Solo OC1 race will be broadcast live on Web
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
The Steinlager Kaiwi Channel Solo OC1 World Championship on Sunday will be historic in more ways than one.
It will be the first time that one-person canoes (also known as OC1s) will have their own world championship race. The 32-mile race will start at Kaluako'i Beach, Moloka'i, and finish in the marina near The Shack restaurant in the Hawai'i Kai Shopping Center.
It will also be the first time that a long-distance canoe race in Hawai'i will be broadcast live via the Internet.
A live streaming video of the race will be available at paahawaii.com. The race is scheduled to start at 8:30 a.m., and first finishers are expected to reach Hawai'i Kai around 12:30 p.m.
"The quality might not be the greatest, especially at the start of the race because of the reception" said Manny Kulukulualani, an elite paddler who is also serving as one of the directors of the race. "But it should be real clear as we get closer to O'ahu. This is the first attempt for something like this, so hopefully we can improve it every year."
An edited version of the race will be televised a few weeks later on OC-16.
More than 90 paddlers from around the world are expected to compete in Sunday's race.
Top contenders include Kai Bartlett of Maui, Karel Tresnak Jr. of Kailua, Danny Ching of California, and Greg Long of Australia.
The champions (male and female) will each receive $5,000.
It is the first of four consecutive weekends of important races for solo paddlers. Also coming up:
The 40.2-mile race will start at Kaluako'i Beach, Moloka'i, and finish at Magic Island, O'ahu.
The race will feature OC1s, but will follow a relay format. Each "team" can use two paddlers, and only one can paddle at a time.
When one partner is paddling, the other is following on an escort boat. They switch positions every 10 to 20 minutes.
The main race of the three-day event is the 34-mile relay race from Wailua Beach to Salt Pond on May 10.
The event will feature divisions for surfskis and OC1s, and is offering $20,000 in total prize money.
The 32-mile race will start at Kaluako'i Beach, Moloka'i, and finish at Koko Marina, O'ahu.
It is considered the world championship for long-distance solo surfski paddlers. The men's champion will receive $10,000.
Top contenders include defending champion Lewis Laughlin of Tahiti, 11-time former champion Oscar Chalupsky of South Africa, and 2006 champ Clint Pretorius of South Africa.
Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.
