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Epic's General Manager (Europe), Boyan Zlatarev, provide his view of the recently held Hawaiian Sports Festival and German Cup (DKV). Official results provided by the race organisers and the photographs were taken by Fabrice Brulin (except where noted) from Tahiti who was there to promote Va'a Tahiti Outrigger boats.
 Winners of the German Cup: Boyan Zlatarev (BUL), Thomas Zachert (GER), Oscar Ahlgren (SWE) (Pic: Niklas Görke/niklasphoto)
Fourth Edition of Hawaiin Sports Festival
In its 4th iteration, the Hawaiian Sports Festival featuring surfski, OC1 and paddle boarding is going from strength to strength with the race organisers, Thomas "Zaki" and Frank, taking an active part in growing the interest and profile of paddling in the European market. This year the event run over two days (13th - 14th June) included a 25km long distance race which also featured a shorter 15km course, followed the next day by the first ever 15km German Cup. The race organisation was smooth with virtually no hiccups and for the first time, they even managed to arrange far better weather than has graced the event in its first three years.
Three Days on the Road, Eight Hours of Sleep
I arrived in Rerik in the early afternoon on Friday 13 June after three days driving on only eight hours of sleep - as a continent, Europe is pretty big. It was 1:30 pm already and the 25 km race was scheduled to start at 3 pm so I went rushed straight to the registration area. The conditions were 2-3 feet runs with steady 8-10km wind and there were about 100 participants paddling board, surfskis and outrigger canoes. The start signal sounded at 3:30 pm and the 4th Hawaiian Sports Festival was underway. It was supposed to be a "fun" 25 km race but very soon after the start it was obvious that people were there to race and win.
25km "Fun" Race
The start was in the lee of the Wustrow peninsular near Rerick where we had about 8 km of flat water paddling followed by more open water to the finish. Kai from Germany set the pace in the beginning and he didn't seem to mind that jumped on his wake for nearly 5 km from the start. I was feeling good as I didn't have to push hard and was hoping to ride that way until we got to open water. My game plan was to then try to pick up the pace and utilise the runs to get ahead and stay ahead. It was all going according to plan until we found ourselves paddling in 2-3 feet of water and every stroke had us catching seaweed from the bottom. I tried to carry on with the line Kai was following but did not have the power to push through and maintain the pace. He was slowly getting away and soon he had 200m lead. Then I decided to turn away from the shore and find deeper water that was free of weed. I went 300-400m out only to discover that the depth was exactly the same and I was still scooping seaweed all the time.
I had no choice but to turn towards the buoy and try to make up some distance on Kai who was constantly looking over his shoulder. I had to jump into the water twice to clean the weed from the rudder but once we got to deeper water I started to feel stronger. The Epic V10 Performance ski I was paddling was moving faster and the my stroke felt lighter. I had a big gap of 500-600m that Kai had managed to open up to make up and started the chase. The rest of the field was the same distance behind me so I felt that I didn't have to worry about them.
 Start of 25km 'fun' race
This was the first time that I had paddled the Epic V10 in sea conditions and also the first time I had raced the boat, but it was really easy to handle and also reveled in picking up the runs allowing me to catch Kai with 2 km to go. I had the last few sips from my bottle and focused on the runs. It felt like every time I lost focus I also seemed to lose speed. I put my head down and managed to maintain my lead over Kai to the finish line. I didn't get my exact time as I had forgotten all my racing gear back home in Bulgaria and I had to paddle without GPS and drinking system - fetching them would entail another three day trip and several thousand kilometers. Ah . . . no!
After the race I went to get a couple of hours sleep in our newly outfitted Epic van where I had a bed and clean sheets waiting for me - and was I ready for a sleep. I was only going to catch a quick hour or so but after what felt like barely half an hour I awoke at midnight. I was in need of sustenance and tried to get some food but everything was closed and the BBQ that Frank and Zaki had organized for us was already over. Not much else to do, but to go back to sleep again and I woke up at 8:30am ready and raring for the 15 km German Cup.
German Cup
The course was 3 laps of 5km each around 5 buoys. After reviewing the weather conditions, the organisers changed the direction of the course to better utilise the downwind leg of 2-2.5 km. The wind had picked up during the night and we had 3-4 foot runs to chase during the downwind section. The race started in 3 waves, first was OC1, a 5min interval then the OC2 and 5min later the surfskis - a total of 70-80 boats. It was a beach start and I was the last person on my ski because I picked it up with great caution as I didn't want to scratch or damage it - someone was buying it after the event and I didn't want to give him a damaged ski.
