Archive for July, 2010

Molokai to Oahu with Zane Kekoa Schweitzer

This year’s Molokai 2 Oahu was really exciting.  It was a sold out event with over 150 prone and stand up paddlers signing up to race one of the most difficult channels between Molokai to Oahu, the Ka’iwi channel.  The 32 mile paddle can be cruel but this  time I knew what I was getting into.  I had already done the crossing last year but now I was a more experienced paddler and felt a bit more confidant.  I had a few recent long distance crossings under my belt, and I had a very knowledgable boat crew to support me. With my Dad at the captain’s wheel and his friend Randy Clark as crew, we really had a good team, as Randy and my dad know the Kaiwi channel well.  I knew I had to keep focused on my goal of finishing within 5 to 5 and half hours.  After getting sunstroke during the Maui to Molokai race a few weeks earlier,  I really tried to stay very hydrated by filling up my DaKine water pack every hour with water.  I also made sure I had tons of Watermann’s sunscreen on to protect myself from too much sun, and I forced myself to eat a few bananas before the race to keep my muscles from cramping.  I really was trying to stay aware of the wind direction, wave swell, tides and currents too.  My board was fast, my body felt strong, and I listened to my instincts. (more…)

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Cool little downwind video pre Molokai

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vimeo Direkt

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Connor Baxter’s Molokai

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Molokai to Oahu – 32 mile Crossing across the Ka’iwi Channel. Before this race I felt so prepared because that week I ate super good, drank lots of water and rested. My mom and I went over to Molokai Friday night on the Ferry to Kaunakakai. Then headed over to the west side and stayed at the condos right where the event was. I slept in on Saturday and then went for a swim – I basically had a super relaxing day. Around 5:00 the race meeting started and then I had a huge dinner and went back to the room – and went right to bed to get a good night sleep. When I woke up I had oatmeal and put on my headphones and blasted some music to get pumped up. We had the blessing at 6:30am and then it was hurry up and get all the gear to the boat and get out to the start line. (more…)

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(Australian coverage of Jamie’s 9th title) Jamie Mitchell triumphs in Molokai to Oahu paddleboard race

For more info visit www.theaustralian.com.au
Jamie Mitchell

Jamie Mitchell paddles his craft 52km across the Molokai Channel between the two major Hawaiian islands Picture: Bernie Barker Source: Supplied

AFTER nearly five negotiating the Pacific Ocean, paddleboard champion Jamie Mitchell is taking the rest of the year off.

He needs weeks for his cuts, scrapes and bruises to heal and months for his body to recover.

“My toes are sort of shredded, I’ve got skinned knees and my lower back is still aching,” Mitchell said after winning his ninth Molokai to Oahu island crossing in Hawaii yesterday.

“They are what hurts the most at the moment.” (more…)

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Watermans’ Jamie Mitchell Claims 9th Straight Molokai-2-Oahu World Paddleboard Championship

FTP broadcast quality TV highlights package and high resolution images available. Contact Jodi Wilmott, Ocean Promotion.

MITCHELL CLAIMS 9TH MOLOKAI-2-OAHU WORLD PADDLEBOARD CHAMPIONSHIP
DUNCAN-SERAPHIN CLAIMS 8TH WOMEN’S TITLE

Treacherous Channel Dishes out Trademark Highs & Heartbreak
Maui’s Kalama & Moller Take Stand-Up Paddle Honors


Molokai2Oahu.com


HONOLULU (July 25, 2010) Australian Jamie Mitchell, 33, claimed an unprecedented ninth Molokai-2-Oahu World Paddleboard title in Hawaii today, completing the 32-mile distance just four minutes outside of his own record in a time of 4 hours, 52 minutes and 45 seconds. His record of 4:48:23, set in 2007, stands for another year. Mitchell attributed today’s convincing win to experience in Hawaiian waters that allowed him to overcome an uncooperative ocean of disorganized  swells. And if Mitchell is the ‘King of Paddleboard’, then Hawaii’s Kanesa Duncan-Seraphin, 34, is the ‘Queen’, claiming her 8th Molokai-2-Oahu title in a time of 6:02:45 – less than 10 minutes shy of the record she set in 2004.

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Above: Jamie Mitchell. Credit: Bernie Baker.


(more…)

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Jamie Mitchell Wins Molokai

Jamie Mitchell, shown here goofing around with his long time friend and shaper Mick DiBetta, won his 9th Molokai crossing this past Sunday.

Congratulations to everyone who participated! Waterman’s is proud to have been there to support it’s many athletes competing in this year’s race, and we will have a full write up on the event coming soon.

To view the official results click HERE

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Brandi cleans up at the Ocean Festival

Brandi came back with a vengeance after a disappointing (for Brandi) 2nd place finish at the US National Championships the week before.  By the end of the weekend she would claim 1st place in the 10K SUP Race, SUP Surf Sprint and Run/Swim/SUP events.  The San Clemente Ocean festival is a local favorite in California and draws the best paddlers, swimmers and rowers across all disciplines to the fabled Pier.  Barrett Tester, the muscle behind the infamous Battle of the Paddle events and H2Overdrive series, puts on a very well run and enjoyable event.  The Ocean Fest is one of my favorite events of the summer and a definite must-see if you ever have the chance.

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The boys rock it in Nico

Watermans’ SoCal sales rep, Dave Taxer and friends had a blast down at Mark and Dave’s in Nicaragua.  Dragon’s Rick Irons and Aaron Behle, super rep Dave Taxer and Rip Curl’s Brian Bosson all putting Watermans to the test.

davesnicopic

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Harley Clifford steals the podium at Nationals

Nationals was this past weekend and I just wanted you guys to see how well the LF team did.

Jr. Pro Men – Steel Lafferty 1st and Daniel Powers 3rd

Pro Women – Amber Wing 2nd

Pro Wakeskate – Grant Roberts 2nd

Pro Men – Harley 1st Phil 2nd

Not a bad showing….

Watermans Harley Clifford out on top

Watermans Harley Clifford out on top

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SC’s Waltz waltzes to second straight win in 28-mile Bay Crossing paddleboard race

By Julie Jag
Posted: 07/18/2010 01:30:18 AM PDT

The only name on the Bay Crossing champions list so far is Craig Waltz.

The Santa Cruz native won his second straight title in the 2-year-old paddleboard race Saturday, navigating the 28 miles across the Monterey Bay in 5 hours, 11 minutes. In his wake, Craig, who paddled the entire distance solo, left 33 other entrants. Among them were a relay team competing on a stand-up paddleboard, which is considered much swifter than the traditional hand-paddled board, and professional big wave surfer Zach Wormhoudt.

“He’s just an animal,” said Wormhoudt, who took second in 5:23:00. (more…)

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