Time to talk Molokai Men and Women.
I don’t know much about what is happening with the Women. It might be the same as last year. Team Bradley with Hui Lanakila trying hard to take them out.
Australian women coming? Finances will have an influence on the race for teams to travel-men and women
Outlook for the Men's race
So last year after Molokai, the impression I got was that top Tahitian crews are not coming back for a while. I wonder if that is true. Hiro C maybe can let us know.
Will Lanikai make another push? Answer Of Course. But does Kai B. race with them. I think the Dolan Brothers are gone for Olympic training. So they might be a little slower than last year. Yes I wrote that
It appears Outrigger is still building and will be strong.
In a regatta race Keahou Canoe Club had Bruce Ayau, "Ikaika" Hauanio, "Nate" Hendricks, Seth Koppes, "T" Lussia'a and Andy Penny race sprints. That is solid. Will they remain together or will they split up for team Live Strong and other All-Star teams
Kailua is building as well.
I think they should take the top 9 Team Pueo riders and make a Team Pueo. That would be strong. Danny, Jimmy A., Luke, Kelly, Manny, Tapa, etc.
Will there be an all Hawaiian PAA team again with Manny putting it together?
Any Australian men’s crews going to step up? I know the last time a strong Aussie crew came they took 9th-Team Tiger. They can’t be happy with that. Rambo will know of course
Your thoughts and rumors??
Submitted by Kona J on Fri, 06/26/2009 - 10:40am
Until a team from Hawaii can go down to Tahiti and win the Hawaiiki Nui, who cares about the Molokai Hoe. Championship paddling runs through tahiti. Hawaiiki Nui should now be recognized as the true World Championship race. I believe our Hawaii teams should be focusing on Hawaiiki Nui, with Molokai Hoe playing a part of the training process for that race.
JMHO. I know I going get killed by making the comment above, but that is what I truly believe. Time to give the Tahitians the credit and recognition they deserve.
Anyway, with that said, I think the winner of Molokai Hoe will be some kind of dial a crew, put together team. However, at this stage of the season, Outrigger would have to be at or near the top.
JawsOut.
#1 Fri, 06/26/2009 - 11:10am
Agreed about Hawaiki Nui being a / the goal race (still think Moloka'i is a premiere race tho.
May 2010: Rangiroa Channel Hoe 80 km every-other-year race. Tahiti is preparing for that and you should see the year's best competition at that race.
Info on the last time they ran it (2008)
http://www.vaatahiti.com/index.php?Itemid=32&id=281&option=com_content&t...
#2 Fri, 06/26/2009 - 11:28am
Dont care about your local race? Yeah, thatll happen.
My money will be on a dark horse.
#3 Fri, 06/26/2009 - 11:59am
I think you're absolutely correct, Ratchet. Molokai is still a big race, but w/ out Tahitians, any race loses importance. Still, whoever wins will be thrilled anyway. As for crews, I like the team Pueo idea, and yes, Lanikai will lose something w/ out Kai and the Dolans. Outrigger has a way of winning in the years where there is no clear favorite.
#4 Fri, 06/26/2009 - 1:59pm
Nah, jpi, I care about the Molokai Hoe. I just trying to stir the pot to try to get our young bucks to start thinking about going down to Tahiti instead of just settling for the Hoe. We (Hawaii), need to start broadening our horizons and cannot expect the big dogs to come play on our porch every year. This is also true for the Aussie's and Maori's as well. Canoe paddling is truly becoming an international sport. Then, on the horizon, we need prepare ourselves for the European invasion. Once those guys start to get serious, then all hell is going to break loose.
I wish I was young again.....
JawsOut.
#5 Fri, 06/26/2009 - 1:59pm
Just based strictly on whats been happening in the regatta season - the women's side looks to be very interesting - in particular is the Outrigger women - they've been looking really strong fundamentally in terms of their technique on the water during practice runs but I don't know how deep their talent pool will be but they have a good solid core of talented veterans mixed in with some new talents. Of course, Hui Lanakila and Waikiki Beach Boy's women will always be top contenders. And then of course, the "all-star" crews are always there on top.
#6 Fri, 06/26/2009 - 2:01pm
Hawaii should use the Sham Wow method of bailing like Tahiti does. #2 drops it down in the boat. #5 throws it out.
Escort boat picks them up, wrings them out ready to use again. Works great.
#7 Fri, 06/26/2009 - 4:10pm
LOL ^^^
ok well i agree with all the above about tahiti. Just seeing the crews up there and the races and the competition, Tahiti has just been locking down the title there. However, winning the molokai hoe is a great accomplishment in itself. I think its an amazing feat for any crew. Its still amazing to watch crews battle it out bump after bump. And of course, no crew should be satisfied with just the hoe. Theres always another crew out there better than your own.
On another note, any special appearances in crews this year that anyone knows about?
#8 Fri, 06/26/2009 - 6:22pm
You bet, all us paddlers would love to travel, but unfortunately, Hawaii is very expensive place for live. Most of us got to work more than one job or take on side jobs (including spouse) to make it. Plus pay for private school tuition too for all the kids. So how we find time for paddle is amazing? The Molokai is about all the traveling I can do and afford, unless I can work some place that pays me for paddle?
