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| Despite less than favorable conditions, Team New Zealand/Hawai'i set a course record to repeat as champion in the 32-mile Steinlager Henry Ayau Men's International Canoe Race.
Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser |
Team New Zealand/Hawai'i sets Ayau canoe race record
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
Team New Zealand/Hawai'i solidified its position as the top contender in canoe paddling with a convincing victory in the Steinlager Henry Ayau Men's International Canoe Race yesterday.
Team NZ/H completed the 32-mile course from Maunalua Bay to the Ko Olina Resort in a record time of 3 hours, 29 minutes, 41 seconds. Despite less than favorable conditions, Team NZ/H beat the previous record by more than three minutes.
"Conditioning played a big part in this race," said Team NZ/H steersman Karel Tresnak Jr. "It was pretty much a paddling race. There were no tricky sections — it was a straight shot from beginning to end."
It was Team NZ/H's second consecutive Henry Ayau Race victory, and third in the last four years.
Outrigger finished second in 3:31:45, followed closely by Kai 'Opua in 3:31:55.
Most of the state's top men's crews competed in the race. It was the last "tune-up" race before the Oct. 12 Hawaii Modular Space Moloka'i Hoe.
Based on yesterday's results, Team NZ/H can now be considered the top challenger for defending Moloka'i Hoe champion Rai from Tahiti.
"They dominated the day," Outrigger coach Kala Judd said of Team NZ/H. "We paddled as well as we could have, and I don't think there's anything more we could have done to make it any closer."
Team NZ/H featured four paddlers from New Zealand (Marsh, Maui Kjeldsen, Andrew Penny and Rick Nu'u), and five from Hawai'i (Raven Aipa, Thibert Lussiaa, Kea Pa'iaina, Bill Pratt and Tresnak).
Each team was allowed to field nine paddlers, although only six could paddle in the canoe at any given time.
Marsh arrived in Hawai'i from New Zealand last week; another paddler from New Zealand is expected to join the crew before the Moloka'i Hoe.
"It's a system that seems to work for us," Marsh said. "We've paddled together before and won before, so we all know what it takes."
That was apparent from the start, as Team NZ/H jumped to an early lead and never relented. By the time the front of the fleet reached Diamond Head, Team NZ/H was ahead by one minute; by 'Ewa Beach, the lead was increased to two minutes.
"First place wasn't an option for us," said Kai 'Opua's Bruce Ayau. "About half way, we knew we were fighting for second."
Relatively small ocean swells, light winds and rising temperatures made for grueling conditions.
"There were some small (wave) bumps here and there to help get the rhythm going," Tresnak said. "But it wasn't ideal."
Pratt added: "It felt like we were in a 450-degree oven out there."
The excitement came in the race for second place.
Kai 'Opua was in second for most of the course, but Outrigger had a strong second half of the race, and passed Kai 'Opua in the final hour.
"There were about six or seven teams right there with us for the first half of the race and we slowly got ahead," Judd said. "We're definitely satisfied with how we did because we have a lot of young guys who now know that they can compete with some of these top teams."
Fittingly, Outrigger had its best race of the season while paddling in a canoe named Henry Keawe Ayau.
The canoe — and the race — are named in honor of Henry Ayau, an expert waterman and longtime Outrigger paddler who died last year.
Bruce Ayau, who is one of Henry's sons, said: "I still get chicken skin every time somebody mentions 'The Henry Race.' At the end there, when Outrigger passed us, I was trying to figure out how they caught us so fast. Then I looked over at their canoe and saw my dad's name and I figured that was their advantage."
Lanikai, which did not field its full "first string" paddlers, placed fourth in 3:38:01, followed by Hui Lanakila in 3:38:42.
Another Hui Lanakila crew was the first to finish in a koa canoe (3:47:08). Age division winners were: Kailua (masters 35 and older), Namolokama (masters 45 and older) and Kailua (masters 55 and older).
Fifty-two canoes participated in the race. One crew (Waikiki Beach Boys) was disqualified for using a female paddler. Race rules specifically state that all paddlers must be male.
The women's Hawaii Modular Space Na Wahine O Ke Kai is scheduled for Sunday.
• Grass volleyball: In conjunction with the canoe race, the Steinlager Light Volleyball Championship was held at the Ko Olina Resort yesterday.
The event was for three-person teams.
Former University of Hawai'i players Tony Ching, Dejan Miladinovic and Aaron Wilton beat the team of John McDermott, Tony McInerny and Chris Siegfried to win the men's division and split $400.
Former UH Rainbow Wahine players Jen Carey, Heidi Ilustre and Hedder Ilustre beat the team of Aven Lee, Tehani Miyashiro and Puna Chai to win the women's division and $500.
Steinlager Henry Ayau Men's International Canoe Race
Final results
Open: 1, Team New Zealand/Hawai'i, 3:29:41. 2, Outrigger-1, 3:31:45. 3, Kai 'Opua, 3:31:55. 4, Lanikai-2, 3:38:01. 5, Hui Lanakila-2, 3:38:42. 6, Wailea, 3:39:08. 7, Hui Nalu-1, 3:42:15. 8, Hawaiian, 3:43:03. 9, Kawaihae, 3:43:52. 10, Kailua-1, 3:46:27. 11, Namolokama-1, 3:49:24. 12, Lanikai-1, 3:49:45. 13, Puna CCV, 3:50:15. 14, Mattoch Neurotrama, 3:53:41. 15, 'Anuenue, 3:55:10. 16, Leeward Kai, 3:56:34. 17, Hui Lanakila-3, 3:57:45. 18, Kailua-1, 3:57:59. 19, Keahiakahoe, 3:58:47. 20, Koa Kai-3, 4:01:15. Koa canoe: 1, Hui Lanakila, 3:47:08. 2, Outrigger-2, 3:56:12. Masters 35-older: 1, Kailua-2, 4:01:28. 2, Hui Nalu Masters, 4:10:20. 3, New Hope, 4:15:06. Masters 45-older: 1, Namolokama-2, 3:59:36. 2, New Hope, 4:15:07. Masters 55-older: 1, Kailua, 4:09:12.
Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8101.
