Paddling
Outrigger girls 15 crew on fast track
• Lanikai's senior men go for 10 in a row
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
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| Outrigger Canoe Club's girls 15 crew practices on the Ala Wai Canal in preparation for tomorrow's HCRA State Regatta at Hanalei Bay, Kaua'i.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser Finals facts WHAT: Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association State Championship Regatta WHERE: Hanalei Bay, Kaua'i WHEN: Tomorrow, 9 a.m. start; races run throughout the day, until around 5 p.m. WHO: More than 3,000 paddlers representing more than 50 clubs from around the state; age divisions range from 12-and-younger to 55-and-older |
That's the motivational line coach Katy Bourne uses on the Outrigger Canoe Club's girls 15 crew. Although the statement relays several implications, the girls have responded by becoming showstoppers.
In particular, they will take two impressive streaks of success into tomorrow's Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association State Championship Regatta at Hanalei Bay, Kaua'i.
First, they have made a habit out of finishing first. The crew has not lost a race against girls their age since 1999, a string of 15 consecutive victories.
"That's one crew I'm confident that they're going to bring home points every week," said Outrigger head coach Kehau Kali. "They're not future stars, they're stars already."
Outrigger won the O'ahu championship two weeks ago, and is considered one of the leading contenders for the overall state title tomorrow. Because Outrigger enters the state regatta with a numbers disadvantage (Hawaiian Canoe Club of Maui has a record 34 crews registered to Outrigger's 29), it must compensate with quality performances from its crews.
The Outrigger girls 15 crew is already experienced at it, having won three consecutive state championships.
After winning a state title in the girls 12 division in 1998, they moved up one division each year and won championships in '99 (girls 13) and last year (girls 14). Because 12-and-younger is the youngest division, the crew has won a state championship every year it has been paddling.
"It's like they got a taste of winning at a very young age and they liked it so much they never wanted to let it go," Bourne said. "But it's not like this comes easy for them. They work very, very hard at it."
A practice week consists of three days of sprint-paddling on the Ala Wai Canal, and two days of running and weightlifting. Bourne said she emphasizes both physical technique and mental strength.
During the sprint workouts, for example, she will make the crew paddle six "100 percent" half-mile runs, with only two minutes of rest in between each.
"I want them to understand what leverage means, and what it feels like to keep the boat gliding even when they're tired," Bourne said.
In other words, if you don't "show" the proper technique, you don't "go" in the canoe.
The crew consists of seven girls: Alicia Arnott, Kai Bourne, Avery Cavanah, Amy Lawson, Ali Rigg, Jenn Tokin and Sally Torkildson. They go to different schools, but are united by Outrigger during the summer.
"We grew up paddling together, so we all became friends together," Tokin said. "We hang out together all the time. We just went to the Birthday Bash (concert) last week."
Four years of such unity has also played a role in their success. Bourne, Cavanah, Lawson, Rigg and Tokin were on the girls 12 crew that won its first state championship in 1998.
"We know everybody wants to win," said Kai Bourne, who is Katy's daughter. "But it makes it 10 times better to know that we worked so hard all these years for it."
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| Outrigger Canoe Club's undefeated girls 15 crew includes: (front row from left) Amy Lawson and Sally Torkildson; (back row from left) Alicia Arnott, Avery Cavanah, Kai Bourne, Jenn Tokin and Ali Rigg.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser |
This year, the crew had to learn to turn for the first time because the length of its races increased from ´-mile to à-mile. Lawson has been the crew's primary steersperson.
"At first, I was really nervous about it," she said. "But the turn in our first race of the season was unbelievable. I was praying the whole time, but we did it. Now, I'm a lot more confident."
It also helps that the crew is physically gifted — "amazons" is how Katy Bourne describes them. Each of the girls plays another sport, and three are close to 6 feet tall. Arnott has already received All-America honors in volleyball; Lawson is a nationally-ranked surfer.
"That helps because we can use different combinations," Katy Bourne said. "We've mixed them up in different seats (in the canoe) and still had good results."
Because only six paddlers can race in the canoe, the competition among the seven girls can be fierce during practices. But that allows the coach to keep the paddlers in line.
"They all know that if they don't show up for practice or if they show up late, they're not going to race," Bourne said. "They know that they're each replaceable by the other."
Yet, their bond remains strong.
"We know we have something good going," Rigg said. "There's some pressure on us to keep it going. But inside, we all know that we can do it if we put our minds to it."
• • •
Lanikai's senior men go for 10 in a row
Through changes in rules, venues and paddlers, the success of the Lanikai Canoe Club men's senior crew has remained the same.
Tomorrow, it will attempt to complete a decade of dominance.
Lanikai has won the men's senior race nine consecutive years. The senior race is the top division in canoe regattas.
"We've been fortunate to have a strong, hungry group of guys for all these years," said Jim Foti, the only paddler to race in all nine of the victories. "We have internal competition, so that keeps the stakes really high just to make the crew, let alone win the races."
Until 1997, the men's senior race was two miles long. From 1992-'97, the Lanikai paddlers smashed the competition, as no other crew came within a canoe length of them.
Since the race was shortened to 1à miles in 1998, the races have been tighter. Kai 'Opua came the closest three years ago, finishing 4.13 seconds behind.
"The shorter the race, the less chance to pull away," Foti said. "But that makes it exciting. We took it as a challenge."
What's more, Lanikai has kept its streak going with victories at Hilo Bay, Ke'ehi Lagoon, Hanalei Bay and Hanakao'o Beach (Maui).
However, this year may be its toughest challenge. During the regular season on O'ahu, Lanikai won four races but placed second in three others. Hui Nalu won twice and Hui Lanakila once. Those two crews, plus Kai 'Opua and hometown Hanalei are legitimate contenders to end Lanikai's streak.
"Based on our record this year, you could give us an underdog position," Foti said. "But we know guys are out to get us every year."
The six paddlers who started the streak in 1992 are Charles Cates, John Foti, Kalani Irvine, Rich Lambert, Paul Graham and Jim Foti. The Foti brothers and Irvine are still among Lanikai's elite, and could paddle again in the senior race tomorrow (the team has yet to decide which six will paddle). Lambert also still paddles with the club. Cates and Graham no longer race competitively.
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Clubs entered in tomorrow's HCRA State Championship Regatta, with number of crews in parentheses:
AAA Division
(18 crews or more)
Hawaiian (34), Outrigger (29), Kailua (28), Lanikai (28), Kai 'Opua (27), Puna (24), Hui Lanakila (21), Kihei (21), Hanalei (20), Hui Nalu (20).
AA Division
(9-17 crews)
Ho'opili (16), Kahana (16), Kawaihae (16), Lokahi (16), Napili (16), Kane'ohe (15), Keaukaha (15), Na Kai 'Ewalu (10).
A Division
(8 crews or fewer)
Healani (8), Wailea (8), Keauhou O Kona (7), Koa Kai (7), Waikiki Surf (7), Kaiola (6), Keahiakahoe (6), Waikiki Yacht (6), I Mua (5), Kalihi Kai (5), Kamehameha-O'ahu (5), Lae Ula O Kai (5), Manu O Ke Kai (5), Anuenue (4), Kamehameha-Hawai'i (4), Keoua (4), Kilohana (4), Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i (4), Puuwai (4), Niumalu (3), Waikiki Beach Boys (3), Windward Kai (3), Kai Poha (2), Kawaikini (2), Lahaina (2), Mana'e (2), Na Wa'a Hanakahi (2), Waimanalo (2), Alapa Hoe (1), Hawaiian Outrigger (1), Kona Athletic (1), Leeward Kai (1), Moloka'i (1).
