Some Photos by Minnie Fontenelle
This Saturday the Hawai’i Va’a Association held it’s first rudderless V-1 race out of Kualoa Beach Park. Since V-1 paddling is relatively new to Hawai’i and there are not a lot of experienced rudderless paddlers, the event was catered towards the novice and youth divisions. There were only about twenty V-1 available on O’ahu for use in the competition. The limitation in canoes necessitated a departure from traditional Hawaiian race formats.
Each division (open, novice, 18 and under, 15 and under) had a separate race so that 20 V-1 could accommodate 70 paddlers. The open men’s division was split into two separate qualifying heats, with a final race for the top competitors. While the open women and youth did the same course as the open men, the novices raced on a slightly shorter course inside of Chinaman’s Hat.
After the “choosing of the canoes,” the competitors in each heat stood on the beach as the MC counted down the minutes to the start. Nothing describes the start better than the one competitor who called it “complete mayhem.” If you weren’t lucky enough to get out front, you were inevitably stuck in the middle of a pack of swerving V-1. All of the races were large triangles, so that the competitors got to experience the rudderless from every wind angle. For the finish, the racers had to do a 90 degree left turn around a buoy before a 30 yard sprint to shore and then a final dash up the beach through the finish line.
The top three in each division took home “Race Around the Hat” trophies, and the division winners all got their names engraved for eternity on the HVA perpetual glass trophy. The race was made possible through the huge outpouring of support from all of the sponsors, including: NS Air, Kamanu Composites, Tiger Canoe, Tahitian Outrigger, Kialoa, Olukai, Mana Blades, Island Paddler, Mudbrook Paddles, Makana Alii, Planet Sun, Kole Gear, ‘Oiwi Ocean Gear, Pa’a, Hammer Gel, Makai Magazine, Pacific Paddler, Keahiakahoe Canoe Club, Ocean Paddler TV, Dakine, Broadreach Paddles, Maoli Wa’a, and Kalaoa Paddles. Everyone walked away with awesome prizes from all of the sponsors.
OVERALL FINISH
race# heat Name Last heat final Total Division
1 48 1 Mael Carey 18:43.3 36:33.0 55:16.3 Open
2 29 2 Luke Evslin 18:59.0 37:37.8 56:36.8 Open
3 65 1 Aaron Napoleon 19:44.4 37:56.4 57:40.8 Open
4 31 2 Manny Kulukulualani 19:25.0 38:41.0 58:06.0 Open
5 42 1 Kekoa Bruhn 20:24.9 37:45.2 58:10.1 Open
6 78 2 Mark Frazier 19:56.0 39:25.2 59:21.2 Open
7 85 1 Spencer York 19:52.2 40:10.1 1:00:02.3 Open
8 55 2 Puni Freitas 19:46.0 40:37.2 1:00:23.2 18 & Under
9 22 1 Kaeo'o'kalani Abbey 22:02.0 39:07.8 1:01:09.8 Open
10 40 2 kekoa kau 20:49.0 40:36.0 1:01:25.0 18 & Under
11 43 2 Kamu Lau 20:34.0 41:26.0 1:02:00.0 Open
12 41 2 Eckhart Diestel 20:11.0 42:35.7 1:02:46.7 Open
13 32 2 Kulani Jones 22:01.0 40:53.8 1:02:54.8 Open
14 53 2 Kainoa Philpotts 21:13.0 42:15.6 1:03:28.6 18 & Under
15 82 1 bobby pratt 21:26.1 42:02.6 1:03:28.6 Open
16 47 2 ty fu 21:36.0 42:19.0 1:03:55.0 Open
17 83 1 Keola Wright 20:52.5 43:06.2 1:03:58.7 Open
18 11 3 Emili Janchevis 21:48.4 42:41.8 1:04:30.2 Open F
19 17 2 Ron Cotteen 21:46.0 43:05.8 1:04:51.8 Open
20 54 2 Thibert Lussiaa 19:28.0 dnf #VALUE! Open
21 46 1 Tomas Schlotman 21:02.7 dnf #VALUE! Open
ORDER OF FINAL
race# heat Name Last final Division:
1 48 1 Mael Carey 36:33.0 Open
2 29 2 Luke Evslin 37:37.8 Open
3 42 1 Kekoa Bruhn 37:45.2 Open
4 65 1 Aaron Napoleon 37:56.4 Open
5 31 2 Manny Kulukulualani 38:41.0 Open
6 22 1 Kaeo'o'kalani Abbey 39:07.8 Open
7 78 2 Mark Frazier 39:25.2 Open
