Posted on: Friday, April 23, 2004

Hawai'i's best vie for spots in world race

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

Before Hawai'i's best canoe paddlers can take on the world, they must first take on one another.

Approximately 500 paddlers from around the state are expected to participate in the Hawai'i qualifier for the International Va'a Federation (IVF) World Sprints tomorrow at Hilo Bay.

The top performers from the races will represent Hawai'i in the IVF World Sprints at Hilo Bay, Aug. 9 to 15. More than 20 countries/regions are expected to participate in August, including the best paddlers from Australia, Tahiti and the mainland United States (Hawai'i is considered its own region for the event).

"It's only the second time this is being held in Hawai'i, so it's a big thing," said race director John Kekua.

The World Sprints is held every two years at a different site around the world. The only other time it was held in Ha-wai'i was 1988 at Ke'ehi Lagoon.

"This is huge," said state paddling champion Mike Judd. "Whoever comes out of this (qualifying) is considered the cream of the crop of Hawai'i, and that alone is saying something. But then it's like taking the best of Hawai'i and going up against the world."

Age-group races will be staged in both one-person canoes and traditional six-person canoes. Many of the state's top canoe clubs are expected to enter the six-person races.

"There's a lot of pride that goes with this, too," said Judd, who will compete as an individual and with the Lanikai Canoe Club men's team.

The top six finishers in each race will earn spots in the August World Sprints.

The length of the races will range from 500 to 1,500 meters.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8101.