The Holidays are around the corner and PA'A is getting ready for our upcoming racing season.

Let's make some room for the stuffing and get together with your paddling ohana for a fun race day. At the same time, we'll be collecting canned goods to help out those who aren't so fortunate to make their Thanksgiving a little better.

Registration: 7:30am - 9:00am Hawaii Kai Boat Ramp
Course: Hawaii Kai to Kaimana (May change due to conditions)
Start: Pdlbrd/SUP 9:40am OC1/OC2/SS1 10:00am
Vessels: OC1, OC2, SS1, Pdlbrd, SUP
Divsions: OC1 -- Open, Masters 40+, Masters 50+, OC2 -- Open, SS1 -- Open, Stock/Open Pdlbrd -- Open, SUP -- Open
Entry: $25 + at least one canned good
Lunch and Awards to follow at Kapiolani Park

The Kaiwi Channel (Molokai Channel) Solo World Championship race has been going on for over thirty years now and just as the sport of paddling is continuously evolving, so is the race itself.

It wasn’t until 16 years ago that the first official solo canoe division (1987 unnofficial crossing by Kevin Olds) was added to the 16th edition of the surfski world championship race. As awkward and clumsy as these solo canoes looked out in the monsterous channel, they somehow made it across. The design of these canoes has changed dramatically into the manuverable one-man speed demons that are seen today. But even with the advancements in one-man canoe designs, it has always been the ever so slippery ama-less surfski that has proven to be much faster than its OC1 cousin.

Since the beginning of this event, the solo world championship race for both ski and canoe has been held as a single event. To promote the growth of paddling and allow equal recognition for both sports, PA’A has been asked by the paddling community to hold a separate solo canoe championship race day. Sorry, no offense to you double fisted surfski buggers because we still love you and will definitely miss some of you on race day…but the truth is you’re just too bloody fast when you sport two paddles instead of one, and then refuse to drag an ama along with you for 32 miles! There are also some crazy paddlers that would like to do both OC1 and SS1 solo races. Well guess what, this year is your chance!

PA’A has fully committed itself to putting on this first time one-man solo event, and just like any other first time event, this one will go off with a bang!!!

FOR THOSE WHO WERE UNABLE TO REGISTER ONLINE, THERE WILL BE DAY OF REGISTRATION FOR SATURDAY'S AND SUNDAY'S RACES (SHORT AND LONG COURSE).

SATURDAY FROM 7-8AM AT THE SHACK IN HAWAII KAI

SUNDAY FROM 7-8AM AT THE HAWAII KAI BOAT RAMP PARKING LOT

ENTRY FEES AND WAIVERS WILL BE ACCEPTED AT REGISTRATION.

EVERYONE MUST CHECK IN BEFORE RACING DURING NORMAL REGISTRATION TIMES.

PLEASE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF NORMAL ONLINE REGISTRATION WHICH WILL CONTINUE THROUGH 6PM ON FRIDAY FOR ALL THREE STAGES.

Register online at: www.paahawaii.com
Check-in Saturday 7:00-8:00am
Entry Fee Adults $37; Juniors $20. Includes Stage I and Stage II races, food, prizes, awards. Present ACA membership card for $5 reimbursement at check in.

Prizes from Oiwi Ocean Gear, Makai Magazine, Dakine gear, Hammer Nutrition Products, Makana Ali'i paddles, Steinlager

Paddlers may choose to race in one or all stage races (Stage I, Stage II, or Stage III) races, but must race in all to be eligible for cumulative winning times which will be held at the end of Stage III.

Paddlers must use the same vessel in each race.

Saturday March 15th, 2008

Stage I

Time trial ~2 miles in Hawaii Kai Marina.

Starts 9:00am. Start/Finish @ The Shack
Paddlers will be assigned to heats of 4 starting every 2 min.

Stage II

Short Course: Maunalua Bay Triangle
Long Course: Makai Pier to The Shack Hawaii Kai (8 miles)

2 Starts 1:00pm Women & 1:10pm Men

Awards/Lunch to follow @ The Shack

Registration for Stage III Long and Short Course (Sunday)
- Top 80 overall combined times for Long Course Stage I and Stage II races will advance to Stage III Long Course
- All Short Course paddlers will advance to Stage III Short Course
- Entry fee: $25. Includes T-shirt, lunch, prizes, & awards on Sunday

Sunday March 16th, 2008

Stage III

Short Course: Hawaii Kai to Kaimana Beach Park
Long Course: Waimanalo Beach Park to Kaimana Beach Park (18 miles)

(Registration on Sat.) Any paddlers that are registered for Stage III and do not race must notify race committee before Sunday morning pre-race meeting.

All Stage III paddlers must attend Pre-race meeting on Sunday March 16th at their respective starting sites. Any paddlers that do not check in will be DQ’d.

Long Course Check-in @ Waimanalo Beach Park 8:15am. Race Start 8:30am Women & 8:45am Men.
Short Course Check-in @ 9:30am at Hawaii Kai Boat ramp parking lot. Race Start 10:00am.

Lunch and awards to follow - Stage winner/Overall winner

(Race format will be determined by race officials and is subject to change without notice.)

PRIZES There will be prize giveaways and awards going to the top finishers. Overall winners’ names will be engraved on the perpetual KOA paddle that will reside at the famous Dukes Restaurant.