Maui Canoe & Kayak Club
2002 Hurricane/Eyecatcher Race Series
RACE #1
By
Sharon Balidoy
All right, what bright board members thought that it would be fun and
great to add another mile to our first race?
Had I been training like some of you fanatical paddlers out there
it might have been a different story.
BUT… we won’t discuss my training or lack of…
OK I admit I was one of those board members who thought it was a
great idea to add a mile, what’s one little mile anyway?
It took an eternity to do that one short little mile, to Puamana.
By the way according to the GPS this race is closer to 6 miles
than 5 (LC) and 5 miles than (SC).
Congratulations to all competitors who paddled the extra mile and
completed the race!
What a
great turn out for our first race of the season.
We, Ricky & I, were quite pleased with the Novice/open
turnout for the “short” course.
We developed this on Maui to encourage more participants.
Especially when the courses start getting longer we don’t want
you to drop out. Race the
short course, stay with it, remain involved and on the water.
WE WANT YOU!
You can all
read the results so you know who won…
as for the stories within the race.
Well,
Lauren
Spalding is young and I’d venture to say unbeatable at the moment.
She has a perfect training buddy and motivation, her boyfriend
Geordan Purdy who came in 2nd kayak.
She is also racing on Sundays on `Oahu in the kayak division.
Maui welcomes the friendly couple of Zoe Norcross and Rick Nu`u.
Both winning their divisions.
Bogar commented on Rick’s superb technical stroke and that it
will be hard to beat him. As
for Felipe Gomes – wow – he was won 2 races in a row.
That is just GREAT! Coming
in as an underdog and coming out on top way to go!
Big T on his new canoe earned 2nd elite while Maui’s
inspirational senior master, Derek Vinuya finished 3rd.
Speaking of new canoes – Mike Tihada made a big jump in the
standings – check out his new canoe.
We missed
the dominating force on the OC-2, the Robinson’s.
Not sure on the scoops there but we hope to have them out on the
course in the future. Quite
a few new paddlers out on the OC-2’s, check out the names in the
results. As for our lone
paddlerboarder, he completed the course, was tough all the way through,
and we congratulate him.
On the
short course, some in-shape paddlers.
Personally I was relieved that Collen Ford is starting out this
year as a novice as she came across the line pounding hard and fast, she
looks to be in top shape and to have the drive to get the job done. (1st
Novice OC-1) As for the
Novice men, the top guys cruised right by me and are looking good.
Paulo Simpson, Nabil Vogele, and Tyson Kubo.
(First, second & third respectively) Ryan Watanabe although being a second year Novice ended up in
the open division and won that easily.
Congratulations to Eli Hedani and the Wittman brothers, Keawe
& Kua for their completion and competition in the race as they were
the only 17 and under competitors.
Chris made
it all the way having to stop a few times to stretch his shoulder, Sol
completed the course with one day of practice under his belt, it was
nice to see Kimo Knutson back out and Dane bouncing back strong and fit
after giving birth last year.
Mahalo to
all the volunteers, Char, Gail, Samantha.
To Raphael for his work in obtaining sponsorship for us. To Maui Fiberglass/Hurricane and Eyecatcher for their major
sponsorship. To Corona
Light and Hard Rock Café for the beer and food/site.
To our water patrol, Mary and Darrel.
Next race
– Leilani’s Triangle 1/26/02.
Aloha
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