This past weekend on O‘ahu was the 2011 Rainbow Sandals Gerry Lopez Battle of the Paddle Hawai‘i, held at Duke Kahanamoku Beach in Waikiki. The event prides itself on being the premier international stand-up paddle race. Saturday’s elite course was
This past weekend on O‘ahu was the 2011 Rainbow Sandals Gerry Lopez Battle of the Paddle Hawai‘i, held at Duke Kahanamoku Beach in Waikiki. The event prides itself on being the premier international stand-up paddle race. Saturday’s elite course was deemed “the most brutal in the four-year history of the Battle of the Paddle,” according to event promoters. Kaua‘i’s Kawika Carvalho was the Open Men’s race champion, finishing the four-mile course in a time of 45 minutes, 10 seconds. There were 140 entries in the Open competition, ranging in age from eight to 73. Competing in the Women’s Elite division, Kaua‘i’s Mariko Strickland finished in eighth place overall.
