Kai Bartlett takes Starbucks Maui Challenge - Apr 23

Maui Canoe & Kayak Club 2005 Hurricane Ocean Racing Series
STARBUCKS MAUI CHALLENGE – April23, 2005
Flemings, Maui to Kaunakakai, Molokai - 26 miles

The shores of Flemings Beach were festive and alive with all our beautiful toys, competitors and supporters. The hum of pre-race activity filled the air while paddlers enjoyed Starbucks coffee and pastries, assembled their rigs, registered for the race and waited anxiously for the “late” arrival of equipment. It is always nice to see paddling friends from other shores and to catch-up on the latest scoops. We thank those returning paddlers from Hawaii, Canada, New Zealand, California, Australia and Oahu who have returned year after year in support of this race. We also welcome all first times to our little Maui `ohana and we hope it was a good experience for you all.

Race Highlights:

Rides, rides, rides, surf, surf, surf… gee to many it seemed as if we hardly paddled at all. During one piece I actually thought, this is what Kai and Mike & Manny folks must feel like all the time, it was so effortless and it was like being on one l…o…n….g… ride. No matter what one’s level of surfing ability, yesterday, you caught a few waves, guaranteed.

Always funny to hear the stories from the relay teams. From the OC-1 co-ed relay teams it was common to hear that the male partners were short changing their female teammates on paddling time. Once the race started the agreed on 30/20 minute split changed to, O.K. that’s enough, hurry up, get off, time to change 30/10 or 30/15 minutes. You all know how it is; we start racing and that other inner “you” shows up. Congratulations to Mael Carey & Andrea Moller for their victory in this division. I must say that it was hard for anyone to sit on the escort boat and watch. Those who went solo yesterday had the right idea, lots of FUN.

You can read the results and see our top finishers, they are all so awesome with the top 8 finishing under 3 hours. What’s within those results, well: We can tell that the Moloka`i paddlers have been training as their standings have greatly improved, nice job!

The OC-1 women’s relay race was a tough match-up with Margie & Dane finishing 8 _ minutes in front of OC-6 teammates Noe & Cherisse. Margie and many other Maui paddlers sure missed Marko today and we all thought about him as we raced with him in our hearts.

Knapper enjoyed his crossing and shared his stories of all the sea life he was able to see, too bad he wasn’t dragging a line, I think he would have caught dinner.

18 year old Carter Barto paddling with his mom Tamara on the OC-2 co-ed unknowingly made her day when he exclaimed to her after a nice series on the water “mom, you rock”. Father and husband Eric Barto, coming off a great season won the Solo 40+ division.

JP Mihlbauer expressed that wining the OC-2 men Relay division was great. Even though they were not 1st to the beach he noted that they finished 5th behind Surfski and canoe world champions. How much more could you ask for? What an awesome field.

There were 13 OC-1 men teams. With Big Island paddlers Harrison Heen & Jake Chong taking the master’s division and Moloka`i firefighter Ekolu Kalama & Maui’s OC-1 season winner, Felipe Gomes taking the open division.

The paddleboarders had their own challenges and they all safely made it to Kaunakakai although it took a bit longer than anticipated. I believe for 2006 we will be making this division a relay team instead of solo.

Only one competitor was not able to complete the course as he dislocated his shoulder only minutes into the race. Arthur Cholakis from New York did enjoy the boat ride and hospitality of the crew and we are glad you are O.K.

In closing: It is always the best feeling to be out there paddling with my husband, Ricky on our OC-2. I’m so thankful to have a great partner. We were able to race with Reggie, Ricky’s brother, and our good friend, Jocelyn Hrkach (who made all the awards) and to have Samantha on board to kokua. To us, it is all about family and friends and having a good time.

Maui Canoe & Kayak Club, run by paddlers for paddlers, aims to spread the aloha through paddling and friendly competition, to make it as affordable as possible and yet have the best and most we can for all the paddlers. We are in this together and we thank our members for the support. Starbucks played a big factor in this race with their donations and we thank them for all their efforts and their aloha. A big Mahalo also to the Big Island group, who showed up in force, almost 30 paddlers, you folks are so organized and on it. MAHALO.

