HONOLULU — North Shore wahine Kristin Foster beat the Ka‘iwi Channel, Sunday, and was the first woman from Kaua‘i to win her division in the OC1 Molokai World Championship, said North Shore resident Pam Murphy, who attended the cross channel race from Moloka‘i to Hawai‘i Kai, O‘ahu.
Racing in the PA‘A Ka‘iwi Solo race with more than 90 competitors from around the world, Foster was the first woman to paddle across the 32-mile course from Kuluakoi, Moloka‘i to Hawai‘i Kai, finishing the race in 54th place overall on a time of 4 hours, 26 minutes, and 26 seconds. That was less than a minute below the second place challenger Lindsey Shank of Honolulu, who crossed with a 4:27:13 elapsed time.
“This whole experience was surreal. I have wanted to compete in the solo again after doing it 10 years ago,” Foster told Murphy.
“It was possible because of the amazing support I got my my family, my training partners, and my community. I couldn’t have done it without everything aligning, from my husband Jody Simpson sticking with the plan and keeping me on course throughout the race, to Luke Evslin and the Kamanu Composites Team handling the logistics, and everyone pitching in to help me with the kids and allowing me to get there.”
Murphy said as a mother of two children, Kohana and Kaikou, it is fitting that Kristin became Kaua‘i’s first Moloka‘i World Champion on Mother’s Day.
“Winning the Moloka‘i Solo is such an incredible feat, especially as Kristin was up against two of the fiercest competitors in the world,” Evslin said. “She had a great course, she stayed strong throughout the entire race, and I’m so proud that she was able to win.”
Murphy said there were five other Kaua‘i residents participating in the 28th year of the Moloka‘i OC1 World Championships, where Danny Ching of Hermosa Beach, California, finished first on a 3:39:29 elapsed time. That was a little more than a minute ahead of Millon Manutea of Kailua, O‘ahu, who stopped the clock at 3:40:35, or 17 seconds ahead of third place finisher Hoatua Tedtuariimaroura of Papeete in 3:40:52.
Purea Amaru of Anahola was the first Kaua‘i paddler across the line, finishing 16th overall on a 3:52:42 elapsed time.
Hobey Beck, finishing at 4:01:37, 28th overall, was the second Kaua‘i paddler across the finish line.
“This put him in the Top 30 of this elite race, and first in his 55-59 division,” Murphy said.
Aaron Norris of Hanalei followed three spots behind Beck, crossing in 31st overall with a 4:03:27 elapsed time. Bronson Aiwohi chased another three spots behind Norris, crossing 34th overall with a 4:07:06 elapsed time, just 34 seconds ahead of Kainalu Balanga of Waikoloa on the Big Island.
John Deblin of Kilauea rounded out the Kaua‘i representation at the PA‘A Ka‘iwi Solo, crossing at 42nd overall on a 4:14:09 elapsed time, good enough for first place in his 50-54 division.
