32 Miles Across the Kaiwi Channel Sunday, July 26, 2009

HONOLULU - (July 26, 2009) -- For the eighth consecutive year, Australian Jamie Mitchell proved he's light years and hard-earned miles ahead of his paddleboard peers, winning the 32-mile Rainbow Sandals Molokai to Oahu Paddleboard Race that is the unofficial world title of the sport. The toughest tidal conditions in years kept Mitchell from breaking the record he set in 2007, coming in 10 minutes slower today at four hours, 58 minutes and 25 seconds. His closest rival, Hawaii's Brian Rocheleau, was more than 20 minutes behind at 5:20:53.

Hawaii's Kanesa Duncan claimed her seventh crown today in a time of 6:29:29 - almost 40 minutes slower than her own record. Rookie Bianca Lee (21, Australia) placed second in 6:46:08, overcoming heat exhaustion and a blackout four miles out from the finish. It was a brutal introduction to the channel, but not enough to keep her from finishing. She made her way to the finish line unassisted before being carried off for medical attention.

In the 12-foot (rudderless) stockboard division, Hawaii's Mikey Cote broke the stock record that has stood for 11 years, coming in in 5:32:25. Cote believed that the shorter length of the stockboard actually fit the broken up swells better than the longer open class board that Mitchell was riding and therefore made for a more enjoyable crossing.

In the standup paddle (SUP) division, favorite Ekolu Kalama did not disappoint, posting his first solo win in the record time of 5:02:06. The first solo woman SUP-er was Jenny Kalmbach, from the Big Island, in a time of 5:48:31.

"It felt like six hours today," said Mitchell, who couldn't believe he came in under five hours. "The first two thirds was good, but that last third... it took forever to get close, then the current, then the backwash. It was definitely the toughest (race) of the last three or four years for me.

"It was real technical today. It wasn't easy to catch the bumps. You had to be really on your game to get them.

"The current had a stationary wave effect. You'd be trying to get down it and it would be sucking you back up.

"The last couple of hours was pretty painful for me," Mitchell added, supported by his cheese-grated feet that bore the brunt of the hard work. "I felt strong, just the conditions today made it a lot harder than previous years."

Perennial "bridesmaid" Brian Rocheleau was speechless on the topic of what it will take to beat Mitchell. When asked where the difference lies between himself and Mitchell, he said: "I don't know.... I wish he'd tell me. I'm training about as hard as I can. I can only do the best that I can do."

SUP winner Ekolu Kalama was emotional about his victory. "My grandfather was smiling down from heaven on me today. Words can't explain how I feel."

While he didn't complete the course in a faster time than Mitchell, Kalama sounded like he had more fun on the channel:

"That was like a five-and-a-half hour surf session. I'm not going to have to surf for a while.. I'm good for about a week."

Kalama and Mitchell were rewarded equal prize money for the first time today, thanks to Rainbow Sandals, each receiving $3,000. Kanesa Duncan and Jenny Kalmbach each received $750.

"It was hard," said Duncan. "During the blessing on Molokai (the priest) said something about how magnificent the ocean is and how insignificant we were going to feel out there. Today I felt really insignificant!"

SPECIAL C4 WATERMAN AWARD TO TERRY MACDERMOTT:
Supporting race sponsor, C4 Waterman, had the top two stock SUP teams across the line, but reserved their major award for an Australian who was almost three hours behind the bulk of the field: Terry MacDermott. MacDermott first came to Hawaii to compete in this race nine years ago, setting out to accomplish the feat in memory of his young son. He was pulled from the water that year one mile from the finish and taken to hospital in a state of extreme exhaustion and dehydration. It took him almost a decade to get back to finish the job, but he did that today in a time of 7:44:12. C4 Waterman presented Terry with a new "Eleu" paddleboard today in recognition of his true and honorable waterman spirit; a spirit that has nothing to do with wins or record times.

Today's starting field was a record 125. Of that, only five entries did not finish.

The Rainbow Sandals Molokai to Oahu Paddleboard Race, presented by Honolua, C4 Waterman, Duke's Waikiki and Maui Jim, is the unofficial world title of the sport and is considered the most brutal physical and mental challenge in the world for the waterman. The race includes divisions for traditional paddleboarding, standup paddleboarding, and solo and team divisions in each.

Rainbow Sandals is a privately owned company out of San Clemente, California, founded more than 35 years ago by Jay 'Sparky' Longley Jr., who grew tired of seeing broken sandals littering the beaches. He vowed to come up with a sandal that would be long lasting and comfortable. The result was a soft sponge-rubber sandal that rapidly gained a reputation of comfort synonymous with the easy going beach lifestyle it was born out of.

