Kauai Waterwoman Mariko Strickland Issues Challenge & Welcomes Paddlers to Kauai
Kauai Waterwoman Mariko Strickland Issues Challenge & Welcomes Paddlers to Kauai
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
HONOLULU (July, 18, 2012) — This Saturday, July 21, C4 Waterman Ambassador Mariko Strickland will be joined by more than one hundred paddlers to race the 17-mile Na Pali coastline on the northern shore of Kauai. As the event’s defending women’s stand-up paddle (SUP) champion and a resident of the island, Mariko’s local knowledge of this pristine course will set the bar.
The conditions, however, can be as varied as the view. Typically, the first 12 miles is deep-water surfing parallel to the coastline with whipping winds at your back. The final five miles from Miloli’i to Polihale are a flat-water battle with a slight head wind.
“When it’s good, the Na Pali Coast is the best down wind run, ever,” Strickland claims. “If you are of good paddling ability and fitness, then you owe it to yourself to be there with us this weekend.”
“I honestly think the Na Pali coast is one of the seven wonders of the world. Where else can you race downwind for 17 miles, be treated to some of the most beautiful nature in the world, and not see a single building!” 
Four thousand-foot sea cliffs, the highly protected Kalalau Valley, herds of wild goats, Hawaiian sea life and open ceiling sea caves offer an aesthetic that no other race in the world can offer. Coupled with the prevailing trade winds, the Na Pali coast is a paddler’s wonderland.
“My last run a few weeks ago was the best yet,” said Strickland. “The wind pushed us all the way thru to Polihale in 3.5 hours. A couple of times I was just standing on my board, not even paddling, and the wind was blowing me into swells!”
The forecast for this weekend is for East winds, 9-13 knots tending up.
C4 Waterman, Inc. is an Oahu, Hawaii-based lifestyle and adventure sports equipment company. They are a brand focused on providing the highest quality hard goods and soft goods to water sports athletes and enthusiasts around the world. C4 was the first company with a focus on SUP and continues to lead the pack when it comes to industry recognition, authenticity, innovation and product design.
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PARTICIPANTS: More than 100 paddlers ranging from good to superb ability, including paddling enthusiasts and professionals alike. Top finishers take approximately 2.5 – 3 hours to complete the 17-mile distance. Average paddlers take approximately 4 or more hours.
ENTRY FEE: Starting at $65 pp for 3-person teams, up to $100 for solo entries. All late entries will be an additional $50 per person, per division. An escort boat is NOT required for solo paddlers, but IS required for teams. For assistance with arranging escort boats, please email: NaPaliRace@gmail.com
RACE START: Haena County Park. Staggered start times for various divisions. Depending on the wind, start time could be as early as 9am, or as late as 10:30am. Start times will be posted on the race website, Facebook and Twitter accounts the week prior to the race.
RACE FINISH: Polihale State Park Beach.
AWARDS & SWAG: $12,000 prize purse. All entrants receive: one donation lucky draw ticket ($5 from every race entry goes to the Na Pali Coast Ohana), an event t-shirt, a free pair of custom sandals, an event hat, race jersey, and a meal served by Dukes Kauai with beer from Landshark Lager at the awards for participating. More information soon to be announced on the Awards ceremony and venue.
The first 100 solo entrants will receive a zip-up hooded event fleece. Art In Surf will be donating six (6) 12′1″ cruiser SUPs and two (2) 12′6″ Matero race boards for the top finishers in the main divisions. There will also be two (2) Tamba Surf Co. surfboards for #1 overall finishers in men’s & women’s paddleboard division.
Lucky Drawing: A new Tamba surfboard, a Steven Valiere original artwork, and other prizes will be given away, with all ticket sales supporting the Na Pali Coast Ohana – a grass roots non profit organization dedicated to protecting & preserving the Na Pali Coast State Park on Kauai. Additional lucky draw tickets can be purchased: $5 for one, or $20 for 5. You do not have to be present to win.
RECORDS:
Men’s Paddleboard: Hogan Kania (California) 2:55:09, 2011
Men’s SUP: Livio Manelau (HI) 2:22:30, 2010
Women’s Paddleboard: Kanesa Duncan-Seraphin (HI) 3:00:52, 2011
Women’s SUP: Mariko Strickland (HI) 3:09:17, 2011
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