Napoleon conquers surfski field on canoe
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
Thanks to Aaron Napoleon, the division between surfskis and canoes is now blurred.
Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser
Napoleon made history yesterday, becoming the first paddler on a one-person canoe to place first overall — ahead of the surfski field — in a long-distance race.
Aaron Napoleon has reason to be exhausted after finishing the 18-mile Kanaka I Kai Ka O'ahu Championships in 2 hours, 24 minutes, 22 seconds.
Napoleon's breakthrough victory came in the Kanaka I Kai Ka O'ahu Championships.
Around 200 paddlers participated in the race, which was open to one-person canoes, two-person canoes and one-person surfskis.
Until yesterday, surfskis had always been considered faster than canoes. Since the one-person canoe division was created in 1994, surfskis had finished first overall in every major race.
"It's unheard of," race director Jon Emerson said of Napoleon's accomplishment.
The elite paddlers completed an 18-mile course from Makai Pier to Magic Island.
Napoleon finished in 2 hours, 24 minutes, 22 seconds to win the men's canoe division.
Advertiser library photo • May 5, 2002
Chris Ball won the men's surfski division, and was second overall, in 2:24:30.
"I just kind of stayed steady and hoped and prayed that they wouldn't catch me," said Aaron Napoleon.
The female champions were both from Maui: Dane Ward won the canoe division in 2:57:45; Lauren Spalding won the surfski division in 2:39:05.
"I just kind of stayed steady and hoped and prayed that they wouldn't catch me," said Napoleon, 36.
It wasn't just an improbable overall victory for Napoleon. It also marked the first time this season that Karel Tresnak Jr. did not win the men's canoe division.
Tresnak went 7-for-7 during the regular season in the canoe division. He placed second yesterday, 1 minute and 40 seconds behind Napoleon.
"Aaron deserved to win this one, by far," Tresnak said. "He was hammering the whole way. There was no way I could catch him."
Light winds, calm seas and a humid climate made for relatively slow times. The winning times were more than 30 minutes behind the course records.
Advertiser library photo
"It was definitely horrible," Napoleon said. "But conditions never bother me."
Dane Ward, of Maui, won the canoe division in 2:57:45.
As proof, Napoleon led virtually from start to finish. Early in the race, he and Tresnak were side-by-side until Tresnak flipped in the sloppy ocean off Hanauma Bay.
"He gave me about 30 yards and that was enough," said Napoleon, who is the son of legendary waterman Joseph "Nappy" Napoleon. "He caught me at Niu Valley and I said he must have used up a lot of energy, so then I pushed away from him."
Tresnak said: "The ocean wasn't helping. There were little waves here and there up to Hawai'i Kai, but after that it flattened out and Aaron was too far ahead."
Mike Judd was third in the men's canoe division in 2:26:05, and defending O'ahu champion Kai Bartlett was fourth at 2:27:46.
Like Napoleon, Ball won his first race of the season yesterday. The top two surfski competitors from the regular season — Steve Kelly and Mike Beyer — were off-island yesterday, and that probably played a role in Ball's victory, as well as Napoleon's overall triumph.
"If Steve (Kelly) is here, he's the favorite," Ball said. "I don't train too much for these races. This is probably the longest paddle I've done in a year or so."
Advertiser library photo • May 19, 2002
Ball, 31, is the head coach of the Hawai'i Canoe & Kayak Team, and he beat two of his former students, Geordan Purdy (2:24:58) and Aaron Creps (2:25:42).
"I just come out and do these races for fun, but today was so hard," Lauren Spalding said.
"We were pretty close the whole way," Ball said. "Around Waikiki, I made a run and was able to hold off the young guys."
Spalding was able to remain undefeated this year in the women's surfski division. Last year, she went undefeated in the women's canoe division.
She is training to earn a spot on the national team as a flat-water kayaker, and has been entering the surfski races this year as "cross-training."
"My priority is training on the (kayak)," said Spalding, 23. "I just come out and do these races for fun, but today was so hard."
Mary Smolenski finished second, 45 seconds behind Spalding.
Ward won the women's canoe race despite paddling the course for the first time. "It was hard, but there were also some fun spots," she said.
Jane McKee, who moved to O'ahu from California five months ago, placed second at 2:58:26, followed by Paula Crabb in 2:58:34.
The state championships is scheduled for April 19; the Moloka'i-to-O'ahu world championship race is scheduled for May 18.
Final results
Long course (18 miles from Makai Pier to Magic Island)
One-person canoe, Male
Overall: 1, Aaron Napoleon, 2:24:22. 2, Karel Tresnak Jr., 2:26:02. 3, Mike Judd, 2:26:25. 18-29: 1, Kai Bartlett, 2:27:46. 2, Andrew Penny, 2:28:47. 3, Manny Kulukulualani, 2:31:04. 30-39: 1, David Beck, 2:30:48. 2, Mike Hangai, 2:41:43. 3, Kekoa Bruhn, 2:41:47. 40-49: 1, Sam Alama, 2:34:39. 2, Mark Rigg, 2:36:32. 3, Eric Levora, 2:40:47. 50-59: 1, Jeff Metzger, 2:53:32. 2, Gary Samura, 3:00:13. 3, Harvey Aki, 3:05:14. 60-90: 1, Nappy Napoleon, 3:04:01. 2, Paul Gay, 3:04:06.
