KALAPAKI — Kauai Hoe Wa‘a Racing Association held a paddling race on Feb. 16 in lightly windy conditions at Kalapaki Bay, with a last-minute few switch-ups for paddlers.
Race Director Tyrus Siale, made the hard call to reverse the direction of the long course, meaning a course that was backward from what paddlers are used to. And that’s not the only course that changed.
The racecourse ran from Poipu up the coast to Kalapaki Bay, with the possibility of some south-westerly breezes filling in; the short course was altered to a circuit race from Kalapaki seawall to the lighthouse buoy and back over two laps.
Both races finished at the sea wall in Kalapaki Bay.
The event consisted of 39 paddlers, considering the lack of winds and the course changes, and was attended by a big group of family, friends and spectators.
The start of the race was a constrained affair, since paddlers knew they would need the energy reserves to make it to the finish line to perform the final sprint from Carter’s Point into Kalapaki Bay.
The novelty of the reverse course was refreshing for paddlers, who were able to approach Mahaulepu from the south. That created a new experience, which helped take the paddlers’ minds off of the grueling effort of the sport.
The short course was a full sprint affair in NASCAR fashion.
The nest KHW race is the KHW JP’s Tree Trimming Race 3, set for February 23. Online registration begins today. Race day registration on Sunday is from 9-10 a.m. and races start at 11 a.m.
The racecourse is currently set as follows:
Long course — Poipu Beach Park to Kalapaki Bay
Short path — Kalapaki Bay Lighthouse circuit.
Because of the unusually fickle wind patterns and changing conditions, the racecourse is subject to change depending on various weather conditions throughout the course of the paddling season.
The following are the results from last weekend’s competition. They are now entering week 3 of their competition, which continues to prepare them for the grand-finale:
Long course men’s winners:
1.) Abel Teriitemataua OC-1 18 39 1:26:46.0
2.) Dylan Thomas, Surfski 1:31:12.7 +4:26.7
3.) Kailoa Forrest OC-1 18-39 1:31:14.4 +4:28.4
Long course women’s winners:
1.) Kristen Foster OC-1 18-39 1:38:22.9
2.) Melanie Conard OC-1 40-49 1:43:59.3 +5:36.4
3.) Ella Beck Under-18
2:07:50.6 +29:27.7
Short course men:
1.) Team No Practice OC-2 43:58.4
2.) Jason Hines OC-1 55-59 45:05.8 +1:07.4
3.) Kawika Goodale OC-1 70+ 47:29.7 +3:31.3
Short course women:
1.) Darcy/Lana OC-2 48:22.7 –
2.) Annette Fernndez-Ventura OC-1 55-59 50:12.7 +1:50.0
3.) Jill Kelekoma OC-1 40-49 51:09.1 +2:46.4