 End of the first lap, German Cup
Zaki (GER) and Oscar (SWE) took the lead heading in towards the first buoy. I managed to catch Oscar and then started chasing Zaki and we turned at the same time at the first buoy. I couldn't seem to get my rhythm going during the first downwind leg and turned 3rd at the buoy. Then I had to chase the leaders all the way to the end of the lap and into the upwind section of the 2nd lap. I turned 2nd at the first buoy and started the downwind leg for the second time. This time I remembered everything that I learned from Haydn, Andrew and Oscar about catching runs and I had the ski moving much faster through the water. When I turned at the end of the downwind leg at the end of lap 2, I had a lead of 300m and felt confident that I could hold off any late charge during the final lap.
 Second lap, Boyan leads, German Cup 2208
It was really nice to paddle in the sea after 5 months of abstinence - even if that sea had been in Dubai - and I tried to practice my downwind skills during the third lap to the finish line. I was happy to be 1st but at the same time it put into perspective that the paddling I do in the lake back home in Bulgaria will not help me stay with the SA and OZ boys in bigger surf conditions.
 Boyan wins the first German Cup 2008
Iron Man & Sprints
The rest of the program was very interesting with the Ironman marathon and Sprint elimination races for surfski and OC. At the end, nearly everyone had won something. There was one Outrigger and one Surfski giveaway handed out at a lucky draw at the after party. Music on, beer cold and BBQ hot - a great way to end a very enjoyable and successful event. Everyone had fun . . . and all had positive feedback to Zaki and Frank. All competitors were amped for the 5th edition next year.
 Flying the Ama! (Pic: Niklas Görke/niklasphoto)
I then packed my bags and started the 6 hours drive to the Duisburg ICF Regatta where Epic Kayaks Europe were providing support for the paddlers in the event on the newly launched Legacy K1 and K2's designed in conjunction with Dr. Ted van Dusen.
Photos by Niklas Görke/niklasphoto. More photos will be up shortly on the event website, rerik2008.hawaiiansportsfestival.com
What next? A European road trip with Oscar after the Durban World Cup . . . I wonder what is harder to survive, this or the Molokai? Tough call!
Full results for all races and divisions are attached below.
Middledistance 15km
|
Olofsson
|
Martina
|
SS
|
01:04:37
|
|
Wilde
|
Gerd
|
OC1
|
01:06:50
|
|
Overfliet
|
Rolph
|
OC1
|
01:07:45
|
|
Schröder
|
Thomas
|
OC1
|
01:07:56
|
|
Tanger
|
Ivo
|
OC1
|
01:08:23
|
|
Hass
|
Torben
|
SS
|
01:08:45
|
|
Tschörner
|
Bernd
|
OC1
|
01:12:14
|
|
Michaelsen
|
Ines
|
OC2
|
01:17:47
|
|
Wullschleger
|
Daniel
|
OC2
|
01:17:47
|
|
Rüger
|
Jan
|
OC1
|
01:20:33
|
|
Helbich
|
Mirko
|
OC1
|
01:24:31
|
|
Op het Veld
|
Rik
|
OC1
|
01:25:55
|
|
Fähnle
|
Björn
|
PB
|
01:27:19
|
|
Berling
|
Martina
|
OC1
|
01:32:34
|
|
Gottschalk
|
Brit
|
OC1
|
01:33:04
|
|
Eichmann
|
Tim
|
PB
|
01:37:06
|
|
Eichmann
|
Tim
|
PB
|
01:37:06
|
|
Assele
|
Ed
|
PB
|
01:43:00
|
|
Hodcke
|
Frank
|
PB
|
01:44:14
|
Longdistance 23km
|
Zlatarev
|
Boyan
|
LSS
|
01:49:29
|
|
Martens
|
Kay
|
LSS
|
01:50:02
|
|
Loosen
|
David
|
LSS
|
01:55:50
|
|
Zimmermnn
|
Mark
|
SK
|
01:59:50
|
|
Theel
|
Sebastian
|
SS
|
02:00:10
|
|
Jellonnek
|
sarah
|
SS W
|
02:03:04
|
|
Finnern
|
Car
|
SS
|
02:03:24
|
|
Augustin
|
Simon
|
SK
|
02:04:03
|
|
Wink
|
Stefan
|
SS
|
02:04:15
|
|
Roemer
|
Julian Dominik
|
OC2
|
02:04:00
|
|
Polle
|
Stefan
|
OC2
|
02:04:00
|
|
Trzenschiok
|
Andreas
|
OC2
|
02:05:09
|
|
Hüttenberger
|
Jürgen
|
OC2
|
02:05:09
|
|
Papenfuß
|
Heiko
|
SK
|
02:06:15
|
|
Miklós
|
Ernö
|
SK
|
02:08:10
|
|
Gantert
|
Andi
|
SS
|
02:08:40
|
|
Schulze
|
Patrick
|
SK
|
02:09:33
|
|
Eppert
|
Andreas
|
OC2
|
02:10:20
|
|
Günther
|
Hartmut
|
OC2
|
02:10:20
|
|
Heintze
|
Robert
|
SK
|
02:11:10
|
|
Hillen
|
Tobias
|
SS
|
02:11:20
|
|
Manciet
|
Flora
|
SS W
|
02:11:20
|
|
Jackob
|
Gero
|
OC2 Mix
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02:11.52
|
|
Eldina
|
Bellof
|
OC2 Mix
|
02:11.52
|
|
Op het Veld
|
Maike
|
SS W
|
02:12:23
|
|
Pollo
|
Steffen
|
OC1
|
02:12:23
|
|
Laabs
|
Gunnar
|
OC2 Mix
|
02:12:45
|
|
Laabs
|
Manja
|
OC2 Mix
|
02:12:45
|
|
Stave
|
Christoph
|
SS
|
02:13:22
|
|
Hagen
|
Stephan
|
OC1
|
02:14:10
|
|
Ermlich
|
Judith
|
OC2 W
|
02:14:40
|
|
Cortes
|
Carola
|
OC2 W
|
02:14:40
|
|
Ghyselbrecht
|
Michael J.