A hui hou, Sharon & Ricky

PLACE               NAME                  VESSEL        MAKE     DIVISION PLACE   TIME
  1  Paul Wilford                         Surfski       Mako    Solo open  1st  2:48:14
  2  Kai Bartlett                          OC-1       Pegasus   Solo open  1st  2:52:23
  3  Mike Judd                             OC-1        Pahoa    Solo open  2nd  2:53:29
  4  Manny Kulukulualani                   OC-1       Vantage   Solo open  3rd  2:55:26
  5  JP Mihlbauer & Mark Shimmer           OC-2      Waveblade     Team    1st  2:57:41
  6  Nabil Vogele & Tony Calderon                                  Men
  7  Jacob Abeytia                         OC-1      Hurricane  Solo open  4th  2:57:46
  8  Keali`i Pai`aina                      OC-1       Polaris   Solo open  5th  2:58:56
  9  Patrick Dolan                         OC-1       Pegasus   Solo open  6th  2:59:45
 10  Felipe Gomes & Ekolu Kalama           OC-1      Hurricane  Open Team  1st  3:00:19
 11  Tapa Worthington                      OC-1        Pahoa    Solo open  7th  3:00:32
 12  JB Guard                              OC-1        Pahoa    Solo open  8th  3:02:32
 13  Kekoa Cramer                          OC-1      Hurricane  Solo open  9th  3:04:09
 14  Geoff Bogar                          Surfski     Mako Pro  Solo open  2nd  3:05:07
 15  Barry Franks                         Surfski       Huki    Solo open  3rd  3:05:25
 16  Dave Kalama, Junya McGurn             OC-2       Stingray     Team    2nd  3:05:35
     Leleo Kinimaka, Mel Pu`u                                      Men
 17  Thibert Luisaa                        OC-1       Polaris   Solo open  10th 3:05:46
 18  Tyson Kubo & Kawika Williams          OC-1      Hurricane  Open Team  2nd  3:06:12
 19  Ikaika Hauanio                        OC-1      Hurricane  Solo open  11th 3:06:16
 20  Bojo Morris                           OC-1       Vantage   Solo open  12th 3:06:29
 21  Carlton Helm                          OC-1      Hurricane  Solo open  13th 3:08:11
 22  Nue Yonderian                         OC-1       Vantage   Solo open  14th 3:08:32
 23  Nick Agorastos                        OC-1       Polaris   Solo open  15th 3:08:38
 24  Mael Carey & Andrea Moller            OC-1       Vantage   Co-ed Team 1st  3:09:43
 25  Eric Rohozinski                      Surfski       Fenn     40+ Solo  1st  3:09:50
 26  Ricky & Sharon Balidoy                OC-2      Waveblade     Team    1st  3:10:15
     Reggie Balidoy & Jocelyn Hrkach                              Co-ed
 27  Mike Kahinu                           OC-1      Waveblade  Solo open  16th 3:10:38
 28  George Dagan                          OC-1      Hurricane  Solo open  17th 3:11:22
 29  Peter Konohia & Jenn Konohia          OC-1      Hurricane                  3:12:47
 30  Davin Lum & Dave Ward                 OC-1      Hurricane  Open Team  3rd  3:12:57
 31  Eric Barto                            OC-1      Hurricane   40+ Solo  1st  3:13:06
 32  Harrison Heen & Jake Chong            OC-1       Kaimana    40+ Team  1st  3:13:10
 33  Mark Frazier & Alana Goo             OC-1 F      Pegasus   Co-ed Team 3rd  3:13:19
 34  Allen Duarte & Don Abernathy          OC-1      Hurricane  Open Team  4th  3:15:18
 35  Kafoa Latu                            OC-1       Polaris   Solo open  18th 3:15:45
 36  Dane & Nicki Enos                     OC-2      Waveblade     Team    2nd  3:16:28
     Beth Cooper & Yurik Resetnikov                               Co-ed
 37  Adolf Helm                            OC-1      Hurricane   40+ Solo  2nd  3:16:53
 38  Don Mehling                           OC-1      Hurricane  Solo open  19th 3:18:46
 39  Jerome Kalama & Doc Davis             OC-1      Hurricane   40+ Team  2nd  3:19:07
 40  Wally Bouchard                       Surfski       Huki     40+ Solo  2nd  3:20:29
 41  Paul McNamara                         OC-1      Hurricane   40+ Solo  3rd  3:21:30
