That's more or less the outlook of the top paddlers going into tomorrow's Starbucks Kaiwi Channel Relay canoe race.

The race from Moloka'i to O'ahu follows a tag-team format — two paddlers alternating on a one-person canoe throughout the 40.2-mile course.

The proof that canoe paddling has become a competitive business in Hawai'i can be seen in the list of top contending teams.

"Basically, the teams are determined by the sponsors," said race director Walter Guild. "I think that's why you see a lot of teams changing every year — it's the sponsors trying to find that right combination."

There are around a half-dozen canoe manufacturers that sponsor the top paddlers in Hawai'i. A victory in the Kaiwi Channel Relay often leads to increased business.

"I don't think the paddlers look at it as a rivalry," Guild said. "But the manufacturers definitely look at it as a competitive thing because they are competing against each other for future business."

KAI BARTLETT

They will not paddle together this year, although it has nothing to do with business. Bartlett is recovering from a hernia operation in March, and said he is not in top condition.

Bartlett will paddle with David Beck; Napoleon will paddle with Patrick Dolan.

"I just want to push and maybe make the top four," Bartlett said. "I haven't been able to train until about two weeks ago, so I talked it over with (Napoleon) and we decided that it would be best to just go out and treat this like a fun race."

Bartlett and Beck are still considered contenders, although Kai Wa'a's top entry may be the tandem of Thibert Lussiaa and Kea Pa'iaina. They won the Rhino Coastal Relay race last month.

"I think this is one of the most balanced years," Pa'iaina said. "You can take almost any of the top teams, and if they have a good day, they could win it."

Even if a Kai Wa'a canoe does not win tomorrow, Bartlett said the last two victories have provided enough business to last his company through the rest of this year.

"We got so swamped with orders after last year's race, we actually had to turn away some," he said. "I don't know if it has everything to do with winning the race, but I would say it has something to do with it."

KAREL TRENSNAK

Tresnak and Bartlett were partners under the sponsorship of Outrigger Connection when they won in 2001. The following year, Bartlett started his own business.

Tresnak and Kjeldsen have finished in second place each of the past two years.

"The paddlers look at this race as more of a fun thing," Tresnak said. "At the top level, I don't know if (changing) partners makes that much of a difference. All the sponsors pretty much put together their two fastest guys. And when you look at it, we're all fast. We all know what we're doing. It just comes down to who has the best race on that one day."

Other top contenders include Mike Judd and Tapa Worthington for Tiger Canoe and Kayak, and Mike Giblin and Rick Nu'u for Hurricane Canoes.

The women's division will also crown a new championship team.

Lauren Spalding, who has been on the winning team each of the last two years (with a different partner each year), is not entered this year because she is attempting to make the United States Olympic kayaking team.

Top women's contenders include Paula Crabb and Jane McKee, and Australians Lisa Curry-Kenny and Kirsty Holmes.