Jimmy Austin trimmed at least 10 minutes off his 2009 run, this year teaming with Manny Kulukulualani to win the 2010 Aqua Properties/Steinlager/YMCA of Kaua‘i World Cup Challenge, Saturday. The Austin/Kulukulualani team, registered as Kamanu I, took advantage of the
Jimmy Austin trimmed at least 10 minutes off his 2009 run, this year teaming with Manny Kulukulualani to win the 2010 Aqua Properties/Steinlager/YMCA of Kaua‘i World Cup Challenge, Saturday.
The Austin/Kulukulualani team, registered as Kamanu I, took advantage of the low tide that prevailed through most of the race from Wailua to Salt Pond, making the crossing on a 3:27:01 for first overall honors.
Last year, Austin teamed with Simeon Ke Paloma to form Team Pueo, making the same crossing on a 3:37:33 paddle.
Mike Murray teamed with Travis Grant on Kamanu OZ to take second-place honors on a 3:32:09 paddle, just a shade over five minutes behind Austin.
Ke Paloma teamed with Tapa Worthington to form Team Kamanu III, which finished third overall on a 3:37:06 paddle. This was less than 30 seconds faster than his run with Team Pueo, last year.
Despite the low tide, the strong northerlies in the 10-15 mph range whipped up chop and whitecaps to give paddlers a workout. That proved to be a blessing once the teams changed out at Po‘ipu fronting the Marriott’s Waiohai Beach Club.
Tom Bartlett, teaming with Steve Landis to form “old guys!,” said there were about 80 teams registered for the event, Friday night, and on Saturday, registrations were still being taken at Wailua as the first flight of teams took to the water for the 8 a.m. start.
West deSilva teamed with Dylan Thomas to form Moku O Havaiki in the surfski division, finishing first on a 3:40:04 paddle, fourth overall in a field that saw 15 teams break the four-hour mark in the journey.
Alana Goo-Frazier and Mark Frazier formed Team Mr. and Mrs. Frazier and was the first OC-1 Mixed team to cross on a 4:06:14 paddle, 16th overall.
They were ollowed by Kristin Foster, teaming with Jane McKee to form Team Kamanu Wahine, as the first female duo to cross, the clocks stopping at 4:17:27, 17th overall.
Within a span of 18 minutes from Goo’s crossing, two Mixed crews and two wahine crews crossed, the pack being capped when Kawika Goodale, teaming with Philip Morgan as Young Farts, stopped the clock at 4:24:50, first in the OC 1 Kane 60 years old class.
Visit www.kauaiworldchallenge.com for more results and information.