 42  Alika Cuttie & Lee Moyers             OC-1      Hurricane  Open Team  5th  3:21:42
 43  Johnny McCandless                     OC-1      Hurricane   40+ Solo  4th  3:21:48
 44  Rich Olson                            OC-1      Hurricane   40+ Solo  5th  3:22:37
 45  Kawika Leichen & Joseph Zewk          OC-1      Hurricane  Open Team  6th  3:22:56
 46  Yasu Tanaka & Iseiah Bobnar           OC-1        Pahoa    Open Team  7th  3:23:05
 47  Eric Starnes                          OC-1      Hurricane   40+ Solo  6th  3:23:13
 48  Craig Williams & Nick McKendry        OC-1       Polaris   Open Team  8th  3:23:39
 49  Dane Ward & Margie Kawaiaea          OC-1 F     Hurricane  Open Team  1st  3:23:44
 50  Ronna Dela Cioppa & Freddie Berengue  OC-2      Waveblade  Solo open  1st  3:24:00
 51  Steve Zoll                            OC-1      Hurricane   40+ Solo  7th  3:26:02
 52  Roger Crouse & Terry Quisenberry      OC-1      Hurricane   40+ Team  3rd  3:26:11
 53  Doug Poseley                         Surfski     Conners    40+ Solo  3rd  3:26:37
 54  Afa & Bev Tuaolo                      OC_1       Polaris    40+ Team  1st  3:27:14
 55  Tim Cotchay                           OC-1       Pegasus    40+ Solo  8th  3:28:42
 56  Barbara Querry & Deb Robison          OC-2      Waveblade     Team    1st  3:29:53
     Sarah Van De Vanter & Mahealani Malapit                      Wahine
 57  Mike Sparling                         OC-1       Stingray  Solo open  20th 3:31:00
 58  Aaron Placourakis & Chris Crabb       OC-1        Fusion    40+ Team  4th  3:31:05
 59  Peter Martin                         Surfski       Huki     40+ Solo  4th  3:31:56
 60  Herman Makua                          OC-1      Waveblade   40+ Solo  9th  3:32:52
 61  Cherisse Kelii & Noe Sawyer-Auger    OC-1 F      Pegasus   Open Team  2nd  3:32:16
 62  Baba Baldado                          OC-1      Waveblade   40+ Solo  10th 3:32:53
 63  Ivan McIvor                           OC-1       Polaris   Solo open  21st 3:40:50
 64  Mark Raaphorst                       OC-1 F      Eclipse    40+ Solo  11th 3:41:51
 65  Serafina Eames, Patty Eames          OC-2 -F    Waveblade     Team    2nd  3:43:01
     Danielle Ho, Jacqulin Wikum                                  Wahine
 66  Theresa Felgate & Trez Harrisson     OC-1 F     Hurricane  Open Team  3rd  3:43:40
 67  James Vitale                         Surfski       Fenn     40+ Solo  5th  3:48:08
 68  Hiro Takahashi                        OC-1      Hurricane  Solo open  22nd 3:50:48
 69  Reina Garcia & Jacquelin Venuta       OC-2        Viper       Team    3rd  3:56:18
     Margie Goodno & Laola Lake                                   Wahine
 70  Tamara Barto &Carter Barto            OC-2      Waveblade     Team    3rd  4:00:02
     Kim DiSegna & Ozzie Clark                                    Co-ed
 71  Moke Hauanio, Lorrin Ching            OC-2      Waveblade     Team    3rd  4:01:47
     Terry Trinidad, Mike Woodbury                                 Men
 72  Chris Overall                         OC-1       Eclipse    40+ Solo  12th 4:09:49
 73  Iris Mountcastle, Lea Giddens         OC-2        Viper       Team    4th  4:16:44
     Jeanette Ka`auamo, Vanessa Weiss                             Wahine
 74  Michelle Ventura & Faith Mori         OC-1      Hurricane  Open Team  4th  4:18:17
 75  Gregor Knapp                          OC-1        Pahoa     40+ Solo  13th 4:19:46
 76  Keri Mehling & Patty Phillips        OC-1 F     Hurricane  Open Team  5th  4:20:14
 77  Blair Thorndike                    Paddleboard   Kerrier   Solo open  1st  6:26:48
 78  Roberto Cesar                      Paddleboard   Kerrier   Solo open  2nd  6:58:00
 79  Christopher Harper                 Paddleboard   Richmond                  8:30:00
 80  Madeline Jordan                    Paddleboard   Richmond                  8:30:00

 W/D Arthur Cholakis                      Surfski

Posted by keizo on Sun, 04/24/2005 - 5:43pm