Updated at 5:00 p.m., Sunday, July 29, 2007
Mitchell wins sixth straight paddleboard title
Associated Press
Australian Jamie Mitchell broke his own record in winning his sixth straight QuikSilverEdition paddleboard race today, a grueling 32-mile open-water competition from Moloka'i to Oah'u.Mitchell, a 30-year-old from Queensland, Australia, completed the race with a time of 4:48:23, breaking his prior record set in 2004 by nearly eight minutes. His previous best time was 4:56:03.
Mitchell rode 6-foot ocean swells and took advantage of winds around 20 mph to win what is considered the most challenging open-ocean paddleboard race in the world, said Jodi Wilmott, spokeswoman for the race.
"That's good racing conditions. It's not out of control, and it's not slow and flat," she said. "It enables them to ride the swells and fasten the trip to O'ahu."
Shakira Westdorp, 22, also of Queensland, Australia, took the women's title with a time of 5:59:52.
She defeated second-place finisher Kanesa Duncan, who had won three straight years.
The standup paddle division was won by Kevin Horgan of Kaua'i with a time of 6:20:59. O'ahu's Keoni Watson won the stockboard division with a time of 5:39:48.
In all, 135 racers participated in the 11th annual Moloka'i-to-O'ahu race, which is considered the world championship of long-distance paddleboard racing, Wilmott said.
Paddleboards are streamlined surfboards designed to ride open ocean swells.
They're paddled in either a prone or kneeling position. No paddles, oars or webbed gloves are allowed.
