Sunrise in Kailua (Taken with instagram)

Sale starts today online and in our shop in Kailua. 

The Na Wahine O Ke Kai is set for this coming weekend. Best wishes and good luck to ‘Ōiwi family member Bobbie Poppler who is paddling with Kailua Canoe Club and a safe paddle to the na wahine participating in this prestigious race. Ready, Set, Paddle!

ARE YOU PA‘A?

As the paddling world readjusts from one-man season and jumps into Regatta, I want to take a look back at two of the big races and then talk about this year’s Paʻa ʻEono Hoe.

This year’s one-man season was for the most part: flat. The Steinlager Kaʻiwi Solo, which in most Oc1 paddler’s opinion is the most important race of the year, was definitely flat. Flat. Flat. Flat. Most of the competitors were dreading the race, while the paddlers who decided to take a year off from the rigorous solo were rejoicing. But, hey, it’s been flat before and it will be flat again!

 So, some 80 paddlers lined up on the water in front of the Kaluakoi Resort to begin their 32-mile battle. And a battle is what the racers got. Whether they were fighting the flat, hot conditions or yo-yoing with fellow racers, I think that all the paddlers would agree that it was most definitely a gruesome solo. Kai Bartlett pulled a surprising —yet-not-surprising-because-he-is-Kai-Bartlett —win over “the Flat Water King”, Danny Ching, who ended up getting second, while Jimmy Austen got an impressive third.

For the women, Lauren Bartlett, pulled another win and ended up 33rd over-all and beat second place, Rachel Bruntsch, by about eleven minutes. Claire Townsend finished and got third place for the women.

The Kaʻiwi Channel Relay was a nice change of pace for the racers. Well, it was really the conditions that made the actual change of pace. ʻOiwi Team Rider, Will Reichenstein, commented on the conditions and said “Great surf, rising tide made it fast and fun”. Reichenstein definitely had fun and obviously went fast because he and his relay partner, Danny Ching got first place over-all. Second place was a duel to the very end, but Manny Kulukulualani and partner Jimmy Austen just edged out Kai Bartlett and Aaron Creps who ended up third. Lauren Bartlett and partner Andrea Moller respectfully took the win for the women. The atmosphere after the Relay was so much happier and I think all the racers were stoked to be ending the one-man season with a good race.

Coming up this weekend is the Paʻa ʻEono Hoe, but this time around it’s a bit different…25 miles different. I guess someone decided “ironing” the race wasn’t hard enough, so the Paʻa crew added another stage to their already epic race. The new stage is a 25-mile run from Maui to Molokaʻi, which will take place on Saturday, and the Molokaʻi to Oahu (32-miles) original stage will take place on Sunday. Another immensely cool, and different, part of this already unique race is the allowed (even encouraged) participation of “open design” canoes or as I like to call them “crazy light, fast, and AWESOME canoes”.  

There are at least three of the “open” canoes entered in this weekend’s ʻEono Hoe, most of which weigh somewhere around 200lbs and have specialized hull designs, iakos and amas to maximize surfing and really fast paddling abilities. Team Kamanu, Outrigger Connection and Livestrong are all racing in these “open” class canoes. Even though most of these canoes are lighter and many would say much faster, there are teams that are going traditional and racing in “specified design” canoes (which have to meet current HCRA specifications). One such team is Primo, who will be up there with the “Open ” canoes come the finish of the final stage even in their normal canoe. Crews also have the option of going really traditional and racing in Koa canoes, which will be nothing short of very difficult, but also in my opinion, magical and historical.

 So get out there and watch the finishes at Kaunakakai, Maui for the first stage and Maunalua Bay, Oahu for the finish of the second and cheer on these amazing paddlers.

-bp

The PAʻA Koa Nui Championship is a three stage event that will take place today and tomorrow(March 5th and 6th). Paddlers from all islands (even main-landers)will make the trek to Oʻahu to compete in this championship and see where they stack up against the best paddlers this year.

The first of two events begins at 9:15am and consists of a sprint time trial inside the Hawaiʻi Kai Marina and then right after at 11:15am the second begins -a Makapuʻu to the Hawaiʻi Kai Shack down wind run.

The third and final event will take place tomorrow, March 6th, and will be a Makapuʻu to Anuenue downwinder.

So head on down to the Hawaiʻi Kai Shack to watch some of the best paddlers dual it out today, then to Anuenue tomorrow for the final stage. Be sure to look for ʻOiwi’s own Will Reichenstein and Pat Dolan who are competing in this weekend’s OC1 events!

bp

Aloha!

This year weʻve expanded out UPF 50+ Jersey Program. Weʻre pushing out new colors and styles this year. Each color will have 3 womenʻs styles and 3 menʻs styles. We will be deep in each color - however - first come first serve. 

Let us know if we can work with your club or program. UPF 50+ Jerseys arrive at the end of March.

Mahalo! A hui hou. 

Joining our ‘Ōiwi Ohana are Pat & Ryan Dolan. We are really excited to be working with Pat & Ryan. We have started the first stage of research and development for a new line of paddling apparel for their particular disciplines. 

With Ryan Dolan ‘Ōiwi has created the above Dolan Speed design. Proceeds from the sale of each shirt will help defer the costs of their training, travel, and racing. The shirt debuted for sale yesterday at the inaugural World Paddle Expo. 

The shirt is available at our shop in Kailua and will be online soon. Pat and Ryan leave for Mexico City on October 4, 2010 to take part in the Pan American Championships, which is the first step in their journey toward the London 2012 Olympic Games.