LIHUE — Robin Jumper said in her 19 years of paddling, racing in New York City over the weekend was an amazing experience. “My women’s team from the Niumalu Canoe Club traveled to NYC over the weekend to participate in the
LIHUE — Robin Jumper said in her 19 years of paddling, racing in New York City over the weekend was an amazing experience.
“My women’s team from the Niumalu Canoe Club traveled to NYC over the weekend to participate in the Liberty Challenge Canoe race,” Jumper said in an email. “Surprisingly, we won the women’s race.”
But the women’s team was not alone in collecting hardware at the Hawaiian Airlines Liberty Challenge hosted by the New York Outrigger.
Namolokama Canoe Club of Hanalei finished second in the mixed division with a Niumalu crew filling in the third berth of that division.
The Hawaiian Airlines Liberty Challenge, formerly known as the Liberty World Outrigger Competition, is one of the most prestigious outrigger canoe races in the world, states its website.
“Paddling in the beauty of the New York City, and by the Statue of Liberty is so different than paddling the coastline of Kauai,” said Kathy Braach, a member of the women’s winning crew. “Then, to top it off with a win with such amazing women, it goes beyond words.”
Crews not only have to gauge strong tidal currents, they must also negotiate the ferries, cruise ships, tour boats, barges, tankers and pleasure craft that fill New York Harbor, the East River and the Hudson River.
“Being the baby of the crew, it was definitely intimidating being among such amazing athletes of all different ages,” said Makana Rivera, another of the women paddlers. “But it seems we were solid together, as a crew. Paddling in unfamiliar waters with ever-changing conditions, against unknown crews, was definitely a little nerve-racking. At the same time, being among men and women from all around the world who love the sport was extremely amazing. It is my best paddling experience thus far, hands down.”
Jumper said the start of the race was in typical NYC style — fast. And they didn’t wait for everyone to be on the start line.
“They told us to re-group for 10 minutes after our initial line-up to wait for the ferry,” Jumper said. “But then, the race started shortly thereafter. We were about two boat lengths off the start line when the horn sounded and had to battle our way up to the front of the pack.”
The Liberty Challenge regatta is made up of three races in heats over the course of the day. The men’s and women’s races cover a 15-mile course while the mixed race has a truncated course of 11 miles.
“About a mile and a half into the race, the Staten Island Ferry was coming into port so we had to paddle around the stern of the boat,” Jumper said. “It was a crazy and tactical part of the race because, at that point, we were neck and neck with the Washington, D.C., Canoe Club.”
Jumper said the crew had trouble locating the first buoy under the Manhattan Bridge.
“When we got to the location, there were several NYC police boats and a USCG cutter helping a capsized boat,” the experienced paddler said. “The lead escort boat told us to turn, so we headed for the buoy on the other side of the river. Following the race, we discovered the boat which capsized was the escort boat dropping the buoy for the race. I guess when they dropped the buoy, the line got caught on the cleat of the boat and flipped it.”
Two of the men from the boat had to be taken to the hospital with minor injuries, she said.
Coming down the East River toward Governor’s Island, the Niumalu women made their move.
“The DC crew stayed on the Brooklyn side of the river while we surfed little rolling chop through the middle of the channel,” Jumper said. “When they turned down to meet us, we were already several boat lengths ahead of them. They never caught us. The remainder of the race was just hard work, trust in each other, and just a really beautiful paddling experience.”
Jumper said the entire experience, from training on Kauai to meeting fellow paddlers from around the world, was unforgettable.
“I can’t leave out the people of New York City who were so gracious and kind to us,” Jumper said. “Paddling by the Statue of Liberty — simply amazing!”
Jumper said it would not have been possible without the support of friends and families who helped the crew make the 7 a.m. Saturday practices and other trainings throughout the week leading to the New York trip.
She said key sponsors included the Niumalu Canoe Club, the Brunner family, the Greenwell family, Seasport Divers, and Aaron and Barbara Adair.
Members of the victorious women’s crew included Jumper, Rivera, Brunner, Rachel Lim, Emiko Meyers and Kathy Braach.
The Niumalu Canoe Club, with its “Fake It Til You Make It” theme, crossed the line in 2:16:26, nearly five minutes ahead of the Washington DC club (2:21:02) and the Dana Outrigger Liberty Ladies 2 club (2:22:26). The Australia Combined finished just six seconds back.
In the mixed division, Namolokama O Hanalei was second on a 1:54:59 paddle, nearly four minutes back of first finisher, PDBA Team Independence of Philadelphia.
The Rockin da 808 Niumalu Mixed team finished third, nearly two minutes back of Namolokama at 1:56.55.
Other teams participating from Hawaii include Kamamalahoe/Hui Nalu Kamamalahoe/Hui Nalu (fourth in 1:57:29), Hawaiian Airlines Team Kokua (13th, 2:210:49), and Kaiopua/Kawaihae/Waikoloa Canoe Clubs Mokunui (15th, 2:25:56).
In the women’s division, other Hawaii teams included the Island Masters of Maui, a senior masters team, finishing 9th overall, third in their division, at 2:32.55.
The Big Island Hang Loose team crossed at 2:33.30 for 10th place followed by the Lanikai Canoe Club, Na Wahine O Kailua, crossing at 2:39:58 for 11th place, and the Waikiki Beach Boys CC, Waikiki Beach Babes crossing at 2:45:04 for 15th place.
Team Kamanu from Kailua, Oahu was the top finisher in the men’s division on a 1:52:47 paddle with the Aikane Pride Hawaii (14th, 2:35:31) being the only other team from Hawaii in the division.
