June 2009 - Pacific Paddler

Lauren Bartlett, 6:03:47
point, I just ran scared."
Danny heard Kai was coming,
Lewis was coming, and then Kai flew
by, busting a move. "I was at 7.5 mph
into a head wind and at the 'Wall'.
He (Kai) just went right on by. That
broke me for a while. I tried hard to
make a push but got fried. It was heart
breaking," he said, "and inspiring at
the same time." Danny finished just
over a minute behind Kai who passed
him just 20 minutes from the finish.
Lewis Laughlin
Third to cross the line in front of The
Shack, at Hawaii Kai, was Jimmy Austin
just over a minute behind Danny.
"I was just glade to be in the top
three," said Jimmy. "We were cruising
for a couple of hours, then Danny
broke away a little. I wanted to go
north and Danny got a really good
gap." Then around hour four Kai
turned it on. "So I thought I'd go with
Danny. Kai went by Lewis, and Lewis
got burnt and collapsed, and then I
thought we were closing in on Danny,
then my Red Bull died out, that was
it. I'm just ecstatic I got third," Jimmy
said.
The first woman to finish was no
surprise to the crowd who had gathered
to watch the paddlers come in.
Lauren made this her sixth championship
win. She holds the record with
4:20:47. This time she finished in
6:03:47.
"It was probably the worst race I've
done in my life," said Lauren. "I think
the only reason I made it through was
because of my support. I had a great
driver, Keola, I had Kelly Fey who has
won the channel more than anyone
I know, and my sister and son and
Patsie, they were right there and so
supportive. I wouldn't have been able
to finish it if it wasn't for them."
Lauren said the first half was bearable
and then half way through the
race, it stated to go downhill. "It wasn't
happening," she said. "Hats off to
everyone who finished. It definitely
was 'victory at sea' out there. I had
low blood-sugar, and then I heard Kai
had won so I wanted to put the last
nail in the coffin and finish, and end
the race. Five minutes later, the second
woman to the finish line was Alana
Frazier. Jamie Kinard took third.
The race sponsor Steinlager's
Calvin Maeda said Steinlager is dedicated
to supporting the ocean lifestyles
of Hawaii. Pa'a started their own race
for outrigger paddlers because it was
time for a Molokai Solo that was all
about outriggers. Previously outriggers
was secondary to surfskis, but now
with Pa'a, the focus has changed. "I
don't think we are trying to take away
from the kayakers but to have our own
race helps to open up the field to more
paddlers from different countries and
helps the sport to grow.
Two page spread, photos by Katie Slocumb
Danny Ching, 5:13:35
Kekoa Bruhn, 5:40:24
Below, Keizo Gates 7:23:14
Paddlers came to Hawaii from
the mainland, Japan, Australia, New
Zealand, France, Canada, and the
United Kingdom.
"We also support surfing and the
long board events including SUP," said
Calvin. We have a strong focus on
ocean activities."
The race director, Manny
Kulukulualani, summed up the day this
way. "It was just one of those days that
would put hair on your chest."
For full results go to ocpaddler.com.
Alana Fraizer-Goo, 6:08:21
Arlene Holzman, 6:38:04
20 June ‘09, Pacific Paddler pacificpaddler.com June ‘09 21