Inspiration TV

Aloha paddleboard fans,

My fiance (and soon to be husband next week Dec. 31st 2009), Thor Seraphin, launched his first episode of the Kauai based TV series Inspiration on OC16! You can watch it archived online at http://www.oc16.tv/shows/67 (scroll to episode 101) or on oceanic cable (archived on demand) if you're in Hawaii.

You can also watch just my segment on YOUTUBE - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUpDRPK7AjQ

The first episode features Char Revelo, the show's host, paddleboarding with "Molokai channel champion paddleboarder and acclaimed scientist Kanesa Duncan".

Title sponsors for the first episode include Alexander Day Spa and Salon and Kauai Pacific School. Sponsors also appearing in this episode include Kauai Community Federal Credit Union, UPS Kauai, Banzai Betty, Tamba Surf Shop, Guardian Self Storage and a public service announcement from the National Tropical Botanical Garden.

Paddleboard Escape From Alcatraz

It really was an escape...

In true Hennessey Paddleboarding fashion, the San Francisco International race this past weekend was an event to remember... the escape from Alcatraz.

Thanks to my sponsor Maui Jims Sunglasses who flew me in and out of San Francisco in 2 days, I was able to juggle a full work schedule and still race ... I showed up in the dark, and woke up in the morning ready to paddle around Alcatraz and Angel Island. We started off in the fog, but as we paddled the sky cleared. The back side of Angel Island was a site to behold, and the city skyline as we paddled back by Alcatraz was pretty spectacular. Just as the current started to pull at us (the race started at slack tide to minimize tidal currents), the fog lifted off the golden gate bridge and San Francisco showed her colors. It was amazing... I feel fortunate to have had the support of my sponsors and my family, lucky to have won the last race of the season (for an undefeated 2009) and glad to be back home in Hawaii with the warm water!

The pack heading past Alcatraz on the way out

Me approaching the finish

Out of jail: Mikey Cote and Eric Abbott

Paddleboard Tour: Duke's Festival, Haleiwa Joe's, and camping Na Pali

We paddled across Molokai almost two months ago, but the fun still continues...

I raced in the Duke's Paddleboard / Hawaii Paddleboard Championships at the end of August - it was a great downwind run on the new pink beauty, and I think probably the most fun race of the year! I also got to get my photo taken with the Duke statue (along with Maui paddlers Dave Ward and Blaire Thorndike)!

On Labor Day weekend, I paddled the  Haleiwa Joe's race from Waimea to Haleiwa, where I missed the start but found the finish :).

This weekend, I paddleboarded the Na Pali coast again. I went with the owner of Na Pali Kayak Tours, and paddleboarder, Josh Comstock on his end of the season ohana (family) fun run. Thor and his brother kayaked and I paddleboarded. We checked out all the sea caves, waterfalls and beaches, then we camped in Polihale that night. It was epic....

Next weekend I'm off to San Francisco for the Hennessey race around Alcatraz. I'll keep you posted!

Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation
Hawaii Paddleboard Championships
Saturday, August 29, 2009


