HANAPEPE — It took the last change proved to be the difference maker for Kaua‘i’s Chris Acoba, who led his team to a come from behind four person mixed division win yesterday at the Expedia.com Kaua‘i World Challenge at Salt
HANAPEPE — It took the last change proved to be the difference maker for Kaua‘i’s Chris Acoba, who led his team to a come from behind four person mixed division win yesterday at the Expedia.com Kaua‘i World Challenge at Salt Pond Beach. The prestigious purse of over $20,000 was on the line, but no team or individual was afraid to take a piece of the pie home.
“We were down all the way through, but at the last change, towards the end, it was close but we won,” Acoba said.
The westside resident enjoyed the great conditions and the only first-place victory for a Kaua‘i team.
The overall men’s team winners were Karel Kresnak and Jimmy Austin (Hawai‘i), who pocketed the $2,000 top prize.
Kai Bartlett and Pat Dolan (Hawai‘i) raced into the second spot with the $1,400 check. The $1,000 third-place slot went to Keali‘i Paiaina and Thibert Lussia (Hawai‘i).
On the women’s side, Robyn Saultry and Lisa Curry Kenny of Australia reached the Salt Pond beach first and took home the $2,000 check. Kaua‘i’s Noe Auger and the Big Island’s Cherise Keli‘i closed in on the second spot for $1,400 and Maui’s Dane Ward and Margie Kawaiaea were the third-place ladies and cashed in on the $1,000 payoff.
South Africa’s dynamic duo of Oscar and Herman Chalupsky ($400), the defending surfski champions, were defeated by Australia’s Dean Gardiner and Nathan Baggaley ($600). Meanwhile, fellow Aussies Daryl Barto and Ken Collins ($200) paddled to a third-place finish.
But even if participants didn’t come away with any money or prizes, it was still a great experience for many of the athletes who love the ancient sport of paddling.
“This was actually my first time out there on the water paddling by myself and I do admit that it was a bit scary at first, since no one was around, but it was a great memory for me and I had a lot of fun — and would definitely do it again,” Kaua‘i paddler Kate Mask said, who participated in the women’s four-person race.
Princeville’s Alana Goo, one of the top paddlers on the island, also had a memorable time, especially since she finished the journey with her husband as her teammate.
“It was the first time I paddled the Po‘ipu to Salt Pond leg, but my husband and I were able to grab a win,” Goo said of their mixed two-person performance.
The race started around 9 a.m. at Wailua Beach and ended at Salt Pond in the early afternoon. The changes were at Hanamaulu Beach (5 miles), Kalapaki Beach (5 miles), and at Sheraton Beach (12 miles).
