WAIMEA — Less than three minutes separated the first through third place finishers at the YMCA Kaua‘i Hoe Wa‘a Race No. 5. Mark Frazier grabbed first in the long course on a 1:21.56 journey from Port Allen to the Waimea
WAIMEA — Less than three minutes separated the first through third place finishers at the YMCA Kaua‘i Hoe Wa‘a Race No. 5.
Mark Frazier grabbed first in the long course on a 1:21.56 journey from Port Allen to the Waimea Plantation Cottages Sunday. He was chased by Mai Tai Danielson, visiting from Tahiti, who stopped the clock at 1:23.09 and Maui Kjeldsen at 1:24.19.
That long course started at Port Allen, traveled east to a bouy outside of Glass Beach before heading west to the Waimea Plantation Cottage finish line.
The short course went straight west from Port
Allen to the same finish line in Waimea.
Katy Curtis grabbed first for the women with a 1:37.39 paddle followed by Margie Goodno at 1:42.46 and Alana Goo following at 1:45.06.
Paddlers worked under shimmering skies that produced an “oil slick” surface on the ocean and race officials said, “It didn’t seem to make much difference as to whether you were going up the coast or down. Either way, it was an over-heated grind to the end.”
In the surfski division, Ken Denton topped the fleet at 1:19.42 followed by Wes DaSilva crossing in 1:21.50 and Laurie Denton picking up third at 1:27.06.
Heavy traffic was the order of the day at Waimea Plantation Cottages where the finishers converged at the finish line at just about the same time.
Adam Roversi captured top honors in the men’s short course on a 1:12.36 run, chased by Kalani Addington who crossed at 1:15.18. Greg Davis was breathing down the neck of Addington at third, stopping the clock at 1:15.54.
Mary Bartlett posed a strong challenge to her men counterpart as she took the course at 1:18.39. Tracy Capman took second for the women at 1:20.17 with Katy Otsuji following at 1:21.40.
Bae and Jodi Dela Cruz topped the Mixed OC2 division with a crossing of 1:13.07 followed by the team of Herb Kekuawela and Sandy Higa (1:15.31).
Leaders of the YMCA Kaua‘i Hoe Wa‘a extends its appreciation to ResortQuest Waimea Plantation Cottages for hosting the post-race lunch and to the following volunteers.
Joe Laukona and Dino D’Annibale served as escort captains, Sara Deblin and Jodi Kjeldsen worked the time clocks, Audrey Bernadino, Beth Kauwe, Tracy Capman and Jon Kegle served as race registrars and Mark Frazier was the race director.
May 10 to 12 is the Expedia’s Kaua‘i World Challenge Relay that will feature a six-man race being added to the lineup with a $5,000 purse attached.
World champions from the Gold Coast of Australia are expected to offer strong competition in both the relay and the OC-6 divisions.
For more information on the race, visit the Web site
www.ocpaddler.com.