Place     No.     State     Country     Name     Div     Time
1     143             SCOTT GAMBLE     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & OVER MALE     1:15:26
2     105             AARON NAPOLEON     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & OVER MALE     1:17:01
3     41     Hawaii     Us     SCOTT TRUDON     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & OVER MALE     1:18:27
4     13             MARK RAAPHORST     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & OVER MALE     1:19:12
5     12     Hawaii     Us     L MENELAU     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & OVER MALE     1:21:01
6     104             MATTHEW DUBRULE     UNLIMITED UNDER 40 MALE     1:22:27
7     11     Hawaii     Us     ROBERT STEHLIK     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & OVER MALE     1:22:39
8     77             TODD BRADLEY     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     1:24:10
9     14     Hawaii     Us     CONNOR BAXTER     STANDUP 19 YRS & YOUNGER MALE     1:24:20
10     22     Hawaii     Us     SLATER TROUT     STANDUP 19 YRS & YOUNGER MALE     1:24:27
11     140             KAEO OKALANI ABBEY     UNLIMITED UNDER 40 MALE     1:24:53
12     100     Hawaii     Us     JERRY BESS     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     1:25:00
13     122             SEPA NAPOLEON     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     1:25:01
14     69     Hawaii     Us     DAVE PARMENTER     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     1:25:07
15     1     Hawaii     Us     KIMO MIRANDA     STANDUP 12.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     1:25:32
16     42             JEFF CHANG     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & OVER MALE     1:26:36
17     107             EDMUND PESTANA     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     1:26:54
18     26             MICHI SCHWEIGER     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     1:27:41
19     99             MATT BARNETT     UNLIMNTED 40 & OVER MALE     1:27:57
20     85     Hawaii     Us     ANDREA MOLLER     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & OVER FEMAL     1:28:29
21     63             JODY RAGSCHLUTZ     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & OVER MALE     1:29:20
22     18             KIMO GREENWELL     PB STOCK 30-39 MALE     1:29:21
23     129             DOLAN EVERSOLE     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     1:29:32
24     113         France     LEROY RICO     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     1:29:54
25     116             NORM BRADLEY     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & OVER MALE     1:30:05
26     7     Hawaii     Us     ZAME SCHWEITZER     STANDUP 19 YRS & YOUNGER MALE     1:30:12
27     110             BLACK ABRAHAM     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & OVER MALE     1:31:10
28     40     Hawaii     Us     KANESA DUNCAN     UNLIMITED ALL AGES FEMALE     1:31:11
29     29     Hawaii     Us     BERND ROEDIGER     STANDUP 19 YRS & YOUNGER MALE     1:31:52
30     70             JENNY KALMBACH     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & OVER FEMAL     1:32:17
31     103             CHRIS FONG     PB STOCK 1-19 MALE     1:32:24
32     68     Hawaii     Us     ARCHIE KALEPA     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     1:32:31
33     30     Nsw     Australia     SIMON DODD     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     1:32:35
34     78             BRENDAN BRADLEY     PB STOCK 1-19 MALE     1:32:39
35     98             DOUG LOCK     STANDUP 12.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     1:32:48
36     112             KAIPO GUERRERO     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     1:32:52
37     133             MARC HAINE     UNLIMNTED 40 & OVER MALE     1:33:04
38     106             RIGGS NAPOLEON     STANDUP 19 YRS & YOUNGER MALE     1:33:16
39     23             BLAIR THORNDIKE     PB STOCK 40-49 MALE     1:33:24
40     39             SCOT MCPHAIL     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     1:33:27
41     24     Hawaii     Us     DAVE WARD     PB STOCK 40-49 MALE     1:33:41
42     87     Hawaii     Us     EVAN LEONG     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & OVER MALE     1:33:53
43     126             JUSTIN LANGLAIS     UNLIMITED UNDER 40 MALE     1:35:10
44     51     Hawaii     Us     CARLOS GILLIS     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     1:35:47
45     56     Hawaii     Us     ROSS KOIZUMI     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     1:35:49
46     138             CLARK ABBEY     UNLIMNTED 40 & OVER MALE     1:35:56
47     20     Hawaii     Us     RAY SHIRAISHI     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     1:36:03
48     84     Hawaii     Us     KEVIN SEID     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & OVER MALE     1:36:11
49     32     Hawaii     Us     MICHAEL CHEAPE     PB STOCK 40-49 MALE     1:36:24
50     124             BODO VAN DER LEEDEN     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     1:36:45
51     135             BILLY BALDING     PB STOCK 40-49 MALE     1:37:00
52     4             DARIN KOHARA     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     1:37:04
53     37             JOHN DEMARCO     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     1:38:10
54     47             RUA TAFT     PB STOCK 30-39 MALE     1:38:22
55     128             GREGORY QUINN     PB STOCK 40-49 MALE     1:38:27
56     111             HEATHER JEPPESEN     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & UNDER FEMA     1:39:21
57     91     Hawaii     Us     BRAD FELDMAN     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     1:39:36
58     109             KEONE MACARTHUR     PB STOCK 30-39 MALE     1:39:37
59     142             ERIC OLSEN     STANDUP 12.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     1:39:47
60     46     Hawaii     Us     REBECCA JAKEWAY     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & UNDER FEMA     1:39:50
61     108             JON PIPER     PB STOCK 40-49 MALE     1:39:52
62     36             JOHN ABRAMSON     UNLIMNTED 40 & OVER MALE     1:40:08
63     66     Hawaii     Us     HILTON ALVES     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & OVER MALE     1:40:12
64     35     Hawaii     Us     GEORGE RAMOS JR.     PB STOCK 50-59 MALE     1:40:42
65     15             ANDREW ESTES     PB STOCK 20-29 MALE     1:40:50
66     95             NOA GINELLE     PB STOCK 1-19 MALE     1:41:27
67     123             DONNA BABOME     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & UNDER FEMA     1:41:35
68     117             JOHNNY COMSTOCK     PB STOCK 30-39 MALE     1:41:41
