Dean Gardinier paddles through rough surf off Koko Head yesterday in the Molokai to Oahu kayak race. Photos by Ken Ige, Star-Bulletin

So what else is new?

Visiting paddlers have now won the Challenge's men's kayak division for 18 consecutive years. (Hawaii's Kalai Handley won the event in 1978).

"After dropping out (because of a shoulder injury) last year, this race suddenly became special," Gardiner said.

"The crossing not only marked a successful comeback but proved that there's still a win or two left in my weary body."

Gardiner, 31, turned the 32 miles from Papohaku Roadstead to Hawaii Kai's Koko Marina Shopping Cenyer in 3 hours,38 minutes and 27 seconds.

While Hawaii's top men's kayak paddlers finished a respectable 4-6-7-8-12, local women kayakers also stood out.

Kelly Fey
Led by three-time winner Kelly Fey of Hawaii Kai, Island women placed 1-3-4-5.Fey finished in 4:23:09 topping second place Nicole Montel of Tahiti by 18 minutes.

"Good race conditions nearly all the way," Fey said, adding, "but not quite as good as the record year. I could have used better surfing waves."

Fey set the women's kayak mark in 1994 with a 4:12:34 finish.

In the men's kayak race, Gardiner and teammate Martin Kenny took a more northerly course from the start, while much of the fleet paddled direct, or headed south.

"I had no idea of our fleet position until we all converged on Koko Head," Gardiner said, adding, "This win did not come easy."

Though the ocean was bumpy, resulting in good surfing rides for most, there were also calm areas and places where wind and sea struck participants head-on.

"The surfing was great fun," Gardiner said, "but the dead spots - they made paddling slow and hard."

Passing Koko Head en route to the finish proved toughest for most.

"Definitely not the record-breaking conditions that I had hoped for," said the winner.

Gardiner's earlier Challenge victories came in 1992, '93 and '94. He set the men's kayak mark of 3:24:08 two years ago.

Aussies Brad Kane (3:41:41) and Martin Kenny (3:43:09) placed second and third.

The cross-channel contest drew 70 one-paddler watercraft, including 55 kayaks (surfskis) and 15 outrigger canoes. Paddlers hailed from California, Guam, Japan, South Africa and Tahiti, in addition to Australia and Hawaii.

With a 1-2-3-5-9 top-10 finish, Australia easily won the Challenge team title.

"The Aussies are strong and talented but don't count out Hawaii," said top Island finisher Nalu Kukea, a Honolulu firefighter who placed fourth in 3:45:00.

"We have some good local paddlers. And most are improving each year. We'll be a factor soon."

Kukea is the son of the late paddling great Kala Kukea, for whom this race was dedicated.

"It's only fitting that Kala's son Nalu placed first among Islanders," said seventh finisher Bob Rocheleau of Honolulu.

Rocheleau was the recipient of the Kala Kukea Perpetual Trophy for his 50-and-over age-division win.

Hawaii Kai's Mark Rigg and Kailua's Sonia Lambert dominated the men's and women's outrigger canoe division, each winning their respective division in course record time.

"Considering the many dead (calm) areas, and the fact this was my first solo crossing, I'm pleased with my finish," Rigg said.

The former Pepperdine University volleyball All-American turned the course in 4:17:35, bettering the previous mark by 5:49.

"The choppy seas and adverse current around Koko Head was a killer," he said.

It was also Lambert's first solo crossing. "I must have slipped off my canoe and into the water six times while surfing," she said.

Each time the spunky Lambert hopped back aboard and continued paddling.

"Although difficult at times, I still consider this my best paddling experience ever," Lambert said after her 5:30:35 effort.

Loretta Toth, Lambert's Kailua Canoe Club teammate, finished second 5:48:45.

The Challenge, conducted by Kanaka Ikaika, concludes Hawaii's solo kayak/canoe season.