CHANNEL SURFING "The Molokai"
It Doesn't Have to Be Brutal

HONOLULU - (June 15, 2009) -- The 32-mile paddleboard crossing of the Molokai (Ka'Iwi) Channel is considered the most brutal physical and mental challenge in the world for the waterman. But the new wave of standup (SUP) paddlers are here to tell you that it doesn't have to be a near-death experience. The word is out and the SUP division of the Rainbow Sandals Molokai to Oahu Paddleboard Race, presented by Honolua, is the fastest growing division of this 13 year-old race. Offering solo and team categories, it's also luring its fair share of big names.

Without a doubt, tackling the Ka'Iwi solo is where the major praise lies -- along with the major pain. But the Molokai martyrdom isn't for everyone. For SUP-ers, the idea of channel surfing the distance with a paddle and a buddy is the big attraction.

Among those 2-man teams contesting the 2009 SUP division are: Gerry "Mr. Pipeline" Lopez and Rainbow Sandals founder Jay "Sparky" Longley; former world 16-ranked pro surfer and Polo Ralph Lauren model Buzzy Kerbox and Kiva Rivers; top SUP designer/shaper Dave Parmenter and godfather of distance SUP, Archie Kalepa; and C4 Waterman founder Todd Bradley and his 18-year-old son Christian, who race SUP in the purest style - on a shorter, rudderless 14-foot board.

So what's all the hype about? When it comes to surfing, the dream is an endless ride without the paddle. Riding a channel like the Molokai, with a good swell running and a hearty tradewind at your back, is as close to the dream as you can get.

Above: Buzzy Kerbox on a "runner" from Molokai to Oahu, 2008.

Former pro surfer and shaper Dave Parmenter has had access to both the world's best waves and boards for decades. Over the past three years, his focus has turned to SUP - both doing it and meeting the demand for functional SUP boards. He has crossed the Molokai channel on almost every watercraft possible, but hasn't found anything that compares to SUP.

"The Molokai race is pretty much the apex of my year as a watersports enthusiast," says Parmenter.

"None of the paddlesports disciplines are superior all the way down the line; each has its benefits and drawbacks. I think most veteran surfers will tell you they have done quite enough prone paddling in their lives. It's brutal on your neck and back and you are down in the spray all day and cannot get a very good view of the course and field. Canoes are a lot of fun, especially OC-1s. But nothing is as intimate as stand-up paddling, which allows you to ride bumps in the open ocean using many of the same techniques one would use in big-board surfing.

"For me, there's nothing I have experienced in conventional surfing as thrilling and addictive as heading off on a 10-mile run on a 14-foot board with a 25-knot wind at your back. I actually enjoy it more than standard surfing."

Kerbox knows what Parmenter's talking about:

"Standup is a great way to get out in the windy conditions and have fun while getting a great overall workout," says Buzzy. "And that has really expanded to awesome wave-riding with the new performance boards that just keep getting shorter and better.

"It's just so civilized. You are standing up, so you're not holding your neck up and using only your arms. You get a great view of the ocean while you spread the work to many different muscles."

Gerry Lopez, one of surfing's most stylish and lauded exponents, pulled up Pipeline stumps and moved to Oregon in 1992. Today, his time on the water is largely spent SUP'ing the lakes, rivers and Oregon coastline. He's looking forward to teaming up with old friend and sponsor of almost 40 years - Rainbow Sandals creator Jay Longley.

"We're just hoping to finish the race," says a reliably understated Lopez.

"Sparky and I started (SUP) the same day about three years ago. We went to San Onofre and Ron House taught us the basics. It's new, difficult, so very challenging, exciting, and a fresh way to ride waves and just be on the water. Plus the core workout is outstanding."

When you combine the fun and benefits of SUP with the nature and reverance of the Molokai Channel, it's not surprizing there's such a buzz; it's the total waterman experience and one that keeps you coming back.

"It brings to mind something that writer Isak Dinesen said about Kenya in her book Out of Africa," muses Parmenter. "That even decades later in her native Denmark she couldn't help but wonder if there was rain in the Ngong Hills. Similarly for me, no matter where I am in the world, I can't help but cast my mind homeward and wonder if there is wind in the Kaiwi Channel."

The Rainbow Sandals Molokai to Oahu Paddleboard Race, presented by Honolua, C4 Waterman, Duke's Waikiki and Maui Jim, will take place on Sunday, July 26, with the first finishers expected at Oahu's Maunaloa Bay around Noon. More than 100 paddlers will make the 32-mile crossing. A record prize purse of $16,000 is on offer, with the lion's share going to the first solo paddleboarder and the first solo SUP-er.