69     102             HERBIE TITCOMB     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & OVER MALE     1:41:46
70     80     Hawaii     Us     REID INOUYE     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & OVER MALE     1:42:21
71     72     Hawaii     Us     STUART NAKATA     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     1:42:33
72     75             ERROL KANEZ     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     1:43:09
73     62             HAROLD IGGY     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     1:43:39
74     76     Ca     Us     TED RUTHERFORD     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     1:44:01
75     55     Hawaii     Us     JEREMIAH WOZNICK     STANDUP 12.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     1:44:04
76     82     Hawaii     Us     MATT GATELY     PB STOCK 20-29 MALE     1:44:08
77     48     Hawaii     Us     BYRON VALDEZ     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     1:44:37
78     79     Hawaii     Us     MARK EUGENIO     PB STOCK 40-49 MALE     1:44:51
79     58             ALIKA WILLIS     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & OVER MALE     1:45:37
80     86             ROBERTO LOPES     STANDUP 12.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     1:45:46
81     93     Hawaii     Us     SCOTT SAITO     PB STOCK 20-29 MALE     1:46:50
82     17     Hawaii     Us     LAYNE OWEN     PB STOCK 40-49 MALE     1:46:57
83     121             DESMOND BARBADILLO     UNLIMNTED 40 & OVER MALE     1:47:06
84     49             DAMON ANCHETA     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     1:47:07
85     50     Hawaii     Us     SCOTT NAGASAWA     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     1:47:35
86     141             BRAD BARNESON     PB STOCK 20-29 MALE     1:47:37
87     114             KATIE SLOCUMB     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & OVER FEMAL     1:48:05
88     132             KARIM CHAIBAI     PB STOCK 40-49 MALE     1:48:50
89     134             MARK CUNNINGHAM     PB STOCK 50-59 MALE     1:48:55
90     90             RANDAL LUI-KWAN     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & OVER MALE     1:48:57
91     53     Hawaii     Us     KALANI KAHALIOUMI     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     1:49:20
92     31     Hawaii     Us     JOANNA BILANCIERI     PB STOCK 20-39 FEMAL     1:49:25
93     65             TONY MONIZ     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     1:49:45
94     34     Hawaii     Us     HENRY LEE     PB STOCK 40-49 MALE     1:49:54
95     45     Hawaii     Us     MARY JO GUMBERT     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & OVER FEMAL     1:50:03
96     130             KRISTEN JOHNS     PB STOCK 20-39 FEMAL     1:50:37
97     2         Us     TIM FERNANDEZ     PB STOCK 60-99 MALE     1:51:04
98     83         Puerto Rico     JAIME TORRES     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     1:51:23
99     33     Hawaii     Us     CHAD SEYMOUR     PB STOCK 20-29 MALE     1:51:50
100     137             ALAN PFLUEGER     UNLIMNTED 40 & OVER MALE     1:51:53
101     67         Australia     RICHARD FINLAY-JONES     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & OVER MALE     1:51:55
102     38             TIM BRANDON     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     1:52:18
103     59             SAM PAE     STANDUP 12.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     1:52:18
104     74     Hawaii     Us     JOAN FUKUMOTO     PB STOCK 40-99 FEMAL     1:52:32
105     61     Hawaii     Us     SHANE SAKAI     STANDUP 12.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     1:52:35
106     52             SHANE OYAMA     STANDUP 12.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     1:52:50
107     101             MARJ TAKABAYASHI     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & UNDER FEMA     1:52:58
108     27             KAEO KEALEOALOHA     UNLIMNTED 40 & OVER MALE     1:53:02
109     97             JOHN GINELLA     PB STOCK 1-19 MALE     1:53:18
110     115             J. STEPHENS     PB STOCK 40-49 MALE     1:53:22
111     73     Hawaii     Us     TROE HERLONG     UNLIMNTED 40 & OVER MALE     1:53:58
112     8             MARTY SANTOS     STANDUP 12.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     1:54:20
113     94             TIM JOHNS     PB STOCK 50-59 MALE     1:54:32
114     88             DARIN LEONG     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     1:55:10
115     57     Hawaii     Us     JUSTIN BEYERS     STANDUP 12.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     1:55:37
116     120             CAROLYN ANNERUD     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & UNDER FEMA     1:56:59
117     81             ANGELA GIANCATERINO     PB STOCK 20-39 FEMAL     1:57:14
118     54     Hawaii     Us     CHAD BURGHER     STANDUP 12.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     1:57:21
119     96             SEAN GINELLA     PB STOCK 50-59 MALE     1:58:17
120     19     Hawaii     Us     MICHAEL KUAKINI     STANDUP 12.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     1:58:28
121     89             HARRIS CHANG     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & OVER MALE     1:58:41
122     131             JORDAN ABBEY     PB STOCK 1-19 MALE     2:00:16
123     9             JEFF THOMAS     STANDUP 12.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     2:01:21
124     118             COLLEEN TESSLER     PB STOCK 20-39 FEMAL     2:02:17
125     43     Hawaii     Us     JEFF PETERSON     UNLIMNTED 40 & OVER MALE     2:02:28
126     125             JEFF HARRIS     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     2:03:12
127     10             MICHAEL LORNE     PB STOCK 50-59 MALE     2:03:31
128     21             LYNDA LIM     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & UNDER FEMA     2:03:33
129     127             ERIN WASCHER     PB STOCK 20-39 FEMAL     2:05:55
130     136             AARON BROWN     UNLIMITED UNDER 40 MALE     2:05:58
131     71     Hawaii     Us     ALIKA COSNER     STANDUP 12.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     2:06:55
132     119             CURTIS MILLER     STANDUP 12.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     2:13:29
133     25     Hawaii     Us     MARCIANO WHITFORD     STANDUP 19 YRS & YOUNGER MALE     2:16:30
134     6     Hawaii     Us     SHARON STEHLIK     STANDUP 14.6 FEET & UNDER FEMA     2:20:00
135     139             CARLTON HELM     PB STOCK 20-29 MALE     2:20:45
136     64     Hawaii     Us     ROBERT NORTON JR.     STANDUP 12.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     2:21:12
137     3     Hawaii     Us     MARK MATHESON     UNLIMNTED 40 & OVER MALE     2:30:56
138     60             MICAH LIANA     STANDUP 12.6 FEET & UNDER MALE     2:33:03