|
SS
|
02:14:46
|
|
Kunert
|
Marcus
|
OC1
|
02:17:52
|
|
Jung
|
Torsten
|
OC1
|
02:21:44
|
|
Morgenstern
|
Karsten
|
OC1
|
02:21:55
|
|
Breuer
|
Jens
|
OC2
|
02:22:25
|
|
Gräbe
|
Christian
|
OC2
|
02:22:25
|
|
Batell
|
Michael
|
OC1
|
02:23:12
|
|
Bayer
|
Heiko
|
OC1
|
02:23:45
|
|
Böhm
|
Torsten
|
OC1
|
02:24:24
|
|
Granzow
|
Olaf
|
SS
|
02:26:50
|
|
Ossowski
|
Sacha
|
SS
|
02:31:55
|
|
Sliwka
|
Guido
|
OC1
|
02:34:22
|
|
Barrios
|
Liliana
|
OC1 W
|
02:41:30
|
|
Hischberg
|
Christoph
|
OC1
|
02:42:10
|
|
Fiebenitz
|
Rico
|
OC1
|
02:57:31
|
|
Rasch
|
Betina
|
SS W
|
03:04:59
|
Sprint:
|
Eller
|
Frank
|
Sprint OC1
|
4
|
|
Alms
|
Markus
|
Sprint OC1
|
1
|
|
Morgenstern
|
Karsten
|
Sprint OC1
|
2
|
|
Wink
|
Stefan
|
Sprint OC1
|
3
|
|
Ertel
|
Christoph
|
Sprint B M
|
3
|
|
Fähnle
|
Björn
|
Sprint B M
|
1
|
|
Op het Veld
|
Rik
|
Sprint B M
|
2
|
|
Ghyselbrecht
|
Michael J.
|
Sprint B M
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4
|
|
Ahlgren
|
Oskar
|
Sprint B M
|
4
|
|
wilke
|
daniel
|
Sprint B M
|
6
|
|
Hubgregsen
|
Wijnand
|
Sprint B M
|
7
|
|
Eichmann
|
Tim
|
Sprint B M
|
8
|
|
Wassermann
|
Franziska
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Sprint B W
|
5
|
|
Thurow
|
Sofia
|
Sprint B W
|
7
|
|
Manciet
|
Flora
|
Sprint B W
|
1
|
|
Schatz
|
Jule
|
Sprint B W
|
2
|
|
Hedstrom
|
Elin
|
Sprint B W
|
3
|
|
Op het Veld
|
Maike
|
Sprint B W
|
4
|
|
Ahlgren
|
Oskar
|
Sprint SS
|
1
|
|
Hillen
|
Tobias
|
Sprint SS
|
2
|
|
Eichmann
|
Tim
|
Sprint SS
|
3
|
|
Thurow
|
Sofia
|
Sprint SS W
|
5
|
|
Müller
|
Claudia
|
Sprint SS W
|
7
|
|
Manciet
|
Flora
|
Sprint SS W
|
1
|
|
Op het Veld
|
Maike
|
Sprint SS W
|
2
|
|
Olofsson
|
Martina
|
Sprint SS W
|
3
|
|
Hedstrom
|
Elin
|
Sprint SS W
|
4
|
|
Schatz
|
Jule
|
Sprint SS W
|
6
|
German Cup DKV
|
Zlatarev
|
Boyan
|
LSS
|
01:28:55
|
|
Zachert
|
Thomas
|
LSS
|
01:31:22
|
|
Ahlgren
|
Oskar
|
LSS
|
01:32:40
|
|
Martens
|
Kay
|
LSS
|
01:34:10
|
|
Oschetzke
|
Dirk
|
OC1
|
01:42:34
|
|
Wilke
|
Daniel
|
SS
|
01:46:22
|
|
Lindstädt
|
Lars
|
OC1
|
01:47:58
|
|
Alms
|
Markus
|
OC1
|
01:51:19
|
|
Johannes
|
Rolf
|
LSS
|
01:51:54
|
|
Eller
|
Frank
|
OC1
|
01:53:25
|
|
Wink
|
Stefan
|
OC1
|
01:54:39
|
|
Morgenstern
|
Karsten
|
OC1
|
01:55:16
|
|
Ertel
