MOLOKAI CHANNEL TURNS IT ON FOR RECORD QUIKSILVEREDITION FIELD
Easterly winds of 20 knots and an open ocean swell of seven feet in the Ka'iwi (Molokai) Channel promise a fast race for the record 135 paddlers in this Sunday's 11th annual QuikSilverEdition Molokai to Oahu paddleboard race. At a distance of 32-miles, optimal channel conditions should make this year's race slightly less grueling than it has been over the past three years.
Good paddling conditions might also result in a new record. The old record was set by Australian Jamie Mitchell in 2004, with a time of four hours, 56 minutes and three seconds. Mitchell is the five-time defending champion of the race, along with women's champion Kanesa Duncan (Hawaii). Duncan lays claim to the women's fastest time of 5:53:49, also set in 2004.
For the first time in history, race director Mike Takahashi had to turn away entries this year, capping the field at 135 paddlers. A large rise in numbers for this year's race is attributed to the rapid growth in stand-up paddlers (SUP), who account for four solo and approximately 20 two-person teams. By contrast, the established paddleboard division has 48 solo entries and 22 two-person teams.
"This might be the first year that we actually see a stand-up paddler cross the finish line first," said Takahashi. "With such optimal conditions in the channel it's quite feasible that the stand-up paddlers will enjoy a fast ride on the swells, plus, with the wind at their backs, they have that added advantage."
Oahu stand-up paddle team Brian Keaulana and Todd Bradley will wear two hats this Sunday. Entered in the stand-up paddle teams division, they are also sponsors of the stand-up paddle division under their label C4 Waterman. They expect North Shore lifeguard Vitor Marcal to emerge as the top solo stand-up competitor, while anticipating a host of worthy challengers in their own teams division.
"It's all about having the most fun," said Keaulana, who has crossed the Molokai channel on just about every possible watercraft known to man. "Jet ski, kite-board, paddleboard, outrigger canoe... the most fun of all is the stand-up paddleboard. When you're a kid you dream of being able to ride a wave from one island to another, so this is a surfer's fantasy come true."
With the aid of a canoe-style paddle, stand-up paddlers propel themselves across the ocean while standing up on their specially designed paddleboards, as compared with the traditional means of laying down or kneeling with only the use of your arms to paddle.
Jamie Mitchell still prefers the challenge of the original prone/knee paddleboard. He has competed in this race for the past decade, winning it five consecutive times. But with the ongoing evolution and fine-tuning of equipment and techniques, he expects that this year's race might be his hardest fought yet, despite the excellent channel forecast.
"Every year the board designs improve and we learn a little bit more about training and optimizing our approach the channel," said Mitchell. "I'm the fittest that I've ever been, but so is everyone else. Bruce Taylor, from Australia, is an incredible paddler and I expect him to be a real threat. Plus Brian Rocheleau (Hawaii), who has always been a serious rival."
The 32-mile QuikSilverEdition Molokai to Oahu Paddleboard Race will take place this Sunday, getting underway at 7:30am on Molokai and ending at Oahu's Maunaloa Bay, with first finishers expected at around 12:30 p.m.