 
20th Annual Haleiwa Joe's Labor Day Paddleboard Race 9/06/09
Paddleboard Division
Overall
Place FirstName LastName Time Division Division Place
1 Chris Owens 45:13 Unlimited 40 + 1
2 Matt Barnett 46:24 Unlimited 40 + 2
3 Kai Hall 47:06 Men 30 - 39 1
4 Marc Haine 48:06 Unlimited 40 + 3
5 Travis DesRoches 48:24 Men 20 - 29 1
6 Jon Piper 49:57 Unlimited 40 + 4
7 David Ward 50:16 Men 40 - 49 1
8 Gregory Quinn 50:38 Men 40 - 49 2
9 Blair Thorndike 50:45 Men 40 - 49 3
10 Mark Rigg 50:52 Men 50 - 59 1
11 John Abramson 50:53 Unlimited 40 + 5
12 Holden Takahashi 51:11 15 - 19 1
13 Noa Ginella 51:34 15 - 19 2
14 Clark Abbey 51:37 Unlimited 40 + 6
15 Kanesa Duncan 51:53 Stock Paddleboard Women 39 & Under 1
16 George Ramos Jr. 52:05 Men 50 - 59 2
17 Michael Cheape 52:21 Men 40 - 49 4
18 Rua Taft 52:44 Men 30 - 39 2
19 Kendall Rust 53:18 Men 40 - 49 5
20 Desmond Barbadillo 53:32 Unlimited 40 + 7
21 Matt Gately 54:19 Men 20 - 29 2
22 Jeffrey Peterson 54:42 Unlimited 40 + 8
23 Charlie Walker 54:58 Unlimited 40 + 9
24 Alan Pflueger 54:59 Unlimited 40 + 10
25 Rick Williams 55:05 Men 50 - 59 3
26 Lane Saito 55:11 Unlimited 39 & Under 1
27 Buttons Kaluhiokalani 55:32 Men 50 - 59 4
28 John Hoogsteden 55:43 Men 40 - 49 6
29 T. Pohaku Fernandez 55:46 60 + 1
30 Mark Eugenio 55:54 Men 40 - 49 7
31 Mike Coté 55:56 Men 50 - 59 5
32 Joshua Ewing 55:58 Men 30 - 39 3
33 Akila Barnett 55:59 Unlimited 39 & Under 2
34 Sean Ginella 56:07 Men 50 - 59 6
35 Layne Owen 56:20 Men 40 - 49 8
36 John Ginella 56:27 15 - 19 3
37 Carl Kim 56:29 Men 50 - 59 7
38 Joanna Bilancieri 56:40 Women 39 & Under 2
39 Troe Herlong 56:44 Unlimited 40 + 11
40 Joan Fukumoto 57:23 Women 40 + 1
41 Scott Saito 57:16 Men 20 - 29 3
42 Karim Abdil 57:23 Unlimited 40 + 12
43 Aaron Brown 59:43 Unlimited 39 & Under 3
44 Kukunaokala Mendonca 1:00:18 Men 40 - 49 9
45 Bill Lim 1:01:05 Men 40 - 49 10
46 Keoni Limahai 1:01:30 Men 50 - 59 8
47 Shonn Kim 1:01:41 Men 30 - 39 4
48 Michael Lorne 1:01:52 Men 50 - 59 9
49 Peter Takahashi 1:01:54 14 & Under 1
50 Scott Cummins 1:02:12 Men 30 - 39 5
51 Jeremiah Brown 1:02:37 Men 20 - 29 4
52 Kathryn Stanaway 1:04:03 Women 39 & Under 3
53 Andrew Ozimec 1:04:30 Unlimited 40 + 13
54 Daniel Kauai 1:04:46 Men 40 - 49 11
55 Mark Matheson 1:14:09 Unlimited 40 + 14
56 Marco Barbosa 1:37:02 Men 40 - 49 12

