The Molokai, pre race rundown by Eric Abbott

 

 

 

     The Kaiwi Channel, better known as the Molokai Channel, is home to the World Championship of paddleboarding, the Rainbow Sandals Molokai to Oahu, presented by Honolua Surf Co. The Molokai, as it is commonly known, covers 32-miles of open-ocean, navigating through one of the most dangerous waterways in the world. For many paddlers, the mere accomplishment of finishing the race is a victory in itself. However, for the growing handful of elite waterman and women, winning the Molokai is the pinnacle jewel in their racing crown. To many winning this event is comparable to winning the Super Bowl of football or the baseball World Series. This race pushes each paddler’s fitness level to the brink, as they leave the island of Molokai behind and begin the long journey to the finish line in Moanalua Bay, on the island of Oahu.

        This year, race director Mike Takahashi has sanctioned two different classes of paddleboard for use in the Molokai event. Paddlers must choose between “stock” and “unlimited” class boards and have the option of either competing as an individual or as part of a two-person relay team. Racers depart from the beach in front of the Kalua Koi Hotel on the island of Molokai at 7:30am the morning of the race. Each paddler, or team of paddlers, is required by the race director to have an escort boat of at least 16-feet in length and with over one hundred entrants in the race, locating your escort boat the morning of can turn into an enormous challenge. With many escorts looking alike, i.e. “white bottom, blue top,” it is important for both the escort and paddler(s) to coordinated distinguishing features in order to make it easer to locate each other on the emotionally stressful morning.

 

          

  Paddlers will make their way out to the starting line, situated between two large orange buys one-eighth of a mile apart, after locating their escort boat and making any last minute preparations. Each paddler has his or her own pre-race routine. Some competitors perform short sprints to get the blood moving while other just paddle around trying to block out the idea that it will be roughly 5 to 6-hours and 32-miles before they reach Moanalua Bay. Whether it is a paddler’s inaugural crossing or their 30^th, each paddler has similar thoughts spinning in their head while sitting, looking into the vast openness of deep blue sea before them. Some are imagining the sheer enjoyment of riding massive open-ocean swells, while others ask themselves quietly, “Am I going to make it?” On some mornings paddlers are lucky enough to make out the silhouette of the eastside of Oahu.  However, more often when the horn blows racers find themselves involved in a paddle to the horizon that is hopefully in the general direction of Oahu.

         

   It is the varying conditions that paddlers face during the Molokai that make it one of the most challenging races in the world.  Large open ocean waves, known as swells and often referred to as “bumps” or “runners,” often dominate the terrain and competitors must develop a technique and ability to use this energy to their advantage if they hope to finish well. On any given day, channel wave heights can range from three to fifteen feet in height and on some extremely windy days, channel swells will reach heights well over twenty feet. These massive ocean conditions can be intimidating to some, but the ability and skill to ride the swells and harness their speed are what separate the elite group of paddlers from the rest of the pack. In addition to swells, paddlers crossing the channel will encounter various strong currents as well as wildlife both big and small.  Malolo or “flying fish” are commonly encountered and it is not uncommon to see whales, turtles, and even the occasional Tiger shark.

         

   The Molokai experience is not exclusive to the sport of paddleboarding.  A Molokai Channel crossing is a special event for paddlers of all disciplines and classes; the world championships for surfski, one-man canoes, and outrigger six-man canoes are also held in the Molokai Channel.  The crossing is literally and figuratively the proving ground of champions and after competing in the race it is easy to see why. The Molokai could easily be seen as just like any other race in which contestants put forth their hearts and bodies at all costs to win. However, from a competitor’s point of view there is something different that one feels toward the end of the Molokai race, a unique vibe and emotion that sets it apart.  Even if words can’t describe the emotional side of the event, it is a fact that accomplishing such an amazing task as paddling prone or on your knees for thirty-two miles is in its self an amazing adventure and quite an accomplishment.  Love it or hate it, the Molokai will always be there to challenge those who are up to it and humble all who try.

 

 

Eric Abbott

“Live it up, Rip it up, Keep it up”

 

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This entry was posted on Thursday, July 16th, 2009 at 11:17 AM and is filed under Editorial.