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!

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 

http://surftechsup.com/news/10th-surftech-jay-race-12mi/

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

Preppin' for the Jay Race with the Barks

Part (most) of the fun of traveling for a race is getting to see folks - especially my shaper Joe Bark! I got to test boards with the crew Friday before the Jay Moriarity race. Here we are at Santa Cruz Harbor Beach and boat dock testing the equipment. Jack Bark, Joe's son, let me use his unlimited board for the race (he went stock). I was phsyched; his board is a black beauty that came pre-labeled with Maui Jim and Vertra logos. Perfect!

All the Bark crew testing equipment

Anthony Vela - paddleboard legend

Candice Appleby - watergirl and SUPer turned to the bright side!

Jack Bark testing the surf special

Putting Jack's unlimited board through some paces

Joe fixing my H2O system

Anyone have a paddle?

"I'll take it" - thanks for the great board to race Joe!

Jay Moriarity Pre-Race Press Releases Maui Jim to present Surftech race!

 

 

15'6" Joe Bark Paddleboard For Sale - Fast and needs a Good Home

Mokapu Penninsula Race - Oahu

... I need to move this board!
Get yours in time for the racing season - hurry this price is a STEAL!

Blue Beauty $800 OBO
- this board is 15'6". It was my first magic Bark board. It won the Mokapu race, raced the Maui Maliko Gulch-Kahului race, and set the (still standing) Cline Mann race record in 2008. In 2009, it moved to Kauai where it has helped me train and learn to prone/knee paddle unlimited boards.

The board has a rounded nose and a pulled in tail to create a wonderful combination of stock/unlimited feel. The board has a real nice double concave bottom, perfect rocker and is smaller volume - made for a a person up to 160lbs  (give or take).

I highly recommend it if you are wanting to make the stock to open transition. The board is on Kauai. I need to make space and will gladly ship the board via Young Bros ($50 interisland) / A'ala shipping ($150 to mainland).

Also great board for paddling this year's Na Pali paddleboard race - check out www.NaPaliRace.com and get your board today.

Mokapu Penninsula Race - Oahu

Na Pali Race practice - Kauai

16'6" Joe Bark Paddleboard for sale - Oahu - Price Steal!

Green machine $150 OBO 
- this board is one of Joe's first double concave boards. I raced it in the Makapuu-Hawaii Kai race in 2008 and Marc Rocheleau raced it in the Mokapu race in 2008. The board is 16'6" and has a lot of rocker for open ocean paddling.

The pad on the board is scratchy from use, but overall the board is solid. It has some volume and would like a larger rider (160+ lbs). A great board if you want to enter unlimited paddling for a small price tag.... This is a deal as the foam blank alone costs at least $500.

Selling cheap because the board has been rack surfing (rather than out on the water) for the past few years and needs a good home.... and Joe says "Let it get paddled".... we want to see this board out on the water... Located on Oahu. Will ship interisland for additional $50.

email me at kanesa@gmail.com to chat about the board.

Moorea - Haapiti Teaser Boat Ride with Petero

Thor and I finally got around to looking at some of the video we shot on our trip to Tahiti last year. Most of it was taken with my small waterproof camera that I use for my paddleboard adventures, but it's still fun to look at.

This short clip is of our boat ride out to the surf spot at Haapiti on Moorea. We stayed at the surf lodge with Petero, and like so many other people who have been blessed to stay with Petero, we fell in love with the spot and with his hospitality.

Maururu Petero - we'll be back soon for sure!