XCEL Online

XCEL wetsuits has added a link to my paddleboard race and the Kainalu Project website!

Kainalu Project: Spreading the Aloha

Kainalu Project website built to spread the aloha nominated me for athlete of the month!
 

http://fromthewater.kainaluproject.com/?p=453

The New Face of Maui Jim

Let the presses roll... here is the new face of Maui Jim sunglasses!

I am so happy to be working with Maui Jims. They have been one of my best supporters over the years, and it has been really exciting this year to see them step more into sponsorship of our ocean sports - and ocean education. In addition to their sponsorship of the Molokai Channel crossing and other paddle races, we have plans for their involvement in our Sea Grant Center for Marine Science Education ocean art contest to promote ocean literacy!

http://www.mauijim.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/TopCategoriesDisplay?storeId=10001&catalogId=11601&langId=-1

The Surftech Tour

I've joined the ranks of Surftech, and will join them in Hawaii for the Duke's Ocean Festival and paddleboard race on August 29th and then in California for the Henessey International Paddleboard race in San Francisco 9 Miles(Aquatic Park, around Angel and Alcatraz Islands, and back).

I'm really excited to be a part of their family! In addition to riding the paddleboards that Joe Bark hand shapes for me, I now get to try so many different shapes of surfboards that my head is spinning (Joe also has paddleboard Surftech models)!

Check out the press release below.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Surftech team riders Jamie Mitchell and Kanesa Duncan win Rainbow Sandals Molokai to Oahu Paddleboard Race

Oahu, Hi. (July 31, 2009) – Surftech team rider Jamie Mitchell (Gold Coast, Australia) is far more than simply the worlds fastest paddler. He’s a surfer who has proven himself in the big wave arena by charging massive surf in Australia, Hawaii, Mexico, and California on both his surfboards and stand up paddleboards. Last weekend in extremely challenging seas, Jamie won the 32-mile Molokai to Oahu Paddleboard race for the 8th straight time, with his closest competitor, Hawaii's Brian Rocheleau, more than 20 minutes behind. "The first two-thirds (of the course) was pretty good — I could feel the current from the start," Mitchell said. "But then that last third, it took forever to get close ... it was tough. Probably the toughest race of the last three or four years."

Recent addition to the Surftech team, Kanesa Duncan (Honolulu, Hawaii) earned her 7th Molokai to Oahu Women’s title last weekend on her brand new Bark paddleboard. Duncan dominated the women's field, finishing with a time of 6:29:29, more than 16 minutes ahead of runner-up Bianca Lee of Australia. “I especially appreciated in this years race!” said Duncan. “My work schedule and travel to conferences limited my training, which was okay as I'd planned around it and got some early miles in, but then I got pretty sick 3 weeks ago... so after resting for the past 3 weeks, I went into this year's channel a bit behind where I would have liked fitness-wise. However, I think my experience and my supporters came through for me in the end and I still managed to pull out a good race.”

Congratulations to both Jamie and Kanesa and don’t be surprised to see both of them on the starting line at various races in California later this year.

Also be sure to check out Jamie’s new 9’8” Surftech SUP model in stores later this fall.

For more info contact:
Duke Brouwer
Surftech Marketing Manager
duke@surftech.com
www.surftech.com

9x 32 miles = more than 40 hours paddling Kaiwi Channel

Molokai to Oahu Paddleboard 2009 - 9th crossing in a row. 7th win... going for a full decade in 2010!

Aloha and mahalo for all of your support!.... I especially appreciated in this years race!  My work schedule and travel to conferences limited my training, which was okay as I'd planned around it and got some early miles in, but then I got pretty sick 3 weeks ago... so after resting for the past 3 weeks, I went into this year's channel a bit behind where I would have liked fitness-wise.

However, I think my experience and my supporters came through for me in the end and I still managed to pull out a good race... conditions were definitely challenging, and it sounds like pretty much everyone wished for a bit more muscle power in the last hour!! My main man Norm, the ultimate boat driver escort, kept me in good shape, and his wife Mikala and my boyfriend Thor all backed me up in water drops and cheers.

Overall, my training partners did great - Brian Rocheleau got second overall, Mikey Cote killed the stock division and my coach Eric Abbott took 3rd stock. My friends over the years from California, France and Australia also paddled well.... so that was fun to see! And, It was pretty awesome to be able to give Jerry Lopez a lei after he finished the team Stand Up race with Sparky (from Rainbow sandals)!  All in all a heck of a day.

Now that I have the channel down (which is one heck of a training run), I'm looking to be in good shape for the remainder of the season!

Thanks for all of your support and love. I received so many comments from people who are excited that we're bringing awareness to WWW.RACETOHEAL.COM and cancer screening / treatment options, especially for those folks without health insurance.

Keep up the good work!
Here is latest press - the link to the video has expired, and I didn't archive the file (if you watched it, you got to see Iwalani and Gordon - my Pualani swimsuit sponsors in the background as I finish).

Molokai Race to Heal

3 days to go 'til 2009 Molokai Pboard channel race - we had a fabulous press conference, pre-race dinner hosted by Maui Jims and a fun registration get-together last night.

Here are links to the KHNL News 8 story (I think there was more live on TV as I'm told I talked quite a bit!) and here is a link to a write up and online video in the Honolulu Advertiser newspaper. Always nice when they help me do my job of integrating marine science in daily life. Gotta love it!

And for more on the pink board saga.... it rests safely at the repair shop. It's not done getting fixed yet, but that's okay as I've decided to go with the yellow Bark board I paddled last year (which rocks!). It has a bit less rocker and an easier entry into waves, which will be good for the channel as we're setting up for seas with lower wave height and pretty short periods - the forecast is for some light to moderate winds with an ebbing tide and a SW swell pushing against us.

