David Beck of Hanalei and Kai Bartlett paddled their way to second place in the Starbucks Kaiwi Channel Relay held Sunday. The 40.2 mile one-man outrigger ocean canoe race began on Moloka‘i at Kaluako‘i Beach and ended at Magic Island
David Beck of Hanalei and Kai Bartlett paddled their way to second place in the Starbucks Kaiwi Channel Relay held Sunday.
The 40.2 mile one-man outrigger ocean canoe race began on Moloka‘i at Kaluako‘i Beach and ended at Magic Island near Ala Moana Shopping Center on O‘ahu’s South Shore.
Beck and Bartlett finished in 4 hours, 34 minutes, just over three minutes behind the winning team of Maui Kjeldsen and Karle Tresnak, Jr.
Beck and Bartlett used strategy in their close finish, taking a northern route away from the bulk of the canoes in the race.
Kaua‘i’s Steve Cole paddling with Bruce Ayau took second place in the Masters division, and Noelani Sawyer of Kaua‘i, paddling with Dane Ward of Maui, took second overall in the Women’s division.
This weekend the outrigger canoe race season continues on Kaua‘i with the scheduled running of the $20,000
Steinlager Kaua’i World Challenge. The race is set to start at 9 a.m. at Wailua Beach, with a change at Hanama‘ulu Beach five miles away, followed by a leg to Kalapaki finishing in front of Duke’s restaurant after another five-mile leg, then a change at the beach fronting the Sheraton Kauai at Po‘ipu after a 12-mile leg and finally a 12-mile paddle to the County of Kaua‘i Beach Park at Salt Pond.
The division in the race are to include men’s open and age groups, women’s open and age groups, and a mixed open.
Tentative age group classifications include: 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40 -49, 50-59, and 60-plus.
Some $20,000 in cash prizes is to be awarded. The event is sponsored by Steinlager beer and Pahio Resorts of Kaua‘i.
Beck’s paddling partner Kai Bartlett took first place in the 2003 running of the Steinlager event, teamed up with Aaron Napoleon.
An international contingent of paddlers is expected. In 2003 teams 60 teams paddled with entrants from California, Roratonga, Austrailia, Guam and other Hawaiian Islands.