8 85 1 Spencer York 40:10.1 Open
9 40 2 kekoa kau 40:35.6 18 & Under
10 55 2 Puni Freitas 40:37.2 18 & Under
11 32 2 Kulani Jones 40:53.8 Open
12 43 2 Kamu Lau 41:26.0 Open
13 82 1 bobby pratt 42:02.6 open
14 53 2 Kainoa Philpotts 42:15.6 18 & Under
15 47 2 ty fu 42:19.0 Open
16 41 2 Eckhart Diestel 42:35.7 Open
17 11 3 Emili Janchevis 42:41.8 Open F
18 17 2 Ron Cotteen 43:05.8 Open
19 83 1 Keola Wright 43:06.2 Open
20 54 2 Thibert Lussiaa dnf Open
21 46 1 Tomas Schlotman dnf Open
Women and all Juniors ran in the same heat
OVERALL WOMEN
race# Name Last Time Sex: Division:
1 11 Emili Janchevis 21:48.4 Female Open
2 67 Bigot Chantal 22:32.3 Female Open
3 7 Sharon Balidoy 22:48.5 Female Open
4 66 Lucas Kinu 23:14.3 Female Open
5 62 Helen Williams 24:48.7 Female Open
6 49 Savannah Mccue 27:09.7 Female Open
7 81 Anna Mathisen 27:33.9 Female Open
8 5 ANELLA BORGES 27:53.5 Female Open
9 6 Eileen Helmstetter 32:07.0 Female Open
OVERALL 15 & UNDER
1 23 dayne van gieson 22:48.1 Male 15 & Under
2 60 Scott Kaili 24:21.6 Male 15 & Under
3 68 Riggs Napoleon 28:21.2 Male 15 & Under
4 88 Luke Matschek 28:30.2 Male 15 & Under
OVERALL 18 & UNDER
1 71 Kalei Kahookele 19:48.5 Male 18 & Under
2 40 kekoa kau 20:58.0 Male 18 & Under
3 53 Kainoa Philpotts 21:47.9 Male 18 & Under
4 34 Laakea Kahookele 23:03.8 Male 18 & Under
5 56 jonathan yoshikawa 25:02.6 Male 18 & Under
6 84 Kaoru Lovett 25:18.7 Male 18 & Under
7 18 daniel rzonca 26:05.9 Male 18 & Under
8 63 Barak Argov 28:49.0 Male 18 & Under
NOVICE
race# Name Last Time Sex Division
1 14 Shawn Lepine 18:01.9 Male Open
2 50 Robert Olson 18:32.1 Male
3 28 Kahai Macdonald 18:36.3 Male Open
4 86 Boris Manzewski 19:18.8 Male Open
5 61 Steven Wayte 20:14.6 Male Open
6 38 Wendell Balai 20:50.1 Male
7 79 Brian Cody 20:53.1 Male Open
8 69 guy larson-hicks 20:54.6 Male Open
9 90 Matt Forster 20:57.7 Male Open
10 36 jacob sensano 21:17.6 Male Open
11 4 Ethan Brown 21:20.3 Male Open
12 27 Tim Thomas 21:40.3 Male Open
13 59 Steve Nugent 21:47.7 Male Open
14 44 Kane Pai 21:48.9 Male Open
15 9 Mei Tuicolo 21:52.4 Female Open
16 80 Kawika Miranda 21:58.4 Male Open
17 10 Camille Decarmejane 22:28.2 Female Open
18 33 Josiah Nishita 22:51.3 Male
19 12 bryan elam 27:42.0 Male Open
1 64 Alan Goto 16:52.6 DQ for not being novice
MENS HEAT 1 race# heat Name Last Time 48 1 Mael Carey 18:43.3 71 1 Kalei Kahookele 19:27.4 65 1 Aaron Napoleon 19:44.4 85 1 Spencer York 19:52.2 42 1 Kekoa Bruhn 20:24.9 83 1 Keola Wright 20:52.5 46 1 Tomas Schlotman 21:02.7 82 1 bobby pratt 21:26.1 22 1 Kaeo'o'kalani Abbey 22:02.0 72 1 Glenn Williams 22:07.0 57 1 Leon Rossbotham 22:32.1 52 1 Ricky Balidoy 22:42.6 58 1 Kapono Ciotti 22:44.0 51 1 Dagan Johnston 22:48.0 MENS HEAT 2 race# heat Name Last Time 29 2 Luke Evslin 18:59.0 31 2 Manny Kulukulualani 19:25.0 54 2 Thibert Lussiaa 19:28.0 55 2 Puni Freitas 19:46.0 78 2 Mark Frazier 19:56.0 41 2 Eckhart Diestel 20:11.0 43 2 Kamu Lau 20:34.0 40 2 kekoa kau 20:49.0 53 2 Kainoa Philpotts 21:13.0 47 2 ty fu 21:36.0 17 2 Ron Cotteen 21:46.0 32 2 Kulani Jones 22:01.0 24 2 Steve Sahetapy-Eng 22:59.0 19 2 Michael Delima 24:17.0 21 2 Jerome Cox 30:20.0
Posted by keizo on Sat, 09/12/2009 - 5:58pm
PRESS RELEASE
KUALOA BEACH PARK - (September 12, 2009) -- Maui paddler Mael Carey claimed the first annual Race Around the Hat today finishing with a time of 55:16. He may be considered Hawai'i's best v-1 canoe paddler, finishing over a minute ahead of second place finisher and race organizer Luke Evslin. Mael is currently training with team Primo, one of Hawai'i's top contenders for the Moloka'i Hoe in October.
