Here is some more information on Kanaka Ikaika race #2

KAREL JR. STEPS UP TO TOP IN LULU'S SERIES RACE #2
January 27, 2008 - Shriner's pt. Waimanalo to Kailua beach park.

Here is some more information on Kanaka Ikaika race #2 It was not a boring day for those who paddled in race #2 of Kanaka Ikaika's LULU"S POAI PUNI series. Waimanalo Bay was alive and churning with 25 mph. winds and a large east swell. The ocean was so big that the long course had to be held inside the reef from Shriner's pt. in Waimanalo to Kailua Beach park.

In the OC-1 Karel Tresnak Jr. turned up the heat half way through the race to overtake 18 year old Jack Roney and win in a time of 56:40. 17year old Ryan Dolan was 3rd. David Campbell led the surfskis in a time of 54:56 and Kelsa Teeters was the only female to race solo in the long course, finishing in 1:07:42.

The start was sheltered inside the reef at Shriner's point, but quickly opened up to Waimanalo's playground. The ocean was beautiful with bumps moving every direction and mid bay white snuffers. Ryan Dolan ran off to an early lead with Jim Foti sitting in 2nd. 20 minutes in to the race, Jack passed Foti and slowly crept up to Dolan. Roney shot to the coast off the Bellows cabins to pass Dolan for good. At that same time, Karel was sneaking up on everyone nearly a mile outside, just inside the reef line. Karel had position and surfed ahead to a 46 second lead over Roney.

This sets up an early race for the point series lead in the OC-1 between Roney and Tresnak with 6 and 7 points respectively giving Roney a 1 point advantage. Carlton Helm is 3rd with 13 points and Kekoa Bruhn in 4th with 15 and Ka'ai Bruhn 5th with 19 points. Kelsa Teeters leads the women with 3 points.

In the open long course surfski division, Dave Campbell and John Hoogsteden are tied for the lead with 6 with former point series champion Kala Judd in 3rd with 10 points.

The short course OC-1 men's lead is held by Kalei Kahookele with 4 points with Gavin Hanoa 1 point behind and Charles Meyer in 3rd with 7 points. The women's division is dominated by Ann Dewey with 2 points followed by 16 year old Julia Anderson with 7 and Janice Smith in 3rd with 9 points.

The point series was very prestegious in the 90's, but has not been in effect for several years now. In every race paddlers were awarded as many points as their finihsing place. Each paddler was also allowed to drop their lowest two races of the series, and the paddler in the end with the least amount of points was the winner. This year the series is only 6 races (the Oahu's being the last point series race), hence the paddlers are allowed to drop only 1 race. This year the open class winners will be awarded free entry to the Hinano State Race and the Molokai Solo race.

After the race the paddlers were greeted with ono food, cold drinks and prizes by Lulu's and Hinano Tahiti Surfwear. Other sponsors of the series are Outrigger Zone, Foti Bros. and Hurricane Canoes.