Pink PINK Pink - RACE TO HEAL

Gearing up for Sunday's Molokai Channel - We did a photo shoot with Dana Edmunds yesterday for Maui Jims Sunglasses and a press conference today.

Here's a sneak preview of the pink beauty, which we are using to showcase www.racetoheal.org, a group supporting awareness for women's breast / cervical cancer and programs, like those at Queen's hospital, that provide free screening and free treatment for people with low income and no health insurance.

The board did have an accident yesterday, however, and is at the repair shop now, so it might sit out the channel. But, it will be back in no time for some epic downwind paddles - now off to the races.

Photos by Dana Edmunds - http://www.danafoto.com/

Cold California - Monterey and Carmel

ITINERARY:

Fly from Honolulu to San Francisco.
Check.
Get one very supportive mom to play taxi driver. Check.
Drive to Santa Cruz and pick up board from very hospitable SurfTech folks.
Check.
Show up in Monterey for work meetings and conference...... squeeze in as much paddling as possible.
Check.

When I got to Monterey, I thought that they would laugh at me and my Hawaii-adapted blood when I showed up with my XCEL paddling pants, a paddling top, my shortie wetsuit and my mom's booties to layer up for my cold water paddle... but then I saw that everyone else was wearing full wetsuits. IN JULY. TO PADDLEBOARD. Suddenly my layers felt more inadequate rather than overkill.

At Whaler's Cove

Nevertheless, I braved the water, the kelp and the fog to paddle with a great group of guys (the CWC, or Carmel Waterman's Club). They showed me the beautiful coastline of Carmel, from Stillwater Cove along 17-mile drive to Whaler's Bay. We scouted out the course for their upcoming (August 9, 2009) inaugural paddleboard race and they pretty much arranged all of their schedules around my conferences (National Marine Educator's Association Conference and Sea Grant Educator's Network Meeting) to help me train! They even fed me dinner (steak, salmon, chicken, artichoke, asparagus)... I highly recommend this area of CA for the good people and the scenery - next time, I'll just ask them to turn on the water heater before I arrive!

ps. Next stop = Molokai to Oahu! (hurricanes not withstanding - it looks like a few are heading our way!)

Paddling back.....

Mom, the taxi driver, takes to the water on a slightly drier & warmer vehicle than a paddleboard!

No shortage of wild life - the baby sea otters and their moms were all around us!

The sea lions of CA - this one is a BIG BOY!

One of the Seven Wonders of The World - Na Pali, Kauai

Coming off the Cline Mann race on June 13th, we regrouped for a paddle last Saturday. Me and the crew (Brian, Marc, Keoni, & Kimo) paddled from Sandy Beach to the Ala Wai and back to Kaimana Beach. I was feeling the paddle, but still looking good for the Father's Day northshore the next day (the Sunday the 21st of June) .... but  I got the opportunity to paddle the Na Pali Coast on the island of Kauai. It's something I've been planning to do for years, and I  got the chance to go on a day when the winds were cranking. I hopped a plane and got set to paddle the 17 mile stretch of coast from Kauai's North to West shore.

I hooked up with a friend (Josh) who is just starting to paddleboard and runs a kayak tour company (Na Pali Kayak Tours), so I had a ride and a guide to point out sea caves and the like, but the catch is that Josh couldn't paddleboard so I had to hang WITH the tour. A 3 or 4 hour paddle just became 7 or 8 hours. Wow. So, at 430am I woke up and headed to Hanalei, on Kauai's North Shore, armed with some gu gels, water and an expired, disposable underwater camera. I paddled circles around the "scupper" plastic kayaks, but in the process I think I made a few new fans of our paddleboard sport along the way!

I ended up with some good upwind (at one point when I had "escaped" the tour I paddled 45 minutes upwind trying to find them) and downwind training. In fact, am so stoked on this paddle that I can't wait to realize my next dream of organizing a group of paddleboarders to paddle the coast. Anybody want to join me?

Here are some shots from the expired camera. Enjoy!

Now, I'm off to paddle in some very cold Monterey, CA water. The guys there are trying to get me into a race from Santa Cruz to Monterey (26 miles) this Saturday, but it is the same day as the meeting I'm attending, so I'll have to settle for some dusk paddles :).

Waterfall past Hanakapiai

Sea Cave past Hanakapiai

Heading to Kalalau

On the beach at Kalalau

On the home stretch to Polihale ... it's getting sunnier and hotter over here!

Off at The Races

Thank you all for your support of the Cline Mann memorial Koolaupoko paddleboard race - many of you donated prizes and they were greatly appreciated by all of the competitors!

Conditions were sufficiently gnarly, and the race went off in some serious wind and waves - to the enjoyment and mastery of some and the trial of others... actually the overall consensus was that this year was one of the tougher race courses we've had in the past few years. There were many broken and damaged boards as well as some bruised egos! ... I crossed the finish line in a respectable 3 hours, but 25 minutes slower than my record breaking time of last year.

