Women of Molokai 2 Oahu 2012

A couple of days ago, I saw the promo for the women of this year's Molokai to Oahu race, and I was pretty excited (nice job Chris Aguilar!). I'd heard there would be 35 girls, and I felt pretty proud to be going for my 12th paddleboard crossing in as many years... I thought back to my first crossing (we had a horrible tide and I think about 10+ people got pulled for not making the cut-off, even though many people who got awards didn't make the cutoff - it was a HARD channel that year... not to mention, I didn't know what the hell I was doing and most people in the race were in the same situation... no GPS... spooky course ideas (the 401k plan - go far North and get trapped in tide - vs the go miles South plan and buck the current coming in).... funky board designs... lots of people without water or food... We were really flying blind!)

Then the entry list came out for 2012. 

This year there will be 12 girls going solo paddleboard. TWELVE! FIVE stock and SEVEN unlimited (ha ha - just realized that's my own list for this year too - 5x stock and will be 7x unlimited)! 

There will also be 15 girls going solo SUP; 13 unlimited and 2 stock! I'm so proud and excited to be a part of such a field of athletes (and awesome human beings - I've had the pleasure of meeting and paddling with/against most of these women, and they are all super!).

Feast your eyes and wish them all safe paddles: The women of Molokai 2 Oahu have arrived!

Solo Unlimited Paddleboard

1. Ambrosi, Jo Solo Paddleboard Prone PB Unlimited ‐ Female (All Ages) F 40 Jan Juc VIC Australia

2. Appleby, Candice Solo Paddleboard Prone PB Unlimited ‐ Female (All Ages) F 26 San Clemente CA US

3. Darling, Leane Solo Paddleboard Prone PB Unlimited ‐ Female (All Ages) F 26 Haleiwa HI US

4. Duncan Seraphin, Kanesa Solo Paddleboard Prone PB Unlimited ‐ Female (All Ages) F 36 Kapaa HI US

5. Mercer, Jordan Solo Paddleboard Prone PB Unlimited ‐ Female (All Ages) F 18 Castaways Beach QLD Australia

6. Hartland, Bronte Solo Paddleboard Prone PB Unlimited ‐ Female (All Ages) F 18 Buderim QLD Australia
7. Sheppard, Kiyomi Solo Paddleboard Prone PB Unlimited ‐ Female (All Ages) F 39 haleiwa HI US

Solo Stock Paddleboard

1. Bilancieri, Joanna Solo Paddleboard Prone PB Stock ‐ Female (All Ages) F 38 Honolulu HI US

2. Hanmer, Mandy Solo Paddleboard Prone PB Stock ‐ Female (All Ages) F 48 Robina QLD Australia

3. Miller , Yuka Solo Paddleboard Prone PB Stock ‐ Female (All Ages) F 44 Pukalani HI US

4. Rogers, Carly Solo Paddleboard Prone PB Stock ‐ Female (All Ages) F 36 Hermosa Beach CA US

5. Tessler, Colleen Solo Paddleboard Prone PB Stock ‐ Female (All Ages) F 33 Honolulu HI US

Solo Unlimited SUP

1. Anderson, Annabel Solo Stand Up SUP Unlimited ‐ Female (All Ages) F 31 Wanaka Otago New Zealand

2. Baus, Heather Solo Stand Up SUP Unlimited ‐ Female (All Ages) F 40 Penuelas PR US

3. Black, Terrene Solo Stand Up SUP Unlimited ‐ Female (All Ages) F 29 Long Jetty NSW Australia

4. Blish, Devin Solo Stand Up SUP Unlimited ‐ Female (All Ages) F 45 Makawao HI US

5. Comerford, Elyse Solo Stand Up SUP Unlimited ‐ Female (All Ages) F 25 Suffolk Park NSW Australia

6. Gangini, Talia Solo Stand Up SUP Unlimited ‐ Female (All Ages) F 19 Haiku HI US

7. Jonsson, Anders Solo Stand Up SUP Unlimited ‐ Female (All Ages) M 32 Honolulu HI US

8. Kalmbach, Jennifer Solo Stand Up SUP Unlimited ‐ Female (All Ages) F 29 Kailua Kona HI US

9. Lee, Jennifer Solo Stand Up SUP Unlimited ‐ Female (All Ages) F 31 Honolulu HI US

10. Moller, Andrea Solo Stand Up SUP Unlimited ‐ Female (All Ages) F 32 Haiku HI US

11. Robbins, Schuyler Solo Stand Up SUP Unlimited ‐ Female (All Ages) F 43 Corte Madera CA US

12. Strickland, Mariko Solo Stand Up SUP Unlimited ‐ Female (All Ages) F 25 Anahola HI US

13. Wrenn, Karen Solo Stand Up SUP Unlimited ‐ Female (All Ages) F 40 Portland OR US

Solo Stock SUP

1. Bruntsch, Rachel Solo Stand Up SUP Stock ‐ Female (All Ages) F 28 Honolulu HI US

2. Riddle, Alison Solo Stand Up SUP Stock ‐ Female (All Ages) F 26 Hermosa beach CA US

Cline Mann goes off in hairy water!

