Local companies to benefit from Hilo event

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

Two Hawai'i businesses have already come out winners because of this week's International Va'a Federation (IVF) World Sprints at Hilo Bay.

More than 1,800 paddlers from around the world are in Hilo this week to compete in the five-day event. The IVF World Sprints are held at a different site around the world every two years. The only other time it was held in Hawai'i was 1988.

The names of the winning paddlers have yet to be determined, but the winning canoes have already been chosen.

In order to assure fairness, all the paddlers will be required to paddle in identical canoes. All the solo races will use one-person canoes designed by Tiger Canoe & Kayak. All the team races will use six-person canoes designed by Outrigger Connection.

"I'm really proud that our boat was chosen," said Karel Tresnak, owner of Kailua-based Outrigger Connection. "It was a lot of work, but it will be an honor to see all these different teams using our boats."

Tresnak said he built 21 "Mirage" canoes specifically for this week's races. Each fiberglass canoe is 45 feet long and weighs around 385 pounds.

"I started in January, so I really had to scramble to make three a month," he said.

Tresnak said he was paid by the IVF, but he did not want to reveal the price. A Mirage canoe normally sells for more than $10,000.

But the value should go beyond dollars. More than 20 countries/regions are expected to participate in the World Sprints, so it is a chance for Outrigger Connection to connect with other paddling areas of the world.

"For some reason, the Mirage has become popular around the world," Tresnak said. "But it's always good for business to have your name out there."

March "Tiger" Taylor is counting on that. The owner of the Big Island's Tiger Canoe & Kayak, was not paid by the IVF for building 20 one-person canoes.

Instead, he put his canoes up for sponsorship, and several companies bought in.

"It was more a labor of love," Taylor said. "This event gives my company such great exposure, it makes it worth it."

Taylor said each one-person canoe is made of carbon epoxy, and weighs just 22 pounds. Unlike the Hawaiian one-person canoes, these models will not be equipped with rudders.

Preliminary races begin tomorrow around 7:30 a.m.

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