Canoe or kayak OK for Moloka'i champ Kelly Fey

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

Paddlers around the world might want to look into the training secret of Kelly Fey.

After six consecutive Moloka'i Challenge kayak championships, Kelly Fey switched to a canoe last year and set a women's course record. Advertiser library photo • May 2000

As the owner and sole employee of Kelly's Pools, Fey spends most of her days scrubbing concrete. As a paddler, she has spent the last eight years scrubbing her opposition.

"I don't get to spend as much time training as I'd like because of work," said Fey, 40. "But I try to get in six to eight hours a week of paddling."

The routine has worked wonders. Once again, Fey is the favorite to win the women's one-person canoe division of tomorrow's Kanaka I Kai Ka Moloka'i Challenge.

The event — a 32-mile race from Kaluakoi Beach, Moloka'i, to Hawai'i Kai — is considered the world championship of solo ocean paddling. There are divisions for one-person canoes, one-person kayaks and two-person canoes.

Fey, a member of the Hui Nalu Canoe Club, is a seven-time champion. From 1994-99, she won the women's kayak race; last year, she switched to a canoe and still won.

She is the only paddler, male or female, to win the event on both a kayak and canoe. What's more, she holds the women's course record in both divisions.

"Kelly hasn't just won, she's dominated this sport internationally for the past eight years," said Kala Judd, a veteran paddler and coach with the Outrigger Canoe Club. "For somebody to keep winning that many years in a row is absolutely incredible."

Just as incredible, Fey said she is still learning how to paddle a one-person canoe.

"It's still a challenge to improve," she said. "When I watch the guys go through the water on one-mans, they fly. They're going as fast as the kayaks. When I see that, I know I have a long way to go."

The other three divisions for tomorrow's race should provide more drama.

• Men's canoe: Two-time defending champion Karel Tresnak Jr. is the favorite based on his performance of last year, when he beat the previous record by more than 17 minutes (3:49:19).

"There's added pressure," he said. "A lot of variables have to come together for me to make it work again. The field is so strong, it's really anybody's race."

Among the other leading contenders are John Foti, Mike Judd, Aaron Napoleon and Kai Bartlett.

Foti, Tresnak's teammate with the Lanikai Canoe Club, has placed second three times and third once in the last four Moloka'i Challenge races he has entered. He was runner-up by more than nine minutes last year.

"I think it'll have to be flat water for me to beat Karel," Foti said. "He's distanced himself that much in the surf."

Judd beat Tresnak in several shorter races earlier this season, but he too is hoping for a flat Kaiwi Channel.

"I know I'm not up to par yet in surfing skills with Karel," Judd said. "In the flat water, I feel more confident."

• Men's kayak: Defending champion Oscar Chalupsky, who has won the race a record nine times, is not entered this year.

That makes Australian Dean Gardiner, a seven-time champ, the pre-race favorite. Fellow Australian Tim Jacobs and Tahiti's Lewis Laughlin are considered the other leading contenders.

Nalu Kukea, the top Hawai'i finisher each of the last five years, also will not race tomorrow.

In his absence, Kala Judd, Wyatt Jones and James Beaton are the top local entries.

"The more wind, the better," said Judd. "All the top international guys know how to surf, but I think more wind helps the Hawai'i guys."

• Women's kayak: With Kelly Fey paddling a canoe and defending champion Maile Chong not entered, a new winner will emerge.

Top local contenders include Christy Borton, Megan Harrington and Mary Smolenski.