G'day Breezes Todays Pai'lolo Channel Crossing was ALL TIME with conditions rated a 10 out of 10 by the locals. Congratulations going to Aussie contender Dave Kissa in a time of 3 hours 7 minutes for 43 kilometres or 27 Miles. Depending which way you want to look at it ( weapon ) I did a time of 3 hours 35 minutes ( with no training ) shaving of 26 minutes from my previous time of 4 hours 1 minute I was just competing against myself and stoked. Terrene did a time of 3 hours 45 minutes the women is a weapon and the best female to ever come out of Australia in Downwind SUP paddling WELL DONE.
Conditions:
The first 10 kilometres was like the Molokai Kai'wi Channel Crossing the next 10 kilometres was fun, but the next 20 kilometres was ALL TIME just loving life with swell troths in the 4 - 6ft rang and Running/Gliding for ever. I was standing sooo far back on the Bullet I had to drag the paddle behind the SUP just to keep me up right ( Yes Please Mr Wizard ) I had sooo many paddle battles with competitors we'd catch the same runner and have a conversation while surfing the troth f##ken GOLD and Too Funny.
I could write a full essay but I'm off to Yogurt Land
DW
Any Aussie who enjoys Downwind Paddling wether it's for fun or the full race competitive nut. You've got to experience a Maliko or Pai'lolo Downwind run it will just blow your mind the runners are amazing don't deprive yourself of this experience. It's just like the hard core surfer who has never surfed in Indonesia how could you do that to yourself? which reminds me I'll be in Indonesia next month surfing Gland ( Yes Please Mr Wizard )
My apologies correct times are
1. Connor 2 hours 55 minutes
2. Dave 2 hours 58 minutes
3. Livio 2 hours 59 minutes
Yes I had a few beers
The third and final event of the Triple Crown is the Maui to Molokai race – 27 mile channel crossing – The Pailolo Channel. When the trade winds are blowing east / northeast – this crossing is the best downwinder in the state.
We met our escort boat at the Lahaina harbor and headed up to the start line at Honolua Bay. On the way up the winds were up and blowing in the perfect direction. After anchoring in the bay – I took my board off the boat and paddled into shore. There were about 45 competitors down at the beach ready to go. They had the skippers meeting – and then it was a 10:00am start.
I got in my mindset and paddled out to the start line. Looking down at my clock counting down all I was thinking is “I got this I got this. “5, 4, 3, 2, 1 GO!!!!!” And I was off with my head down paddling as hard as I could out to the wind line. Once I got to the wind, Dave Kalama and I just took off and put a gap on the other competitors. For the first hour and a half Dave and I were very close together talking and catching bumps. Then Dave went to stretch and just lost his balance and fell in. I thought to myself this is my chance and put the hammer down and took off. I held a gap on him and the other competitors for the rest of race – all the way to the finish. As I got closer to Molokai the wind got stronger – around 30-35 mph and it just got amazing. I didn't even have to paddle just put my paddle up to catch a few bumps. Some overhead swells came through and were breaking. But for the last 12 miles it was just pure surfing. I just kept paddling my hardest all the way to the finish. When I turned the outside buoy – my escort boat yelled out to me that I was going to break my record from last year. So, I kept the throttle up and broke the record by 15 minutes – and in doing so did the course in less than 3 hours. Figuring it out – I did the course in 2 hours 55 minutes – 27 miles – my average speed was 9.25 miles per hour. I believe this is the fastest anyone has done this course on a SUP!!!
Great post Teatrea, Connor is a Weapon/Legend of a competitor a true athlete.
The Pai'lolo Channel Race is the best Long Distance Race on the Planet. Thank You Rodney You Handsome Bugga You (Legend) for putting on this Pai'lolo race and Mark Raaphorst from SIC for putting on the beer I only had 8 beers and felt a bit flyblow The Pai'lolo Race is in it's 3rd year and growing strong stoked
There was only 3 Aussies in this Pai'lolo Race. I'm hearing there's a lot of Aussies in Hawaii shaping up for the Molokai Race. Why come half way across the world to paddle Downwind and deprive yourself of a Pai'lolo crossing it's BULK FUN. It's what Downwind Paddling is all about.
There'll be many vids to come but this is a pretty good start from Masoa ****ayama. Can't wait for the footage that'll flow from Connor's support boat.
Love it. Seabreeze wouldn't let the riders name go up without some of these ####.
A whole lot of things got the better of me this year but next year is on for sure with plenty of crew from the Northern Beaches fired up.
Can't wait.
Sam.
