Here on the Big Island, most of the races are Iron. I think only the Liliuokalani race has changes (in Hawaiian Class Racer division). On O'ahu, my previous club had a crew do the Duke race with two "land" changes at Makai Pier and Spitting Caves. Personally, I'd like to see a marathon relay race in this style. Maybe something like a two part, around O'ahu race.

both are fun. Sea Changes are more tactical imo. It adds another level to the race. Deciding just where exactly to do a change can mean all the difference between winning and losing.
Personally I prefer Iron, just because at the end of the race I know I won or lost based on my own performance and not due to some other factor like a bad change, bad spot for a change or poor crew combination at a vital point. But that's cause I'm more a OC1 person rather than a team player.
Worse feeling in the world is sitting in a boat watching your team lose and not be able to do anything about it. Of course one of the best feelings in the world is sweeping past a crew who's just done a lousy change and stopped dead in the water! :-)

Seems like the guys who are good at changes look forward to 9 man season more so than the guys who struggle with changes.
Im one of the sucks hard at changes guys so Im cool with eliminating them.

I just hate sucking at something and having to publicly display how sucky I am:-) Not into the whole unconsious bloody mid channel thing either......especially having recently watched shark week.

We've got paddlers here who wimp out when it gets over 100 degrees. Its too hot, its too cold, its too windy, its too dark.
Whatever.

A Moloka'i to Oahu 'iron' race in a 200# racing hull design is in our future. Very doable. The active paddling athletes will have to make it happen to show what the sport wants. An escort boat is always necessary for safety, but the changes will be eliminated.

aquafiend,
Yeah, my arms feel a little longer than before.

Rosehill....I agree...iron race with boats that weigh 200 lbs. with no other restrictions will make a fantastic Iron race, Molokai to Oahu.
To me, this year's Molokai Hoe will be critical. The Lanikai boys will make a good run at the Tahitians. If they do not beat the Tahitians and are not able to keep up with them, then all of Hawaii will need to take a serious look at where we will need to go in order to keep up with the tahitians.
To me, one way is just what this thread is talking about, race like how the tahitians race. Tahiti practice and race with one thing in mind....Hawaiiki Nui. The ultimate in endurance/marathon paddling which is an iron man race. Hawaii, we training for Molokai Hoe, a great race, great traditions, but a race that requires making changes.
So now, when the Tahitians come to Hawaii and paddle in our Molokai Hoe, it's a piece of cake. They spend all year round paddling in iron races, then have to do a race with changes....duck soup.
So, for me, the paddling community will be watching Molokai Hoe very closely.
Here's wishing the Lanikai boys the best. Shoot, if they are able to do it, then I don't know who can....they're loaded.

Can we continue calling these races 'iron man' races ?
I think RatchetJaw has a very valid point. I personally like water changes, but I think that more iron man races would improve competitiveness.
Water changes for poopoopaddler every two minutes would seem rather frequent and possibly return the competitive edge to the Tahitians.
Lanikai paddling is fabulous this year, men and women.

Agreed - I'm sure we'd find that canoe racing has been around ever since the second canoe was built. In fact, that was probably one of the drivers for it.
W/respect to water changes and the Molokai Hoe and other c/o races, the rules are/have been the same for everyone. The obvious fact is that they have the conditioning, they've learned to surf, and they've combined the best of their best.
When our paddlers want to challenge them in an iron format, the HNV is the current proving ground, though some local interisland or coastal-combo iron race would be good as well.
Here's to Lanikai and all teams that strive to be the "best of the best". In the end, it's all good for the sport - the rest of us will cheer for you as we chase you on the horizon. Geev'em!

Buy or borrow "Moloka'i - Oahu through the years" by Pete Caldwell and all will be revealed.
Cheers Rambo

On the other hand, if a race is considered a classic, like the Monte Carlo -- started for Formula One racers in 1929 -- why attempt to change it when you can start the Daytona 500 -- for stockcars -- somewhere else?
It is not as if there is only one format for races and people cannot chose the races they wish to enter. Actually I think folks enjoy the variety.
It is the format of one of the best know races you don't like. It is easy enough to vote with your feet (or paddle).

YankeeHo'okele
"Anyone can steer the ship when the sea is calm" - Syrus Publilius

I like the direction this forum is going and I think Bill Rosehill has been ahead of his time for years.We need to expand our horizons as paddlers, builders, and as Hawaiians,(or those that love polynesian culture).Let's use the things we've been taught to develope our sport. Maybe then we'll get a shot at making this an olympic sport. Damn; if they can allow some girl with toilet paper on a stick to do a sumersault for olympic glory...or now someone on a trampoline. Didn't they just do that on the floor exercise, but without the bounce?
In regards to how the associations/regattas are run:After the fiasco at states, it's obvious there needs to be some house cleaning. Rumor is there are disgruntled clubs/paddlers that want to create a new association because of the status quo.
There needs to be options outside of "ah junk 6-man...I goin paddle oc-1" Really, oc-1 is simpler, and look how the technology has been evolving. The specs should not be locked into "the malia mold".Keep the manu if tradition is the issue,but think outside the box/canoe.( I hate that saying, sorry)
Build a bunch of superlight oc-6's &3's, establish some rules/specs,have it stand for 5 years, reevaluate the results, then establish another set of rules/guidelines and carry on. You can sell the older canoes to clubs for practice or donate to school programs (maybe for tax breaks???)
My preference would be for Molokai iron.
wut you tink?

water changes separate the men from the boys. they add a level of strategy that is lost in a marathon run, they also allow a crew to surf more effectively throughout the entirety of a race, & overall your boat gets to finish in a faster time.
that said, the option of an Iron division at these 9 man races would be nice. There are lots of guys who are afraid of sharks and/or don't want their friends to know they are leg-hookers.

No need to make all races iron. 9 man molokai is a great event.
Start the race later, say 9 am. This will eliminate the glare on the water and make visibility better for all.
Start the race in 2 heats. This will eliminate the congestion at the start, as well as the first change. A club's 3rd, 4th, 5th, or even 50's and 60's crews don't need to start with the top 40 competitors.
Unfortunately, there will always be accidents, but race officials should do their best to correct errors and make improvements to minimize risks whenever and wherever possible.
Race officials, Paddlers, Coaches, and Escort Boat Drivers should always be looking on how to improve all aspects of the event.
Paddlers, Escort Boat Drivers, and Coaches should provide meaningful and constructive feedback to race officials. No whining, no complaining, just good honest thoughts on how to improve things.