|
 Hawaii - 15 May 2007. The Molokai Channel is the dream of every
downwind ski paddler on the planet. The bluest water I have ever seen, 3 pound
flying fish, vertical cliffs plunging directly into the ocean all make up a
small part of the Hawaiian paddling experience. So I find myself extremely
fortunate to be apart of the 2007 version, a watershed year for the race.
For one thing the race has taken a new
course and will finish next to the famous Outrigger Club in Waikiki
adding 8 or so extra kilometers onto an already grueling race.
Never has the race seen so many genuine
title contenders so much so that it is definitely the most competitive year
even before the race has started. The likes of Chalupsky, Pretorius, McGregor,
Mocke, Gardiner and Laughlin will line up on Sunday the 20 May.
 Oscar and Hank McGregor
New technology has seen the lightest surf
skis ever manufactured in the Epic Elite boats which will be ridden by Oscar
Chalupsky V10 (RSA), Mark Sandvold V10 (HAW) and Hank McGregor V10L (RSA). The
boats weigh an astonishing 8kg and are super strong.
 Hank McGregor strains to lift the V10LE (8kg)
Substantial prize money is on offer and is
way up on all previous prize purses which used not even to cover the winners
travel expenses. The race is now moving into an even brighter future with keen
interest from big business.
My Hawaii
This is Hawaii and one can quickly forget that there
is a race to be paddled. Surfing, fishing, diving, cliff jumping, rain forest
hikes, night life and just chilling on the beach have lured all the boys to lap
up the island life. Its just plain awesome!
 Mark Sandvold, Hawaiian paddling legend
This will be my third week on the island
and I have really had the time of my life staying with Mark Sandvold and his
wife Lannette and three girls. Mark and Lannette are just amazing and are so hospitable
to all the paddlers. Just imagine your garden and garage full of skis and
paddlers for 2 weeks straight! Thank you Mark, Lannette and girls you guys are
just fantastic.
Last Saturday the 12th was an eye opener
for me and a big learning experience. The whole bunch put in at Sandy Beach
5km's up from Portlock to paddle the 20km back to OutRigger. "I'm just going to
have a ‘jol'. Just have fun!"-Dawid Mocke "Ja, me too, gonna cruise it."- Clint
Pretorius. Hank was just enjoying the weather and company of all the other
guys. "20 Minutes out to that cloud out there."-Oscar Chalupsky. So we head out
in a bunch of 15. We finish the 20 minutes out and line up, slowest leave first
and are given 5 minutes on the "big guns"!
 Bevan Manson - check that water...
Lining up I could not help but feel that
this was a race and as Oscar said go I shot off out the ‘blocks' on adrenalin.
It's insane to paddle with these guys, just so cool to be on the water with the
best. Oscar after 5 minutes took to the front with Hank in pursuit right on his
tale. Dawid went a bit deeper and Clint went inside to find the runs. Mark and
I caught up alongside each other midway and just chatted as we rode some
awesome bumps (runs, runners, swells) into Diamond Head.
 Clint Pretorius and Mark Sandvold riding Chinaman's Wall
 End of the run...
The day was just perfect and everybody
enjoyed their time on end section of the new Molokai Course all hoping to find
that elusive perfect line that will shave a few seconds or possibly win the
holy grail of ocean paddling. At the present moment the forecast does not look
so favorable, but hope abounds in the hearts and minds of those who love the
downwind high.
Aloha and happy paddling.
Editor: thanks for that great report Rich!
Check out more of Rich's photos here and here.
For more info on the race, go to the race website.
 |
Subscribe to this comment's feed
