Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Molokai 2011 - A channel of winners and records

Some people say that just getting to the starting line is a feat in itself. You have to ship your board. Hire an escort boat, fly to Molokai, hire a taxi, rent a condo, enter the race (in time and with all your paperwork done), and probably about 10 other things before we even start to discuss training or race strategies. Crossing the channel is a logistical challenge in itself - and that's before you start the paddling part.

Pre-race smiles!
We all bring our own challenges. Experience. Inexperience. Age. Youth. Jobs. Kids. Pressure. Doubt. Fear. Desire. Sickness. Health.

This year I really thought more about the logistics as I sat in my Oahu hotel room (thank you Hotel Renew!). George Ramos and Matt Sack were both preparing for their 15th consecutive crossings. Jamie Mitchell is making a movie about his channel crossings. Well, he's starring in it, but Brent is making the movie. 10 victories in a row. They tell me it might be a better story line if he loses; I put my money on Jamie anyway. Good thing because he did not disappoint - way to go JM! I feel like we've grown up together over the last 10 years of the channel. So proud of you!

It's a race with a million stories. This one tops them all. JM 10

Once the race goes off, usually your body takes over and your mind fights for control (surf North, keep drinking, stay positive, etc.)... This year, I felt the pain more than last year. My body told me to stop. It told me that it would have appreciated some more prep, some more rest. But in the end, it didn't let me down. I handled. I surfed on my knees better than in any other year. I rode all of the bumps I could find. I fought hard. I was cheered on by my husband, my wonderful friend Theresa, and my boat captain Billy.

My cheerleader Ana Bella!

My honey. Thanks babe.

Escorting will wear you out - ask Theresa.

I got my best time - I finally went faster on an unlimited board (5:50) than I had on a stock board (my stock record still stands at 5:53)! I broke the woman's overall and unlimited record of 5:58! But in the end, it was a 17 year old girl, by the name of Jordan Mercer who taught me about the channel. She paddled 32 mile in 5 hours and 22 minutes - a record that both eclipsed mine and was faster than the men's record that had held for the first 7 years of the race. Her time was also faster than the winning stock man's time (and new record set this year by Eric Abbott), faster than the SUP woman's winner, and less than 40 minutes behind the 10-time-consecutive-winner Jamie Mitchell. Jordan not only won the race, she eloquently spoke about it to the press and at the awards. I am so proud to see such talent and passion in traditional paddleboarding and look forward to her return to Hawaii for many years to come!

Jordan Mercer. Inspiring performance girl!
Woman's unlimited winners

The man who makes the machines we ride - Joe Bark!
My friend and studly stock winner, record breaking, Eric Abbott

Thank you Theresa for supporting me since 2001! My water jumper for many of the years - from the beginning, when we didn't have a sea worthy escort and our GPS knowledge was minimal :). She says she'll be back with me next year!

SUP winner and Brazil-Maui girl Andrea Moller. Yeah girl!

Proud papa of 3 week old Eli - Brian Rocheleau. Top Hawaiian traditional paddleboarder.

Done! No rashes! Pualani swim suit. XCEL top. 2XU pants. Solid!
Finish line. Best time.

Jack Bark. Joe's son. Mikey Cote's partner. 1st place.

The channel will do that to you...

Eric Abbott. Best time. New Record. 1st stock. Killer.

Andrea bringing it home for the Maui girls.

Post race recap (my bud Keoni Watson and Vertra man in the background)

Gettin' Ready for Molokai 2011 (with 20:20 hindsight)


It's the 15th anniversary of the Molokai-2-Oahu paddleboard race, and I'm so behind on my blog that the race has already happened (!), and I haven't yet posted about the Cline Mann. I'll get back to that race, but in the meantime, I'm going to do my best to share some insight into this years' M2O event.

The 15th Anniversary
The 2nd year of M2O organizing the race
SUP sport growing & a combined start (prone & SUP solo first; teams start later)
Jamie Mitchell going for 10
My 11th crossing
Solid woman's field

That sets the stage.... here comes the press

I got to do an interview with Malika Dudley on Sunrise for Hawaii News Now. It was a great opportunity to rep my sponsors and show off one of Joe Bark's paddleboards (and my new Pualani Bikini).

