Olukai Hoolaulea Race – Painful but Fun
Mark Raaphorst from S.I.C. kept talking about the Olukai race that went on May 17 and 18, 2009 and it sounded like fun so I flew from Oahu to Maui to participate. I was excited because Maliko downwinders are legendary and I was ready for the action. Before the race weekend, I kept looking at the wind forecasts and got worried because the forecast was for a headwind and not the awesome 25+ mph tailwind that we see and hear about.
Mark Raaphorst from S.I.C. – 2nd Place in Elite Male Division
I have to admit that the race turned out to be the hardest paddle I’ve ever done and ever want to do. It was a beautiful day, sunny and blue skies but there wasn’t any wind. In fact, there was a slight headwind when we first started out. I started the race pounding away when I realized that I would be out of energy in 5 minutes going at that pace. Once I paced myself, everyone started passing me. First, it was guys on 12′ SUPs. Next it was women on 12′ SUP’s. The kids were already beating me and I was determined not to be last. My shirt was soaked with sweat. Enough complaining already…the food and people were exceptionally great. It was like one big family. Everyone was friendly and positive. They all looked way younger than their age. Donna Badome (Mark Raaphorst’s wife) won the 50 – 59 year old category on a 12′ Ku Nalu SUP. She finished something like 20 seconds in front of me. For the last 1.5 miles, I was trying to catch her and could not do it. I wish she was on some super high tech 18′ machine that Mark shaped but she was on a stock 12′ Ku Nalu. I know she’s a great paddler (she looks like a triathlete) so I don’t feel that bad. At least she didn’t laugh at me. Check out the video:
(click thumbnail to launch video)
Here’s a photo recap of the race and events:
Spectators watching the finish
Junior watching for his son
$7/day got me an upgrade from 2 door Yugo to this van
More spectators
Dave Kalama – #1 in Male Elite Division
Sign in table
Ocean Paddler TV interviewing Mark Raaphorst
An excited paddler trying on his race shirt
Pre-race strategy talk
Maui Wahines
Full loaded
F-16 version 2 – This is what I rode
Sam Pa’e with his purple Vortice SP
F Series: Left to Right – Ku Nalu 12′, F-14, F-16, F-18
C4 Vortice XP and Vortice
Kiwi Mark Jackson’s F-18
Naish SUPs
Weapons of the day
More weapons
Pre-race Pule (prayer)
Picture taking helicopter
The first ones out to the water start
Paddling out to the water start
Waiting for the start
The closest I got to Dave Kalama during the race…he was out of sight in a few minutes
This is where you drop your board and paddle and begin to run
The finish line – after the 300 yard run
Happy to be finished
Aaron Napoleon (#3 Male Elite Division) happily talking story…doesn’t even look like he broke a sweat even though he did the same race on an OC-1 the day before and placed 4th.
Morgan Hoestery after the race
Carrying the board after the race
Boards galore
Women winners
Donna Badome (Mark Raaphorst’s wife) with her #1 trophy
Male Elite Winners (They won money) – Left to Right: Dave Kalama, Mark Raaphorst, Aaron Napoleon, Scott Trudon, Alan Cadiz, Livio Menelau
Male winners
Click on results image to enlarge
Download race results on PDF here:
olukai_09_sup-div
olukai_09_sup-overall
What was the race distance?
DW – Not sure…maybe 8 or so miles. I think the normal run is 9 miles but I’m not sure where that finishes.
Anyone out there know?
Maliko Gulch to Kanaha Beach Park is a downwind dream for outrigger canoeist and standup paddlers alike.
Approximatly a 6.5 mile downwind run in blasting trade winds with numerous “bumps” to sleigh ride you to the picturesque and famous Kanaha beach Park Maui. Dodging giant turtles, tenatious tiger sharks, windsurfers and kiters is all part of the ocean ohana journey.
The Hawaiian Islands have been the birth place of many an ocean “spin-off”. Outrigger canoeing, ” The Tu-Tu
(GrandMa) that 1st paddled her way here, soon spawned the Royal sport of Surfing, and like eager copy cats, Windsurfing, Kiteboarding and now Stand Up Paddle surfing followed metamorphisically behind.
Each mutation has had it’s head butting sessins with it’s previous generation and Stand Up Paddle Surfing is no exception. Prehaps Mr Bob Marley’s lyrics are indicative of the struggle…. Get Up Stand Up … Stand up for your rights. Mathew Murasco and Mr Marley must have been ” InSync ” on this one, as on the weekend ofMarch 15th and 16th, proudly self acclaimed Hawaiian Ambasador Mat Mursko along with OluKai Footwear organized the Olukai Ho’olaulea Festival, supporting and benifiting Team Olukai Hawaiian Sailing Canoe Club, The hawaiian Jnr Life Guard Assos. and Maui Cultural Lands.
Amongst the many incredible events and performances were the canoe and stand up paddle races. The 1st annual OluKai Ho’olaulea Ocean Festival launched an Armada ( Hui Nui ) of “Sweepers” (stand up paddle boarders) and outrigger canoeists to the infamous Maliok Gulch for the chance to cash in on a generous $15,000 in Prize Money (equally split between men and women)
Unlike most May Day’s on Maui’s North Shore, this particular weekend, the Trades took a vacation to Vegas and left us with a balmy flat ocean dusted with a little Big Island Vog ( Volcano Bad breath )
None the less the show must go on, and on it went. Approx 91 yellow gersey’d paddlers took to the water in several divisions, to gutt it out down the coast to Kanaha.
Despite the dissapointment of the M.I.A. Trade winds, the light air, flat ocean conditions kinda leveled the playing field so to speak, and gave the fleet of sweepers a fighting chance at staying closer with the Pro’s of the sport who have the place wired when it’s 20 -30 knotts with 6′ – 10′ swells.
It was a POND, a Lake, an Olympic Swimming Pool ! The flag went up, the horn blew and silently we all took off, westboundish for the Big Red Bouy, straining our eye’s for the slightedt bump n glide to push us above cruising speed and get us downsteam to the finish line, the food line and the showers.
A ” Swan Lake ” battle between legendary Hawaiian Waterman David Kalama and equally legendary waterman….or as we know him “EuroMan” S.I.C. board shapper Mark Raaphorst ensued.
A closer than normall paddleing duel had David Kalama hit the beach first, and run the 150 or so yards to the finish line in a time of 1hr 08min with Mark Raaphorst nipping at his heals like a Doberman Pitt Bull.
mark finished close behind and the folowing top 10 paddlers a respectable distance behind him.
Hats Off to all competitors, organizers, volunteers and spectators. A special MAHALO NUI LOA to Mathew Murasko and OluKai for a flawlessly run spectacularly fun event, with great people, prizes, music, food, fun and lots of ALOHA.
As one of many paddlers that day I felt uniquely blessed and aware of just how breath taking maui’s North Shore is, and how true the local saying…”LUCKY WE LIVE HAWAII’ is.
I remind myself that …lucky we live hawaii can also be a statement of not just were we live, but HOW we live.
Stand Up paddling has delivered more to me than just a board a blade and a cool new sport. It has delivered me even closer to Mother Ocean and closer to my Ohana ( Family ) It has also graciously allowed me to adopt a huge new quiver of really great friends.
I HOPE IT DOES THE SAME FOR YOU.
HANGLOOSE. BE HAPPY.
PADDLE ON.