
km course that included paddling around the Sugar Loaf and into the bay, a
channel known for its strong and shifting currents.

Leading the race from the start, team “Claro Outrigger Rio Clube” almost
lost its ‘ama, from a combination of heavy surf conditions and an untested new i’
ako with excessive flexibility but was able to regain the race leadership
after a fortune repair, in front of Copacabana fort. Iemanja, goddess of the sea
of the afro-brazilian culture, definitely was not with the local team as
Kawaihae, ORC’s brand new canoe swamped in cross currents at Sugar Loaf point, less
than 1 mile from the finish line, and ended up severely damaged during rescue
operations by Rio de Janeiro Yacht Club escort boats.

Lokahi from Hawaii completed the superb course as winners, showing local
teams that a well managed race and precise steering could guarantee first place
even without a full line-up (2 local paddlers entered as backups).

The Velox Va’a Clube master men’s team completed a flaw-less 19 km course
and will be a strong contender for the upcoming Rio de Janeiro state sprints
championships to be held in early march.

In the mixed race, Outrigger Barra Clube won the mixed race and the 5 wahine
team from Outrigger Rio Clube also showed that brazilian girls will be a force
to count with in the next years.

For this second edition of Rio Va’a organizers received inquiries from 45
teams from 17 countries as well as Hawaii and Tahiti. Rio Va’a 2004 and the sport
is expected to grow fast in Brazil as the initiative to build canoes in Rio
de Janeiro is starting to pay up.

Lokahi paddlers Rudy Briones, David Shamblin, Clayton Kaichi and Keone
Pasion, Hawaiian paddler Jack Dyson who paddled with Velox Va'a Clube and Marina Del
Rey paddler Carlton ‘Au-i-ke-kai-loa Chase who paddled with Outrigger Rio,
were enthusiastic about the course and difficult sea conditions and wowed to
come back for Rio Va’a 2004 with full teams.

Paddlers, organizers, friends and families celebrated this victory of the
sport until late hours around the Rio de Janeiro Yacht Club pool. The party had
the proper ingredients of Brazilian shrimp “Bobó de camarão” served by Bistrô
Carioca restaurant, coconut and cachaça “batida de Coco” cocktails, lots of
beer and a show by Samba school Caprichosos de Pilares that gave the final
brazilian touch…

The race could not have been held without the help of public and private
partners :
· Main sponsor : LIZ CLAIBORNE of Bora Bora Perfume;
· Main partner : Iate Clube do Rio de Janeiro (escort boats, buoys,
awards party location);
· Additional sponsors : Claro celular fone company, DBEnvironnement
(environmental consulting and communication firm) and Velox Academy;
· Additional partners: Tijuca National Park (helicopter coverage), City
of Rio de Janeiro City – Secretariat of Sports and Leisure and RioTur, State
of Rio de Janeiro – TurisRio.

Additional information and race fotos :
Nicolas Bourlon - President Rio Va’a Hui Hoe - Outrigger Rio Clube :
(21) 9967 8333 / 8133 1486
Site : www.outrigger.com.br / email riowaa@aol.com.

Rio Va’a 2003 OC1 race results – 2 km course
Result Name Nationality City, country Club Time
1st placeNicolas BourlonFrenchRio de Janeiro, BrazilRio Va’a Hui Hoe - Outrigger Rio Club 13min58s07
2nd placeJack Dyson American Maui, Hawaii Hawaiian Canoe Club 15min16s57
3rd place Marcelo Martins Brazilian Santos, Brazil//15min18s01
4th place Gustavo Ramalho Brazilian Rio de Janeiro, BrazilOutrigger Barra Clube 15min18s00
5th place Marcelo Depardo Brazilian Rio de Janeiro, BrazilCarioca Va’a Clube 15min27s00
6th placeMarcelo MartinsBrazilianBrasilia, Federal District//15min37s00

Rio Va’a 2003 Master and novice men race results – 19 km course
Result Club Canoe Team Steersperson Time
1st place Praia Vermelha Va’a Clube Rio de Janeiro, Brasil Pili OhanaVelox Va’a Clube – Master menRogério Martins 1:48:45
2nd placeBotafogo Futebol e Regatas Rio de Janeiro, BrasilLanikaiBotafogo Master menYves Nicolas 2:03:41
3rd placeOutrigger Barra Clube Rio de Janeiro, BrasilKaneEstação do Corpo - Novice menMarcos Crispim 2:28:35

Rio Va’a 2003 Mixed (3 women and 5 women) race results – 19 km course
Result Club Canoe Team Steersperson Time
1st placeOutrigger Barra Clube Rio de Janeiro, Brasil Lanakila Estação do Corpo - Mixed open 3 womenSérgio Koeningsfeld2 11:13
1st placeOutrigger Rio Clube Rio de Janeiro, BrasilKila KilaMixed open 5 womenNilce Canine2 38:14

Open men’s race results – 28 km course
Result Club Canoe Team Steersperson Time
1st placeLokahi Canoe Club, Honolulu. Hawaii LokahiLokaki –Open Men Keone Pasion 3:14:08
DNFRio Va’a Hui Hoe - Outrigger Rio Club – Rio de Janeiro, Brasil Kawaihae Claro Bora Bora Outrigger Rio Nicolas Bourlon//
DNFOutrigger Santos CLUB – São Paulo, Brasil Ruahatu “Eddy”Vit Shop / EAS Outrigger Santos Club Francisco Perez//

Posted by keizo on Sat, 12/27/2003 - 7:40pm