Welcome to Racing News and Stories

OC1 Hanohano 07

Good morning Paddlers

Hanohano put on their one-man race yesterday.  Over 240 paddlers attended, including junior and seniors.  One of the more popular one man races of the season, it offered the opportunity to enter paddleboards, outriggers, Olympic style K-1 kayaks, touring kayaks and stand up paddling. 

The short course was about five miles inside the harbor.  There were so many competitors it looked like the freeway, as  a parade of paddlers kept passing by. From the young to the old, they kept their enthusiasm until the very end. Congratulations everyone.  Please check the official results for your times.

 

The long course went outside for about 8-miles.  The course was set so that we raced downwind on the first leg.  When we lined up with the wind to our backs, we realized it was going to be a quick fly and die first leg and a very long day afterward.  Sure enough, it was fast cheap thrills for 20 minutes and then we turned.  We bucked against an annoying head wind for miles.  Then we turned again and raced with a side chop for the rest of the race.  We would have given our left blade if we could have rode some of those nice swells. 

We had a good rolling start as usual and blasted out in a whirlwind of white spray.  I hung with Jeanne Barrette at the start.  She is one of the women’s top contenders.  Of course she already raced in the short course and was a little tired.  Working my butt off, I managed to surf ahead of her by a nose.   That’s when she politely asked me, “Al can you check my rudder and see if there’s kelp on it?”  I obligingly eased up a little, dropped back and saw that her rudder was clear.   I yelled, “It’s clean.”  Then I noticed her pulling away.  I felt like yelling, “Okay you can slow down now,” but by then she was gone… I felt taken by a woman again. 

Jan 27, 2007

Re: Hanohano Ocean Challenge

 

Today, Hanohano Outrigger Canoe Club hosted another successful   Surfski, Canoe, Kayak, Paddleboard race in Mission Bay, San Diego, California with a record attendance of 240 participants.  Among the field of competitors from all paddling disciplines and walks of life were Olympic Kayakers a number of National level Canoeists and kayakers,  Olympic hopefuls representing the San Diego Junior Olympic Program and Newport Aquatic center and past winners of the Ironman Hawaii Triathalon.  The weather cooperated completely and  paddlers, ages 5 to 80, enjoyed one of the few opportunities available for this type of competition in  San Diego.

Highlights include the winners in the Surfski Long Course division , Rami Zur, Patrick Dolan and Jeff Smoke.  Rami Zur, Olympian, also won the short course on a k-1 in record time earning him the top “Waterman” award for the day.  The OC-1 division for the men was lead by Danny Ching ,  Tyson Poplar and Justin Banfield  while Jill Schooler, Eva Mauck and  Julie Wolfe  headed up the field of top women competitors.   Our Juniors were well represented by Will Reichenstein, Nicholas  Hanoian and Gavin Miller.  All in all we had some great competition on the 9 mile long course in fairly challenging conditions.

Our future Olympians fought some good battles on the short course. The Junior Girls, Lexi Bohlman and Sydney Bohlman (13 and 12 ) had a great performance on the 4.75 mile course.   We also had some younger paddlers (12 & under ) compete in the k-1 sprint course.  Chandler Johnson, Jessica Jenkins and Opal Theodou , Cody Smith, Ryan Passan and Michael Lowe all deserve to be congratulated.  These competitors are the future of Olympic Kayaking in the USA. 

 The top three paddleboard finishers George Plsek, Ron Nelson and Jim Mollica who all paddled Unlimited Boards.  Tommy Coon,  John Kucera and Dan Van Dyck  led the 12’ Stock Division . Peter Burton, Jay Sheckman and Mikey Cote  led the 14’ division.   Maggie Hogan, Heather Fuhr and Shannon Delaney led our strongest  field of  women in the history of this event…way to go!  We also had a strong showing in the stand-up paddle division led by Kyle Mochizuki, Brian Szymanski and  Brad Rambo .

  The “waterman/waterwoman”awards,  for those who participate on both short and Long course on different racing vessels (fastest combined time), were given to  Jeanie Barrett(ss/oc-1women), Rami Zur (k-1/surfski) and Jay Griffin (ss/oc-1)

Special thanks to our returning sponsor Huki Outrigger and Surfski for their continued support and to L&L BBQ who provided an excellent post race meal.

 Recognition and thanks should also go to those sponsors who have always supported our event with product for the raffle: Dakine , Valhalla Surfski,  Kialoa Paddles, Pipes Restaurant, Destination Surf,  Paddle Me Sportswear, Eaton Paddleboards, Hansen’s Surf Shop Encinitas, Patagonia, Rusty Del Mar, Pohaku Beachboy Paddles, GrayWhale Trading, Epic Kayak, Ocean Paddlesports and Mudbrook Paddles .  I encourage everyone to think of our sponsors when making paddling related purchases.  Hanohano Club members are responsible for this well run event.  The Safety Boat Crew also deserves a huge “Thank You”.

 

(Written by Dan Van Dyck)