#9 Sat, 06/27/2009 - 5:06am
Yeah I agree. I dont think its a matter of finding people hungry enough to go to Tahiti every year. I think its the logistics. I save my funds for the 1 man outer island races. I cant imagine what it would cost a crew to travel over there without heavy sponsorship.
#10 Sat, 06/27/2009 - 9:38pm
about $1500 per person.
#11 Sat, 06/27/2009 - 10:07pm
jc9...i think airfares alone will run close to $1,000, then finding a place to stay, buy food, etc...it adds up real fast. If can get Hawaiian Miles over and back...I think its about 50,000 miles, then I think that $1,500 is a nice comfortable figure.
However, what you get back in return from just being there and being around a Super Bowl type atmosphere for 3 days...that is priceless. Gotta experience that.
JawsOut.
#12 Mon, 06/29/2009 - 8:53am
I was wondering who Karel J is steering this year. Or maybe he is taking a break? Stay with Lanikai? Go with his friends from Outrigger again? All-Star group?
#13 Fri, 07/03/2009 - 7:03am
Until you come down to Tahiti and see with your eyes how do they live, you'll never know. You can all take your own conclusions about they having all the support in the world.
IF YOU WANT SOMETHING, YOU MAKE IT HAPPEN!
The difference is in Tahiti the whole community cares about paddling. They recognize their awesome athletes, and support them in any way they can, not talking about money.
There is so many teams that don't have chance to go to Moloka'i Hoe, but they still dream about it. While they can't go to Moloka'i Hoe, they train as hard as they can for their races.
THEY ALL DO WORK FULL TIME JOBS, they don't get paid to paddle.
The difference is THEY DON'T PAY TO PADDLE! They don't have canoe club dues or races entree fee to pay. The clubs find sponsors for that. So because they are "sponsored" they give all the time they can to paddle/train, because they love it!
And they live simple!!!!!
I love to paddle, I don't have a bunch of money (and I don't need to have a lot of money), I don't have any major sponsor, but I try to make it happen the way I can. I did lost my job for coming down to Tahiti and train with, what I think, is the best. Ok.... I don't have kids! That's why I didn't really care about loosing my job....
With good friends that give me whatever support they can, with my own will, and of course the most important God's blessings, He is the One that really makes it happen, you can do whatever you want!
Back to the point..... OPT is not going to Moloka'i Hoe this year.... If Shell Va'a doesn't win Faati-Moorea race tomorrow, they won't go either. Seems like EDT is going this year.....
So stay tuned 'cause Shell have to win tomorrow's race to go to Moloka'i.
#14 Fri, 07/03/2009 - 9:45am
Emily, are you sure you aren't Tahitian ?
#15 Fri, 07/03/2009 - 3:39pm
My molokai hoe prediction: Kailua Freshman are busting an 87 stroke count the whole channel
#16 Fri, 07/03/2009 - 5:11pm
Spoken like a true Amazon warrior!
Chicken skin Emili, i can feel the passion.
#17 Fri, 07/03/2009 - 7:47pm
I would go (Emili), sometimes on this forum along comes a post that cuts right thru all the BS and comes from the heart .... you just posted that post.
Thank you
Rambo
#18 Sat, 07/04/2009 - 12:32am
Imua Emilli!!!!
#19 Sat, 07/04/2009 - 5:21am
My team has been trying to come over for many years now. It is very hard to make the journey over from nz. it will cost at least $2500nzd per person. We will try again this year but with winter training and the expense, it becomes very hard.
#20 Sat, 07/04/2009 - 6:02am
Austarlian Club - Northcliffe are sending over two teams this year. They are the current top club team in Australia for Open Men and broke the Hamilton Island record by 10mins. So a top ten would be good from them.
#21 Sun, 07/05/2009 - 4:42pm
Iaorana Hiro!!! Nope.... I'm not Tahitian it would be an honor!!! And I could move here for good!!! lol =D I'm not Hawaiian neither, but since here in Tahiti everybody thinks I'm Hawaiian because that's what they saw when I filled my address on registration papers, it's an honor to represent Hawaii 'cause I love to live there, that's home for me, and that's where I was introduced to paddling..... =)
And Joe and Mariano thank you for always encourage me!!!
Rambo, you made me happy when I read what you wrote =) 'Cause it was from the heart. I'm just tired to read the same BS excuses all the time! Thank you =)
GOOD NEWS: SHELL WON THE RACE!!!! So they are showing up to blow up again! =)
EDT got second, 'cause OPT huli!!!!
#22 Sun, 07/05/2009 - 5:01pm
only easy Emili,
we all share this passion for Paddling and the traditions, and regardless the place you were born, deep in your soul you feel right at home paddling Va'a. so its not to crazy Tahitians feel happy to welcome you and feel you are one of them, same thing in Hawaii. cause is in your heart!!!
i am very happy to follow all your acomplishments, cause you are living your dreams, and that is the ultimate journey!!
one more time!!
IMUA EMILI!!
#23 Mon, 07/06/2009 - 5:24am