The Ko'olaupoko Cline Mann 2012 race was arguably the roughest, biggest water I've seen on race day. We were all prepared to be hating life with a South swell at 3ft 14 seconds combined with a backing up tide coming at us. Lucky for all of us, the raging ENE wind (19-23 MPH) that had been building all week combined with a a ENE swell at 8ft 8 seconds to push us along and make the course actually really fun (once we got around Makapuu corner!).

All in all, it was an amazing day on the water. Clark Abbey gave a pule and told stories about Cline Mann, and how he had revived the traditional sport of paddleboarding, with a ceremonial Budweiser before we headed out.... we were all feeling pretty proud to be paddleboarders, and I remembered my first time ever paddling the Ko'olaupoko, Makapuu to Kaimana course (with Clark Abbey and Greg Quinn).... I remember watching Greg and Clark surf their Malolo paddleboards down what I thought were giant waves and thinking "aaaaahhh... I'm scared! this is so cool!"... Yesterday in the race, I saw a similar vision, watching my good friend Marc Rocheleau teatering on the top of some large swells along Sandy Beach... in the middle of all the chaos, however, dolphins surfed with me along Hanauma Bay. I also caught a nice wave in at the finish.

Brian Rocheleau won the men's field for the first time (Yeah Brian! - happy 1 year old present from son Eli, who's birth kept Brian from racing last year!). Keoni Watson was the runner up, and long time paddleboard winner and coach, Mick DiBetta, from AUS, put in a good showing too. Most impressive to me, however, were the women. We had 5 women (most ever!) do the solo long course. Up and coming super star Leanne was right behind me, and Joanna finished 3rd (on a stock board). Joan and Kiyomi rounded out the women's field...  Unfortunately, Colleen lost her board at Sandy Beach (she joins a long list of distinguished paddlers who have had that fate - a testimate to the conditions of the day - thankfully Colleen is okay as is her board, and she'll be back for the Molokai Channel in a few weeks!). All in all, the women's field was a great lead up to Molokai where we have 12 girls going solo paddleboard!

I really like what Chris Owens had to say about the day (he didn't gloss over the hard stuff - telling it like it is is the man who repeated Tarzan Smith's legendary Oahu to Kauai paddle...)

Chris Owen's Facebook Post-race Entry. 

Hats off to everyone who raced, long and short (Scotty Gamble took top honors in the short course SUP division and Marc Haine won the paddleboard - I'll have more posted if I get pics), as well as to the race organizers and the Outrigger Paddleboard Committee headed by Kristin Lee Watumull. Mel Pu'u and The Straight Up Band were fabulous as well (although Mel's stories at the after party rivaled his on stage performance!).

Mahalo also to our sponsors: Outrigger, Maui Jim, Dukes, Wahoos, Vertra, Pualani, and Blue Planet!

Long Course Results:

Long Course Cline Mann 2012

Short Course Results:

Short Course Cline Mann 2012

Legendary - the Cline Mann Memorial Paddleboard Race

2011 Coming in to the finish - photo by Dana Edmunds

The Cline Mann Memorial Paddleboard race is one of the longest running, most prestigious paddleboard races in Hawaii.

2011 Running for it - photo by Dana Edmunds

It began as a race from 16 mile Makapuu to Kaimana Beach (the only lighthouse to lighthouse paddleboard race in Hawaii), and now has an additional 8 mile race from Hawaii Kai to Kaimana Beach that includes a SUP division and keiki team division.

2011 SUP start Hawaii Kai - photo by Dana Edmunds

Noland Keaulana, 2011 rounding the buoy - photo by Dana Edmunds

Mariko Strickland, 1st place, SUP, 2011 unlimited female - photo by Dana Edmunds

The Cline Mann has long been considered the "warm up to Molokai" with paddlers battling the big water around the back side of Makapuu lighthouse in preparation for the 32 mile channel. It's one of the hardest 16 mile courses around - beginning with sideshore waters around Makai Peir, then raging water around the backside of Makapuu, transitioning into long-period bumps by Sandy Beach, stacking water by Hanama Bay and "the wall", flat water beginning in Manalua Bay, nice bumps in Hawaii Kai, and then who-knows as you get by Diamond Head and Lighthouse... it's always an exciting race to the finish by the windsock as both the long and short courses come together.

2011 Ditching the board - photo by Dana Edmunds

Other than the Molokai Channel, this is my longest running race (I've done every one since 2001 except for 2002 when I had to be in Kansas!).

Jamie and me - 2011 Cline Mann perpetual trophy

The Cline Mann race is sponsored by Outrigger Canoe Club and boasts an epic post-race party as well as many wonderful prizes. This year, like last year, we'll be raffling off prizes that include Maui Jim Sunglasses, Duke's $50 gift certificates, Wahoo's $40 gift certificates, Pualani swim wear, Vertra sunscreen, and Blue Planet hats (each entrant gets one shot to win). 

The 2012 Race is set for Saturday July 7, 2012. Long course starts at 10am and short course at 1130am. Registration is $35 (beach entry only) at Hawaii Kai (8-1030am). Download an entry at www.outriggercanoeclub.com

Outrigger 2011 Cline Mann write-up part 1

Outrigger 2011 Cline Mann write-up part2