FIRST CONGRATULATIONS TO LEWIS AN AWESOME WIN IN TERRIBLE CONDITIONS.WHAT GETS TO ME AFTER READING ALL THE REPORTS IS WHY THE SA PADDLERS DID NOT WORK AS A TEAM TO ACHIEVE A WIN FOR SOUTH AFRICA.IT LOOKS AS IF THEY WERE ALL INTENT ON WINNING THE RACE AND ALL BLEW BIG TIME.I THOUGHT THE TACTICS WOULD HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED AMONG THEMSELVES ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CONDITIONS WERE PREDICATED AS EARLY AS THURSDAY.THEY SHOULD HAVE WORKED TOGETHER TO ASSURE THAT SOUTH AFRICA WON THE RACE.LETS HEAR FROM THE SA PADDLERS.

report abuse

vote down

vote up

Votes: +0

Four in the top five is nothing to be sad about, let's not get greedy about the podium.

I for one am chuffed with the results, Lewis sounds like a great person and was the best paddler on the day for the conditions, he clearly deserved the win. I hope he gets tons of sponsorships and comes to the Durban World Cup to defend his title.

report abuse

vote down

vote up

Votes: +0

Well done Lewis , I could not be happier with his success , he fully deserves a victory in this great race Lats

report abuse

vote down

vote up

Votes: +0

DONT GET ME WRONG A WORLD CLASS EFFORT BY LEWIS.
BUT YOU WOULD THINK THAT THE SA PADDLERS WOULD HAVE WORKED TO GETHER TO GET ONE OF THEM TO WIN.
LEWIS HAS A GREAT HISTORY OF WINNING IN THESE CONDITIONS.
I WELCOME HIM TO SA TO COMPETE IN OUR WORLD CUP AND WOULD GO AS FAR TO SAY THAT IF HE WAS SHORT OF ANY SPONSORSHIP THAT I WOULD HAPPILY CONTRIBUTE TO GET LEWIS HERE.
TRUST THE WORLD CUP ORGANISERS WILL MONITOR THIS.

report abuse

vote down

vote up

Votes: +0

I wonder what would have happened if the surfski that Lewis was on was 18 pounds rather than the approx. 24 pounds ski he was on. What would his winning margin be then?

report abuse

vote down

vote up

Votes: +0

Supposedly, on flat water, the percentage of speed increase is equal to one sixth of the percentage of weight decrease.

report abuse

vote down

vote up

Votes: +0

I personally don't think wash riding should be allowed in open ocean racing. I know it's a standard tactic in flatwater events but open ocean racing should emphasize individual boat handling skills rather than the pack mentality of flatwater kayaking. If the conditions had been typical this wouldn't even come up. Here in So Cal there has been some controversy in the past about whether or not it's allowed in the winter racing series. I say leave it for flatwater - keep ocean racing an individual sport. Lewis deserved the win because he was best prepared for the conditions. Having a pack of SA's shouldn't have robbed him of the win. Congratualtions to Lewis.

report abuse

vote down

vote up

Votes: +0

Parksy, I think you have this all wrong. The Molokai race is a SOLO race not a team race. It's about personal achievement, not nationality. Who cares where the winner came from? What matters is that on race day, the best of the best were there, they paddled a fair race in grueling conditions and they all put in their best efforts. Take pride in the number of phenomenal paddlers your country had competing and don't give them flack because they raced as individuals instead of as a national team.

report abuse

vote down

vote up

Votes: +0

Congratulations for Zsolt Szadovszki the best paddler from the USA!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=CHCbGg4bCfs

report abuse

vote down

vote up

Votes: +0

great top ten finish for both Huki and Zsolt. An amazing performance by a paddler who still has more to come racing in the sea, lookout ZA!!!

report abuse

vote down

vote up

Votes: +0

A wash is a wave, as long as it is not mechanically generated (ie support boat)it should be fair game. Racing is about tactics as well as endurance. If you are being beaten by a competitor who is wash riding and then out sprints you, you always have the option of doing the same, or better yet, breaking them tactically during the race. Hopefully your coach or club is including these skills in training. With more participation comes closer racing and drafting will be common place, and spectators (and TV) like close racing.

report abuse

vote down

vote up

Votes: +0

Hi Rob. Any possibility of an album of photos of the guys paddling on the day.Hats off to you for making this happen.

report abuse

vote down

vote up

Votes: +0

Parksy. Nothing personal, but as a South African your comments leave a bad taste in my mouth. Congrats to Lewis Loughlin and well done to all the guys in the top ten (as well as the whole field who turned up for this brutal race.)Sportsmanship and humility are alive and well in SA a la Hank and Dawid's comments. One or two noticeable exceptions being commentators from the comfort of their couch won't change that

report abuse

vote down

vote up

Votes: +0

Parksy, I think your comments are a little rough.. Riding the bunch is what flat water canoeists do. The Molokai is out at sea, through a turbulent channel. Slip riding is only a small help out there even if the sea is mirror calm which I doubt it was that day.Also please use lower case for comments. Upper case is considered shouting!

report abuse

vote down

vote up

Votes: +0

I HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP THE PHILOSOPHY THAT 2ND MEANS NOTHING FIRST IS THE ONLY POSITION TO ACHIEVE.AND BESIDES THAT THE BEER ALWAYS TASTES BITTER WHEN YOU COME SECOND.YOU ARE ALL MISSING THE POINT AND I SAY IT AGAIN LEWIS HAD A GRAET PADDLE AND WELL DONE.I SEE THERE ARE COMMENTS REGARDING THE USE OF WASHES/WAKES ETC LETS NOT FORGET ONE OF THE GREATEST RACES IN THE WORLD THE TOUR DE FRANCE WHERE YOU HAVE A TEAM PROTECTING AND PROVIDING A DRAFT FOR THE EVENTUAL WINNER.WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?
NEVER A COMMENT FROM THE COMFORT OF A COUCH MORE LIKE FROM A SURF SKI IN A RAGING DOWNWIND PADDLE

report abuse

vote down

vote up

Votes: +0

Lewis from me and my family, i didnt see you after the race!! If you read this please drop me an email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it WELL DONE!!

For all of the above you couldnt wash ride after the first 90min as the swell and bumps wouldnt allow it, anyway the freindships in the top bunch of paddlers is very tight, so team work towards an individual never happens - they/we are all very good freinds!!

report abuse

vote down

vote up

Votes: +0