"V-1 canoe paddling is relatively new to Hawai'i" says Luke Evslin. "All of the single person outrigger races in Hawai'i feature canoes with rudders, where as the V-1's you steer only using your paddle." The Hawai'i Va'a Association was formed in 2008 with this being their first major event. Jeremy Cole, president of the HVA says, "we want to promote traditional forms of paddling, especially for the youth. We are really very pleased with the turn out today. Seventy paddlers for our first event is fantastic. It was a new format for most people here, and it seems like everyone had a really great time."
Twelve of those paddlers were under eighteen and were allowed to race for free, waived of the thirty eight dollar entry fee. Kalei Kaho'okele took the top spot in the Junior course with a time of 19:48, which was over a minute ahead of the competition. Kalei also entered the first mens heat placing 4th overall and was seeded to enter the mens final, but didn't get to race due to a conflicting kayak race for high school. Other top junior paddlers included Puni Freitas, Kekoa Kau, and Kainoa Philpotts, all entering and finishing in the top fifteen in the open mens course.
Emili Janchevis, a Maui resident who just returned from competition in Tahiti won the Women's division with a time of 21:48. She held off eight other competitors in the division. While the women were only planned to have one heat, her time was fast enough to qualify for the Men's Final. She placed 18th overall.
"The HVA is trying to promote V-1 paddling because we know it's a really powerful training tool that Hawai'i's paddlers don't use." Says Jeremy Cole. Tahiti has repeatedly shattered records in the 9-man Moloka'i Hoe in the past few years, beating Hawai'i's best teams by some fifteen minutes. "We're hoping this will pump new energy into Hawai'i's paddling scene and open up the sport to new paddlers as well. There were a lot of new faces that we don't usually see at other races." adds Jeremy Cole. Paddler Spencer York repeated after the race "I can't stress enough how much fun today was. I had a lot of fun."
The race was made possible from a host of companies that love the paddling community: NS Air, Kamanu Composites, Tiger Canoe, Tahitian Outrigger, Kialoa, Olukai, Mana Blades, Island Paddler, Mudbrook Paddles, Makana Alii, Planet Sun, Kole Gear, ‘Oiwi Ocean Gear, Pa’a, Hammer Gel, Makai Magazine, Pacific Paddler, Keahiakahoe Canoe Club, Ocean Paddler TV, Dakine, Broadreach Paddles, Maoli Wa’a, Kuau Water Patrol, and Kalaoa Paddles.
For more information, complete results, and info about future events visit www.HawaiiVaa.org or www.OCPaddler.com
#1 Sun, 09/13/2009 - 12:41pm
as another person working with HVA, I just want to add a short comment about the race today.
all the sponsors definitely made this great day possible. without them, the race would not have happened.
what really set this event apart from all others i have been to was the prevailing vibe. people were STOKED on paddling all over again. i can't tell you how many times i had 15 and under kids up to masters aged paddlers tell me this is the most fun they've had at a race in ages. some even went so far as to say they have never been at a race that was this much fun. kudo's to all the paddlers for making this happen. you folks made this race what it was.
to everyone that asked, there are certainly more races and clinics being planned. stay tuned and be sure to support the businesses that support paddling! to all the people that were scared to come check it out, get off your butts and try something new! i promise you'll go home smiling
Aloha-
Jeremy
#2 Sun, 09/13/2009 - 12:37pm
Good times! Thanks to everyone who let excited losers (like me) paddle their V1. Really appreciated the advice, boat use, and general friendliness.
#3 Sun, 09/13/2009 - 10:30pm
what were the distances of the races?
#4 Mon, 09/14/2009 - 7:31am
In order to help increase the number of V-1's, perhaps the manufacturers could make a few of them for sale at just a little over cost, and with the condition that the canoes would be made available for races, demo, and instruction?
#5 Mon, 09/14/2009 - 9:13am
lol. good idea. but that's putting an awful big burden on the manufacturers...
maybe if it was a two way street...like the buyer would sign a contract stating that the new owner is responsible for all repairs of the canoe and that if the canoe is sold for anything over the original purchase price, the profit is given to the manufacturer.
#6 Mon, 09/14/2009 - 4:44pm