Fourteen seconds was the difference for Manny Kulukululani, Saturday.
The winner of the 2010 Kaua‘i Challenge, Kulukululani teamed with Jimmy Austin in Team Kamanu No. 1, but finished in second place behind Aaron Napoleon and Kai Bartlett of Kai Wa‘a at the 9th Annual Kaua‘i World Challenge, which opened under winds gusting at more than 20 knots over an East and South swell.
Kulukululani and Austin, of O‘ahu, never faltered but dropped at the finish line to Napoleon, another O‘ahu paddling team.
Crews on OC1, OC2 and surfski launched off the gnarly Wailua Beach conditions and transferred paddlers at relay points located at Hanama‘ulu Beach, Kalapaki Beach fronting the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort and Spa and in Po‘ipu fronting the Marriott’s Waiohai Beach Club before landing at Salt Pond Beach Park.
Stand up paddlers took off from the Po‘ipu relay transfer point, landing at Salt Pond.
Dave Parmenter topped the Stock division of the stand up paddlers, crossing the line in 1:29:07, while Kawika Carvalho, crossing about six minutes later, topped the Open division.
Kaua‘i’s Kelly Foster teamed with O‘ahu paddler Mael Carey to fill in third place on a 3:34:47 paddle, less than five minutes back of Napoleon, who crossed on a 3:31:15 paddle, followed by Kulukulualani who slipped across the line at 3:31:29.
Maui Kjeldsen was the first Kaua‘i team with Tyrus Siale, crossing sixth overall with a 3:36:27 paddle for Kia Kaha Kaua‘i.
Lauren Bartlett of Maui teamed with Lori Nakamura from O‘ahu to take the OC1 Women’s Elite division after crossing the line eighth overall on a 4:07:40 paddle.
Kaua‘i’s Noe Auger teamed with O‘ahu paddler Rachel Burnst for third place wahine honors with a 4:19:23 run.
Sanoe Ho‘okano, Tiffany Palama, Chris Acoba and Peter Chow made up a strong Kaua‘i OC2 Mixed team, which finished on a 4:13:44 paddle.
Jody Simpson and Kristen Foster made up the OC1 Mixed Division duo, which touched down at 4:16:09.
Dylan Thomas and Wes DaSilva were first on surfski on a 3:36:54 run, good for seventh overall placement.
More than $7,000 in prizes were shared between the elite division and specific age group top finishers in the event sponsored by the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort and Spa, Kaua‘i Hand Therapy, Da Life, Holo Holo Boat Tours, Kalapaki Joe’s, Po‘ipu Beach Resort Association, Kaua‘i Festivals, Kamanu Composites, Island Pacific Mortgage, the KQNG Radio Group, Steinlager and Kia Kaha.
Visit www.kauaiworldchallenge.org for full race results and more information.
