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

[Photos] by Thomas Oliver
[More Photos] by Makana Denton
Nobody can complain about Kauai's 2005 one-man season opener. The night before was the most amazing thunderstorm the island has ever seen (in awhile), with a nonstop strobe-light like lightning display, and many online weather services were predicting rain and low winds. Yet, the morning of the race every paddler on the island must have woken up with a smile on their faces as they woke up to perfectly blue skies and a warm West wind.

[Photos] by Marjie Santos
Saturday January 8, 2005 - The 18th Annual Stan Classic was held in Hilo today under light rainy skies with generally calm conditions, though; there was a slight swell at the mouth of the Wailuku River. The turn out was excellent, with 108 paddler taking part in the first race of the 2005 Steinlager Race Series. Ikaika Hauanio staked his claim on the men’s open division with Cherisse Kelii picking up where she left off last year, taking the women’s open division. It was great to see many new faces in the first race of the year.

[Photos] by Jean-Jacques Limbourg and Publius Vergilius

Rio Va’a 2004 makes Brazilian national television headlines (Rede Globo) with a mix of kids race, canoe blessing in Tahitian by IVF president Charles Villierme and tough competition between Ruahatu Va’a from France, Hawaiian Canoe Club from Maui and local team Claro Rio Va’a Clube.

Blessed with good weather and calm seas, Rio Va’a 2004 – in stark contrast with Rio Va’a 2003 Molokai Hoe conditions - set record times with a start to finish win by Ruahatu Va’a Club from Toulon, France (2h14min27s).

[Results] at Kanaka Ikaika
[Y2Kanu Photos] by Rick Leton
Karel Tresnak Jr. 2nd, Pat Dolan 3rd.
Arlene Holzman 1st open W.

[Results]

[Results] at WaveChaser

[Photos] by Marjie Santos
Today's Tui Tonga Challenge and Outrigger Clinic was one of the best attended events of the year, with over 100 paddlers taking part on OC-1, OC-2 and Surfskis.

Hawaii's top paddling competitors, Karel Tresnak, Jr., Mike Judd, Thibert Lussiaa, Kai Bartlett, Lauren Spalding, Andrew Penny, Kea Paaina, Rick Nuu, Bruce Ayau and Nate Hendricks shared with the Hawaii Island Paddlesports Association members some of the secrets of their training and technique, then the paddlers put their advice to good use on the Kailua to Keauhou Bay 6 mile course.

[Results][Photos] at Y2Kanu

[Mudbrook News Article]
[LongC Results] from SoCal Ocean Racing
Chris Barlow (SS), David Spitzer (OC1M), Jeanne Barrett (OC1W) take top places.