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Maui to Molokai Race 2017
Maui to Molokai…Heather First Women!!
David Scherrer
04/15/17 #21089
Just in on Facebook…Heather was battling it out with another woman paddler for 21 miles, then sprinted to the finish to take the win….plus on the way she saw a Humpback whale with its offspring. Amazing.
D.
allipp01
04/15/17 #21090
Results. They are listed as first start and second start. Note that Pat Dolan beat Austin by about a minute in the second start. I told DJ the other day that I thought the only person with a chance of beating Austin was Pat.
https://racehubhq.com/races/OzoneKaiWaaMauitoMolokaiM2M/results
Steve Scoggins
04/15/17 #21091
Lippstrodamus.
Steve
allipp01
04/15/17 #21092
Speaking of which……I predict good waves at Birch Bay tomorrow!
Reivers Dustin
04/16/17 #21093
Bob P did pretty well. Would love to hear about their races. If it took Heather 3-1/2 hours, pretty sure I'm better off watching the Mariners on TV. Really impressive times on some of the OC-1's. I bet they don't do beer and cheerios for breakfast.
whoohaww!
rd
Larry Bussinger
04/16/17 #21094
Congrats Heather and Bob! Awesome results. Looking for a write-up on conditions.
Larry B
dnjacobson79
04/16/17 #21095
Awesome job everyone- looking forward to the battle report at the lead from Austin!
Maui to Molokai Race Report
Austin Kieffer
04/17/17 #21102
Hey Whatcom Paddlers!
A quick race report from the Maui to Molokai.
Can't wait to see everyone at for Dan Harris this weekend!!
Austin
Bob's M2M report from the fat edge of the wedge.
Bob Putnam
04/19/17 #21104
Shane Martin has always raved about the Maui to Molokai (M2M) saying it was better than the traditional “Molokai” which takes place in May and is known as the grand daddy of surfski races. Talk to any veteran OC paddler and they'll concur. The Molokai starts in Molokai and is 50km crossing to Oahu. Lots of logistics, $1000 mandatory support boat, and winds in recent years have been spotty, and when there are winds they come from the rear quarter.
M2M, while there are logistics, if you have suitable experience, a chase boat is not required and winds have been consistent and make for pure downwind.
Canadians, myself, Greg Redman, (Kelowna) Cynthia Wonham, (North Van) and Rob Hansen (south african gypsy who resides in Campbell River) teamed up with Carter Johnson and Austin Kiefer, to rent an Air BnB in Paia. The Nelson Family were also in town. We rented surfskis from Richard Spork, (Epic) and Jim Foti (Think). Equipped with boats, cars, accommodation we were equipped with a week of down wind practice at the legendary Maliko Run.
The training runs all week were awesome, and there was tons of sharing of information, and dinner discussions about everything surfski. A surfski geek's paradise. Carter had lots of experience with this race and thoroughly briefed us on the event.
Forecast for race day winds were getting lighter by the day, but there would be wind. Austin was stoked on winning the day, and I was impressed to see how excited he was to learn that Hawaiian superstar Pat Dolan would be competing.
Race start was pretty civil and the first stretch require surfing right across the 15km channel. From here it’s a straight shoot down the coast of Molokai. This was where I made my mistake by going too close to right hand Molokai shore requiring me to have to correct to the left. Had I stayed out in the middle I believe it would have been good surfing all the way. Carter had said to stay out, but to a newb like me, how far out is “out”? Clearly I wasn’t out enough.
Mid-Race waves were great! Not scary huge, but picture a nice day through the The Gorge, Swell city. Surfing then paddling over the next wave and linking waves was relatively easy. I ran into a pod of dolphins, two of which launched out of the water to get a better look. Scared the heck out of me.
At the end of the race there was lots of beer and some yummy food. We had a pre-organized ride back. Our boat driver was windsurf legend, Keith Baxter, who’s son Connor is currently the top SUP racer in the world. Watch a big wave surf video from Jaws and you’ll see Keiths’ boat positioned dangerously close to the wave to give film crews the best shots.
All in all it was a great early season training camp. Coming home to our beautiful spring has been tough. But I’m stoked for the upcoming season.
Check out Greg Redmans quick video edit of the trip. There are some great photo on my Facebook page too.
See you at DHC, Team Kelowna is coming.
Cheers
Bob