One-person canoe, Female
Overall: 1, Dane Ward, 2:57:45. 2, Jane McKee, 2:58:26. 3, Paula Crabb, 2:58:34. 30-39: 1, Noelani Sawyer, 3:03:19. 2, Robin Cooper, 3:11:11. 3, Danielle Gay, 3:39:14. 40-49: 1, Jackie Carswell, 3:08:26. 2, Ilena Chong, 3:24:09. 3, Catherine Bender, 3:50:30.
Surfski, Male
Overall: 1, Chris Ball, 2:24:30. 2, Geordan Purdy, 2:24:58. 3, Aaron Creps, 2:25:42. 30-39: 1, David Daniels, 2:33:50. 40-49: 1, Tim Twigg-Smith, 2:29:37. 2, John Hoogsteden, 2:34:22. 3, Courtney Seto, 2:37:08.
Surfski, Female
Overall: 1, Lauren Spalding, 2:39:05. 2, Mary Smolenski, 2:39:50. 3, Maggie Twigg-Smith, 2:44:04. 18-29: 1, Kanesa Duncan, 2:53:43.
Two-person canoe
Male: 1, Pat Von/Greg Edwards, 2:34:00. 2, Donovan Leandro/Hank Leandro, 2:36:15.
Short course (11 miles from Hawai'i Kai to Magic Island)
One-person canoe, Male
Overall: 1, Mark Riegel, 1:35:53. 2, Mike Silva, 1:38:03. 3, Thomas Allen, 1:38:16. Juniors: 1, Peter Van Ribbink, 1:39:03. 2, Ian Smith, 1:43:14. 3, Brandon Lima, 1:46:38. Novice B: 1, Matt Beals, 1:39:05. 2, Danny Sanchez, 1:40:18. 3, Craig Davidson, 1:40:36. Novice A: 1, Alfred Van Gieson, 1:38:33. 2, John Perrell, 1:38:35. 3, Jon Bjorkholm, 1:41:00. 18-29: 1, Nahina Lee Loy, 1:38:47. 2, Luke Evslin, 1:39:55. 3, Vaimana Conner, 1:43:05. 30-39: 1, Tommy Damon, 1:44:06. 2, Tommy Tantog, 1:49:28. 3, Felix Berzabal, 1:51:10. 40-49: 1, Derek Lee Loy, 1:45:05. 2, Nyle Warinner, 1:45:52. 3, Arthur Smith, 1:46:09. 50-59: 1, Mike Collins, 1:53:55. 2, Jack Dyson, 1:55:10. 3, Nolan Kim, 1:56:10. 60-90: 1, George Haberman, 1:55:32. 2, Bill Henderson, 2:01:59. 3, Peter Caldwell, 2:13:57.
One-person canoe, Female
Overall: 1, Arlene Holzman, 1:48:12. 2, Sarah Yaeger, 1:52:24. 3, Michelle Arnold, 1:54:53. Novice B: 1, Jordan Frascinella, 2:04:43. 2, Heather Jeppesen, 2:05:34. Novice A: 1, Carleen Ornellas, 1:55:35. 2, Kalei Javellana, 1:58:07. 3, Vi Coito, 2:00:52. 30-39: 1, Lisa Martin, 1:59:03. 40-49: 1, Ann Dewey, 2:02:19. 2, Colleen McCormick, 2:02:34. 3, Sheri Broad, 2:04:31. 50-59: 1, Lani Twomey, 2:28:38. 2, Darrlynn Ferreira, 2:28:57.
Surfski, Male
Overall: 1, Allan Dowsett, 1:38:50. 2, Keali'i Pa'iaina, 1:42:08. 3, Sam Lemmo, 2:04:37. Novice A: 1, Beau Hodge, 2:16:35.
Surfski, Female
Overall: 1, Jennifer Thompson, 1:44:58. 2, Richline Fong, 1:49:23. 3, Jody Konno, 1:52:16.
Two-person canoe
Male: 1, Bob Eheler/Leighton Miyachi, 1:36:07. 2, Bobby Takei/Boyde Yap, 1:37:06. 3, Alan Moon/G. Gamurot, 1:37:22. Female: 1, Linda Kaiser/Wendy Minor, 1:54:48. 2, Michelle Chun/Leah Miller, 1:59:49. 3, Halli Van Ribbink/A. Giancaterino, 2:01:41. Mixed: 1, Carl Woehrle/Lynn Woehrle, 1:49:57. 2, Blane Chong/Maile Putt, 1:54:33. 3, Jim Roumasset/Jane Kirton, 1:58:19.
Paddleboard, Male
Overall: 1, Anthony Cambra III, 1:53:45. 2, Richard Davidson, 2:35:18. 3, Eric Olson, 3:01:23.
