[Results] at Kanaka Ikaika

[Photos]
The best attended race of the season took place today at Kawaihae - the 12th Annual Kohala Coast Challenge, put on by Beanie Heen and Frank Snow. The beautiful race shirts designed by Frank Snow, and given to every paid entrant, always makes this event popular.

by Lex Raas
Sunday 26th February dawned in Treasure Island, Florida with a cold front rolling through. All paddlers were woken at dawn with lightning and thunder preceding the cold front and the squall line.... many paddlers decided that this was a day to stay off the water. However, I had been monitoring Windguru.com and they accurately predicted that the rain would stop by 9am and that the weather would start clearing by start time at 10am. Bulls eye !!

[Photos] courtesy Peter Konohia
Preparing for this race was everything as usual, canoe, iakos, ama, paddle, hammer gel. sun screen… until we thought about what this race is really about: Remembering and honoring those of our paddling buddies who are no longer here with us enjoying the ocean and beautiful day. This shifted our focus to flowers, leis, and thoughts of love and friendship and family. We truly have a close Maui Canoe & Kayak family here on Maui. It is common to hear paddlers expressing how much they enjoy the series and the friendships. We have our foundation of experienced paddlers who really do help and kokua the newer paddlers with training tips, Maliko runs, etc. It is always fun to hear the stories of the 1st Maliko run and how scary it can be just getting out of the mouth. Congratulations to all who raced and especially to those who did it for the first time.

[Photos]
Results of Keauhou Canoe Club's Kuuipo Race, held today in memory of Eda Hinchcliff, a longtime HIPA and Keauhou paddler who passed away two years ago. Held at beautiful Keauhou Bay, the first event of the day was a 4 mile course from Keauhou to Kahaluu and back for the 25 Junior paddlers and 2 Paddleboard entries, which was the best turnout and most competition for the Juniors yet this season. The kids all proudly wore their ribbons and medals they won for this race today.

[Results] at Kanaka Ikaika
[Y2Kanu Photos] by Rick Leton

[Photos] by Marjie Santos
Results of Kamaili Orchids Pohoiki Challenge held today in Puna District of the Big Island. Both short and long courses started and finished at the Pohoiki Boat Ramp with the short course paddlers covering 6.5 miles, and the long course running south for 5 miles and returning to Pohoiki for a total of 10 miles. The traditional post race feast, dancing, bocce ball match and awards were held at the O'Shaughnessy's property at Kalapana, where a number of paddlers camped overnight, to be able to continue the party.

[Video Clip (9 mb Windows Media)] by Don Mehling
It was such a beautiful morning until we started racing and began to be cooled by a bit of a head wind. Why did we not foresee this and reverse the course I thought as I plowed my way upwind? Why aren’t I on an OC-2? Why does everyone in front of me look so effortless? You know all those thoughts that start running through your mind. As we rounded the buoy at Haycraft we still had to keep the uphill charge until finally there was some relief past McGregor’s point when everything was calm and HOT. Gee if it’s not one thing it is another. I think only a true downwind run would make most of us happy.

After a week of changing winds and potentially threatening weather, YMCA Kauai Hoe Wa’a held their 4th paddling race of the season on Sunday, February 12. Long course began outside of Kapaa Beach Park and finished at Kalapaki beach. The short course put in at Wailua and also finished at Kalapaki. With 10-15mph northeasterly winds and swells and backwash influenced by the large northwest surf it turned out to be a freight train run at times. With equipment failures and the flipping of canoes and surf skis, some paddlers wisely cut their races short. However, most had the time of their lives out there. With max speeds of 15 to over 16 mph being reported by those who had a gps who could complain?