Posted on: Saturday, May 14, 2005
Target on defending champions
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
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| South Africa's Herman Chalupsky is back to defend his surfski title in the Kona Brewing Co. Moloka'i World Championship starting tomorrow at 8 a.m. at Kaluako'i Hotel on Moloka'i.
Advertiser library photo • May 16, 2004 |
Herman Chalupsky got the "buggy" off his back last year, and he's got everybody chasing his back this year.
Chalupsky is the defending men's surfski champion of the Kona Brewing Co. Moloka'i World Championship paddling race. More than 100 elite paddlers from around the world are entered in tomorrow's race.
The 32-mile race from the Kaluako'i Hotel, Moloka'i, to Koko Marina, O'ahu, is considered the world championship of ocean paddling for surfskis and one-person canoes.
"I had never won it by myself before last year," said Chalupsky, 40. "It was nice to get the buggy off my back, but I'm going to treat it the same way this year. I'm just going to paddle my own race, no pressure at all."
Chalupsky and his older brother, Oscar, are considered the top entries from South Africa. Oscar Chalupsky owns a record 10 Moloka'i World Championship victories.
What: 32-mile paddling race for one-person canoes and surfskis Where: Start at Kaluako'i Hotel, Moloka'i; finish at Koko Marina Shopping Center, O'ahu When: Tomorrow, 8 a.m. start; first finishers expected around noon The Australians are also expected to field a strong contingent, led by Dean Gardiner and David Kissane. Gardiner has nine Moloka'i wins, and Kissane placed second last year.
"If I can get to 10, I can probably look at not doing this race seriously again," said Gardiner, 40. "That would obviously mean a lot to me and it's something I've wanted to do for a while."
Making it more interesting, conditions are expected to be good, with favorable winds and swells.
"If there's some big swell, you don't really paddle against each other," Herman Chalupsky said.
"It's more like you're paddling against the conditions."
Tahiti is also expected to have some contenders, including Lewis Laughlin, who placed fourth last year.
Top Hawai'i contenders include Mark Sandvold, Stuart Gaessner, Sean Monahan and Brandon Woods.
The top contenders in the women's surfski division include Australian teammates Jasmin Cohen and Kirsty Holmes.
Cohen won it last year and Holmes won in 2003.
"We're really good mates and we train together back home, but we both want to win," Cohen said. "We probably bring out the most out of each other."
Tresnak going for sixth canoe title
Karel Tresnak Jr. of Kailua has been the dominant figure in the men's one-person canoe division in recent years, but he's not taking anything for granted.
"This is the race that anybody can win," he said. "It's so unpredictable. So many things can happen across that channel."
Tresnak has won five of the last six Moloka'i titles, including the last two. If the winds and waves are favorable, he is considered the clear favorite.
"He definitely has the upper hand in the surf," said Kai Bartlett, who won the Moloka'i title in 2002. "He's in really good shape and he really knows how to surf across the channel."
Bartlett did not compete last year because of an injury, and he said he is still not 100 percent.
"I'd like to think I can be competitive, but I'm looking at taking this year a little mellow," he said. "My conditioning is still not there."
Maui's Lauren Spalding, the three-time defending women's canoe champion, is on maternity leave this year.
Lisa Curry-Kenny, who placed second to Spalding last year, is the top female entry from Australia.
"Every race is a new race," she said. "We've trained in everything from head-wind to tail-wind. I feel like I'm prepared no matter what the conditions might be."
Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8101.
"We're both here to win the race," said Oscar, 42. "He's my brother and I was happy for him that he won it. But when we get out on the water, he's the opposition."
Kona Brewing Co. Moloka'i World Championship