Me with my wonderful Alora prize pack and Mike Ako

Mikey Cote (3rd), Brian Rocheleau (2nd), and Jamie Mitchell (1st)

results:  http://www.pacificsportevents.com/Results.htm

2009 CLINE MANN MEMORIAL PADDLEBOARD RACE
KO'OLAUPOKO - MAKAPU'U * HAWAII KAI TO KAIMANA
SATURDAY JUNE 13TH, 2009
LONG COURSE

Place    No.    Name    Div    Div    Shaper    Time
1    1    Jamie Mitchell    1    UNLMEN 1-39    Adrian Burse    2:27:30
2    13    Brian Rocheleau    2    UNLMEN 1-39    Bark    2:31:40
3    4    Mikey Cote'    3    UNLMEN 1-39    Bark    2:37:25
4    20    Keoni Watson    4    UNLMEN 1-39    Bark    2:41:03
5    17    Mitch De Geus    1    STKMEN 01-39    Bark    2:43:30
6    28    Kaeo'o'kalani Abbey    5    UNLMEN 1-39    Joe Bark    2:48:19
7    29    Kai Hall    2    STKMEN 01-39    Pang    2:51:25
8    32    Brad Thomas    1    UNLMEN 40-99    Richmond    2:53:44
9    9    Chris Owens    2    UNLMEN 40-99    Richmond    2:54:05
10    3    Matthew Sack    6    UNLMEN 1-39    Richmond    2:57:15
11    11    Travis Des Roches    3    STKMEN 01-39    Bark    2:58:22
12    6    Eric Abbott    4    STKMEN 01-39    Bark    2:58:40
13    23    Kimo Greenwell    5    STKMEN 01-39    Dennis Pang    2:59:09
14    14    Bryan Phillips    7    UNLMEN 1-39    Bark    3:03:06
15    7    Kanesa Duncan    1    UNLOPEN FEMALE    Bark    3:04:59
16    19    George Jose Ramos Jr.    1    STKMEN 40-99    Dennis Pang    3:17:54
17    5    Austin Kino    6    STKMEN 01-39    Joe Bark    3:19:42
18    26    Peter Hursty    8    UNLMEN 1-39    Bark    3:20:15
19    33    Justin Langlais    9    UNLMEN 1-39    Infront    3:22:26
20    21    Michael Cheape    2    STKMEN 40-99    Dennis Pang    3:22:37
21    31    Scott McPhail    3    STKMEN 40-99        3:25:39
22    16    Ryan Hatfield    7    STKMEN 01-39    Bark    3:37:22
23    30    Kelly Tam Sing    8    STKMEN 01-39    D. Pang    3:37:54
24    24    Mike Bennett    3    UNLMEN 40-99    Bark    3:39:37
25    27    Clark Abbey    4    UNLMEN 40-99    Bark    3:40:10
26    8    Dustin Morris    9    STKMEN 01-39        3:45:41
27    10    Rua Taft    10    STKMEN 01-39    Bark    3:48:46
28    22    Robert Egbert    10    UNLMEN 1-39    Bark    3:49:29
29    35    Mark Hand    11    UNLMEN 1-39    Bark    4:06:06
30    2    Joanna Bilancieri    1    STKOPEN FEMALE    Bark    4:11:44
31    25    Mike Bakinowski    5    UNLMEN 40-99    Bark    5:10:24

2009 CLINE MANN MEMORIAL PADDLEBOARD RACE
KO'OLAUPOKO - MAKAPU'U * HAWAII KAI TO KAIMANA
SATURDAY JUNE 13TH, 2009
SHORT COURSE

