Hokuloa Ironman SOCRA race 4 - Ventura, CA - June 11

[Results] at SoCalOutrigger
Photos:[Novice][women/coed][men]
On Saturday, June 11, competitors gathered in Ventura Harbor to compete in the fourth stop of the SCORA race season. Consensus is that the conditions were some of the best in years! Hokuloa Outrigger designed a scenic triangular course which passed by historic Surfers Point at California Street, and featured a final leg directly down wind and down swell.

Following SCORA's ironman format, the event consisted of three races; a novice, a womens/coed, and a mens showcasing Santa Monica Bay. A very competitive novice mens race saw Kai Elua edge out the very strong Team California in a 4 mile race for top honors. In the 8 mile womens race the NAC reclaimed their winning position. Lanakila -- winners of the previous two races -- surfed from third place, overtaking Offshore who put in a very strong performance on legs one and two.

In the mens competition Imua Outrigger and Pao Pao lead the mens pack off the starting line. By the first mark Imua had separated from the pack, with Pao Pao fending off a strong attack from the NAC and two teams from Lanakila. Leg two turned into a water bailing contest as crews beat a path into the wind. With relief, the crews rounded mark #3 and engaged in a downhill surfing battle. Imua, comfortably in control, continued expanding it's gap on the field. Despite a terrific effort, Pao Pao relinquished 2nd to team black from Lanakila about halfway down the final leg. Team red from Lanakila then made an outstanding late push surfing from 4th place into 2nd just before the bell buoy marking the Ventura Harbor entrance. This move set up a dramatic drag-race finish with Lanakila red holding off a charging Lanakila black.

The stage is set for a most competitive season finale at the Ironman State Champs on June 25th in San Diego.

Sincere thanks to the members of Hokuloa Outrigger for hosting an outstanding day of competition!

For comprehensive results see SoCal Outrigger

Posted by keizo on Tue, 06/14/2005 - 10:50pm