|
Christoph
|
OC1
|
01:56:05
|
|
Wink
|
Stefan
|
OC1
|
01:57:55
|
|
Jacob
|
Gero
|
OC1
|
01:58:34
|
|
Finnern
|
Car
|
OC2 Mix
|
01:59:10
|
|
Von der Lohe
|
Selina
|
OC2 MIx
|
01:59:10
|
|
Polle
|
Stefan
|
OC2
|
02:00:01
|
|
Roemer
|
Julian Dominik
|
OC2
|
02:00:01
|
|
Tanger
|
Ivo
|
OC1
|
02:03:30
|
|
Eschelbach
|
Marc
|
OC1
|
02:05:45
|
|
Gottschalk
|
Silvio
|
OC1
|
02:06:12
|
|
Rolle
|
Mike
|
OC1
|
02:06:56
|
|
Braun
|
Mike
|
OC1
|
02:08:20
|
|
Maschwitz
Rolf
|
Nicole
Johannes
|
OC1 W
SK
|
02:08:50
02:08:54
|
|
Friedrich
Schulze-Rusch
|
Jerome
Rüdiger
|
OC1
SK
|
02:09:15
02:10:27
|
|
Rolle
|
Mike
|
OC1
|
02:11:05
|
|
Bayer
|
Heiko
|
OC1
|
02:12:10
|
|
Cordes
|
Carola
|
OC1 W
|
02:12:31
|
|
Jacob
|
Ingo
|
OC1
|
02:13:20
|
|
Wilde
|
Gerd
|
OC1
|
02:15:20
|
|
Tschörner
|
Bernd
|
OC1
|
02:15:57
|
|
Sonkidou
|
Sofia
|
OC2 D
|
02:16:10
|
|
Pagenkopf
|
Ulrike
|
OC2 D
|
02:16:10
|
|
Schröder
|
Thomas
|
OC1
|
02:16:20
|
|
Batell
|
Michael
|
OC1
|
02:20:14
|
|
Dunke
|
Josefine
|
OC2 D
|
02:21:10
|
|
Tarnow
|
Sandra
|
OC2 D
|
02:21:10
|
|
Stegemann
|
Jens
|
OC1
|
02:21:50
|
|
Dierks
|
Nina
|
OC2 Mix
|
02:30:10
|
|
Von der Lohe
|
Joe
|
OC2 Mix
|
02:30:10
|
|
Schleiff
|
Sven
|
OC1
|
02:33:10
|
|
Rüger
|
Jan
|
OC1
|
02:33:40
|
|
Gödecke
|
Steffen
|
OC1
|
02:34:00
|
|
Hischberg
|
Christoph
|
OC1
|
02:34:40
|
|
Finnern
|
Anke
|
OC2 D
|
02:38:21
|
|
Jarcho
|
Martina
|
OC2 D
|
02:38:21
|
|
Helbich
|
Mirko
|
OC1
|
02:41:10
|
|
Ermlich
|
Judith
|
OC1 W
|
02:46:31
|
|
Kühler
|
Hans-Jürgen
|
OC1
|
02:47:36
|
|
Gantert
|
Andi
|
SS
|
|
Olofsson
|
Martina
|
SS
|
Oceanman / Oceanwoman:
|
Loosen
|
David
|
OC M
|
00:34:56
|
|
Fähnle
|
Björn
|
OC M
|
00:35:10
|
|
Manciet
|
Flora
|
OC W
|
00:36:14
|
|
Behrens
|
Bengt
|
OC M
|
00:36:47
|
|
Op het Veld
|
Rik
|
OC M
|
00:37:13
|
|
Theel
|
Sebastian
|
OC M
|
00:37:22
|
|
Ghyselbrecht
|
Michael J.
|
OC M
|
00:38:36
|
|
wilke
|
daniel
|
OC M
|
00:39:02
|
|
Hedstrom
|
Elin
|
OC W
|
00:39:12
|
|
Op het Veld
|
Maike
|
OC W
|
00:39:41
|
|
Eichmann
|
Tim
|
OC M
|
00:44:12
|
|
Hubgregsen
|
Wijnand
|
OC M
|
00:45:11
|
|
Granzow
|
Olaf
|
OC M
|
00:45:52
|
|
Rasch
|
Betina
|
OC W
|
00:46:47
|
|
Gantert
|
Andi
|
OC M
|
00:49:58
|
 |
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