Place    No.    Name    Div    Div    Shaper    Time
1    114    Guy Pere    1    SU UNLMEN 18-39    Bark    1:19:16
2    86    Scott Gamble    2    SU UNLMEN 18-39        1:20:19
3    53    Kamaki Worthington    3    SU UNLMEN 18-39    Dp    1:22:31
4    96    Noland Martin    1    SU STKMEN 18-39    Dave Parmenter    1:23:06
5    94    Manny Kulukulualani    2    SU STKMEN 18-39    Iggy    1:23:28
6    84    Dave Parmenter    1    SU STKMEN 40-99    Self    1:24:59
7    112    Edmund Pestana    1    SU UNLMEN 40-99        1:26:13
8    83    Greg Pavao    2    SU STKMEN 40-99    C4    1:26:35
9    116    Christian Bradley    3    SU STKMEN 18-39    C4    1:27:22
10    102    Chris Fong    1    BoysStk 1-17    Eleu    1:29:20
11    115    Todd Bradley    3    SU STKMEN 40-99    C4    1:31:40
12    70    Marc Haine    1    UNLMEN 40-99    Bark    1:31:42
13    61    Jason Ignacio    4    SU UNLMEN 18-39    Raaphorst F-16    1:31:47
14    113    Dale Hope    1    STKMEN 40-99    Bark    1:31:50
15    67    Kaipo Guerrero    4    SU STKMEN 40-99    C4 Vortice    1:32:04
16    60    James Martindale    5    SU UNLMEN 18-39    F-16    1:32:20
17    91    Riggs Napoleon    1    SU BoysStk 1-17    Bark    1:33:27
18    117    Brendan Bradley    2    BoysStk 1-17    C4    1:34:25
19    104    Chuck Kelley    2    STKMEN 40-99        1:35:12
20    107    Kevin Seid    2    SU UNLMEN 40-99    F-16    1:37:16
21    69    Hilton Alves    6    SU UNLMEN 18-39    C4 Waterman    1:38:12
22    103    Robby Kelley    1    STKMEN 18-39    Eleu    1:38:22
23    108    Eric Olson    4    SU STKMEN 18-39    Angulo    1:39:31
24    85    Jody Ragsdale    3    SU UNLMEN 40-99        1:39:38
25    119    Mark Cunnigham    3    STKMEN 40-99    Bark    1:39:56
26    92    Justin Rapoza    7    SU UNLMEN 18-39        1:41:09
27    82    Anders Jonsson    2    STKMEN 18-39    Bark    1:41:17
28    109    Brad Akeo    4    STKMEN 40-99    Waterman    1:42:48
29    68    Heather Jeppessen    1    SU STKFEMALE    C4-Vortice    1:44:37
30    59    Ray Shiraishi    5    SU STKMEN 40-99    Raaphorst    1:44:46
31    98    Herbie Titcomb    6    SU STKMEN 40-99        1:44:50
32    100    Kyle Bernhardt    7    SU STKMEN 40-99    Self    1:45:13
33    95    Jon Piper    5    STKMEN 40-99    Bark 12    1:45:58
34    99    Bodo Van Der Leeden    8    SU STKMEN 40-99    Softop 12'    1:46:45
35    118    Mike Fox    9    SU STKMEN 40-99    C4 Parmenter    1:48:02
36    79    James Bradley    5    SU STKMEN 18-39    Parmentor    1:48:30
37    80    Mike Takahashi    2    UNLMEN 40-99    Joe Bark    1:48:38
38    77    Buttons Kaluhiokalani    6    STKMEN 40-99        1:50:04
39    58    Alika Willis    10    SU STKMEN 40-99    C4    1:50:25
40    110    Layne Owen    7    STKMEN 40-99    Dennis Pang    1:50:26
41    54    Cory Larrieu    11    SU STKMEN 40-99    Jimmy Lewis    1:50:48
42    72    Carl Kimm    8    STKMEN 40-99    Eleu    1:52:18
43    81    Holden Takahashi    3    BoysStk 1-17    Dennis Pang    1:52:46
44    106    Shane Sakai    6    SU STKMEN 18-39    C4    1:53:52
45    89    Tim Johns    9    STKMEN 40-99    Dennis Pang    1:55:16
46    111    Stuart Nakata    12    SU STKMEN 40-99    Dennis Pang    1:55:44
47    56    Robert Picayo    7    SU STKMEN 18-39    Ted Spencer    1:56:31
48    75    Timothy Fernandez    10    STKMEN 40-99        1:58:02
49    93    Jimmy Keaulana    4    SU UNLMEN 40-99    Mark M    1:58:51
50    97    Juan Caviedes    8    SU STKMEN 18-39    Walden    1:59:10
51    64    Peter Jensen    11    STKMEN 40-99    Bark    2:02:09
52    120    Randy Shibuya    12    STKMEN 40-99        2:02:35
53    73    Katie Slocumb    1    SU UNLFEMALE    Raaphorst    2:02:37
54    101    Brett Thomas    13    STKMEN 40-99    Bark    2:03:01
55    65    Ed Wheeler    13    SU STKMEN 40-99    C4    2:04:12
56    90    Kevin Johns    3    STKMEN 18-39        2:04:31
57    52    Mary Jo Gumbert    2    SU UNLFEMALE    Sic    2:06:04
58    76    Natalie Jane Wallgrove    1    STKOPEN FEMALE    Waterman    2:07:34
59    57    Corbin Peleiholani-Kuhns    14    STKMEN 40-99    D. Pang    2:09:20
60    87    Kristen Lee    2    STKOPEN FEMALE    Pang    2:12:48
61    62    Keala Fung    2    SU STKFEMALE    Pearson Arrow    2:14:15
62    63    Jared Kimbler    9    SU STKMEN 18-39    Schaper    2:14:15
63    105    James Baloaloa    10    SU STKMEN 18-39    C4    2:20:40
64    74    J Stephens    15    STKMEN 40-99    Bark    2:23:48
65    55    Chris Whitesides    5    SU UNLMEN 40-99    Mark Raphorst    2:25:55
66    88    Lisa Livingston    3    STKOPEN FEMALE    C4    2:31:58
67    51    Micah Liana    2    SU BoysStk 1-17    Oxbow    2:34:47
68    71    David Bearden    11    SU STKMEN 18-39    Angulo/tropical Blen    2:42:01
69    66    Kaeo Kaleoaloha    3    UNLMEN 40-99    Bark    2:47:00
                             

Let the training begin...

We paddled around Sandy Beach on Saturday and Sunday... here is a photo by Dale Hope.

Let the training begin....