Race board props - these would be signed by all competitors after the race and give to sponsors! Thanks to especially to Kona Brew, Maui Jim and Garmin!

Triathlete legend-turned paddleboarder Greg Welch took the reigns of the microphone to introduce the race's top competitors

Race director, father of the Molokai paddleboard race, and North Shore legend Mike Takahashi talks about what the 15th anniversary means to him. Jenny and I listen on.

Oahu's stock guy Eric Abbott and Aussies Jordan Mercer and Jackson English in the lineup

The SUP race is stacked - from left to right, Jenny Kalmbach, Scott Gamble, Aaron Napolean rep the SUP side... and Jeff Denholm hanging in for the prone folks!

Maui Jim Rep Alicia Wrobleski from Illionois (who will next week run a 400 + mile relay for charity) says thank you for the Cline Mann hat I gave her in recognition of Maui Jim's support of the Cline Mann race this year.

Mike and Gerry. Talking paddleboards.

Gerry. One of the best things about the race this year was 2 yoga sessions with Gerry on Molokai. It's the things that aren't in the race program (or agenda) that make our sport so great. Thank you Gerry! (p.s. I did a head stand on my first try!)

Scotty Gamble on balancing all his water sports and still training for the channel.

E. Abbott looking a little nervous for his first press conference... but representing BARK and VERTRA well - he went on to not only win stock but set a record! Yeah Wailupe Boyz!

My friend Mark Matheson prior to the race. No matter how nervous or hard you thought the channel was going to be, this guy had it worse... and he made it! So proud of you, of how far you've come from that first Cline Mann race!

Jackson - a perennial favorite and awesome waterman. School teacher and father of three, Jackson is from Sidney and lives in Singapore now. Always nice to see this guy!

Brian Rocheleau. My training buddy since I began this sport; I miss paddling with him since I move to Kauai! He is now the proud father of Eli Rocheleau (congrats Makena too!) born 3 weeks before this years race. Brian is a master in the water - on a paddleboard, a surfboard, a kayak, you name it. Always a pleasure to see this guy compete.

Jordan Mercer - before she kicked the channel's ass. A superior athlete and a wonderful person. I am both humbled and inspired by her; as she's only 17, I can't wait to see how fast she goes in her career! The sport of paddleboarding has a bright future with young ladies like this. Thank you Jordan!

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Jay Moriarity Race 2011



Top Ten Reasons to Do the Jay Race:

1. Jay
2. Santa Cruz paddlers are really nice people (so much aloha!)
3. It's fun (for flat water, there are some bumps to catch!) 
4. The after-party is great (food, drinks, music, and great compnay)
5. Your choice of course (long, short, relay)
6. Your choice of craft (paddleboard, SUP, unlimited, stock)
7. Interesting and beautiful course
8. Great competition (got to race against SUP phenom Candace Appleby!)
9. Surftech puts together a mean goodie bag (helped out by the sponsors!)
10. Epic raffle (I didn't win though)

Check out Surftech's coverage (and full race results) at 

Above video and below photos by my mom, Karen Duncan (thanks mom!)

It looks cold out there...
Okay, so we're heading into the fog, around that buoy and then past the buoy you can't see... to Santa Cruz Pier, etc. Got it! I'll just follow Craig.
Duke making sure I represent Surftech with a sticker on Jack Bark's board (that he let me borrow)!

Da beach. Da boards. Bark fest.
The start
Headed home.
Candace running up the finish. Nice job transitioning from SUP to prone Candace! Great competition :).

Top Men's Results
Top Woman's Results


Candace Appleby. Kim Moriarity. How's that for Inspiration?!
My Surftech sponsor - DUKE!
He shapes. He paddles. He's Joe Bark!

My Carmel buddy, Mike Jones
My bro Andy down for some Maui Jim team support!
Awards - amazing prize = painting by JD of Jay surfing Mavs.
The fastest paddleboarders of the day - Craig and Anthony