By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
Kelly Fey paddled to a record in the 32-mile Molokai Challenge
across the Kaiwi Channel yesterday.

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Molokai Challenge
records fall

New marks are set
in all divisions of the solo race
across the Kaiwi Channel

By Jack Wyatt
Special to the Star-Bulletin

Kayak and canoe paddlers competing in yesterday's 32-mile Starbucks Molokai Challenge across the Kaiwi Channel are a tough bunch to please.

"My most difficult crossing yet," said men's open kayak winner Dean Gardiner, 32, of Australia. "I was hoping for bigger surfing waves and a stronger breeze to push me along."

Hawaii Kai's Kelly Fey, 35, the women's open kayak champ for the fourth consecutive year, also had hoped for more waves.

"Hard work the entire way. I never could let up," she said.

But to fans, officials and race followers, the paddle from Molokai's Papohaku Roadstead to Hawaii Kai's Koko Marina piers had it all -- warm sunshine for comfortable viewing, close finishes for excitement and elapsed time records falling in all divisions.

In addition to kayak marks set by Gardiner and Fey, outrigger canoe winners Mark Rigg and Donna Kahakui also set new race standards.

Single-paddler kayaks, or surf skis, and solo outrigger canoes were used in the cross-channel competition. Each paddler was supported by a crew aboard an escort boat.

"Sure, conditions could have been more favorable -- huge waves and a strong wind," said race organizer Wayne German, who finished fifth among men 40-49. "But consider this -- competition was tight, records were broken and we saw the biggest turnout (95) of boats ever. Now that's what I call a successful race."

Gardner, a five-time men's race champ, battled rival Herman Chalupsky of South Africa for much of the way.

By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
Dean Gardiner set a record, too, and then enjoyed
a more relaxing time in the ocean.

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"We must have swapped the race lead three or four times. We were never more than 200 to 300 meters apart," said Gardiner, who covered the course in three hours, 21 minutes, 26 seconds. Chalupsky finished second in 3:23:02.

Gardiner would catch a swell and shoot ahead, then Chalupsky would catch a wave and close the gap or pull even.

"A competitive paddle between two friendly rivals," Gardiner said.

Nearing the Hawaii Kai finish, Gardiner surged ahead for good.

"It was then or never," he said.

Added a disappointed Chalupsky: "I prayed for better waves (to surf). The swells never arrived."

Gardiner bettered his race mark set three years ago by 2:42. Visiting paddlers have finished first in the men's open kayak division for 19 consecutive years.

Fey, with encouragement from her family (mother Gerry, dad Rolf and brother Kyle) aboard her escort boat, finished first among women in 4:02:47, bettering her own 1994 mark by 9:47.

"A record perhaps," Fey said, "but my win didn't come easy. The women's competition was strong today. Nicole Wilcox (Honolulu) and Jane Hall (Australia) were always nearby -- always a threat."

Hall sprinted passed Wilcox 50 yards from the finish to capture second place in 4:11:44. Wilcox took third in 4:11:58.

For the second year, Honolulu firefighter Nalu Kukea won first Hawaii finisher honors with a fourth place overall.

"The leaders (Gardiner and Chalupsky) were always well ahead," Kukea said, "But three of us -- Brad Kane (Australia), Kala Judd (Hawaii) and myself -- made a race of it." Kane edged Kukea by 18 seconds, with Judd following seconds later.

As in the kayak division, the men's canoes also saw tight racing and tough paddling.

John Foti took an early lead and held it for around two hours. Rigg then headed north, leaving Foti on his own to cover the fleet.

When the two rivals converged on Koko Head, they were about even. Off Portlock, Rigg made his move.

"I tapped some hidden energy, picked up the pace and that was race," he said.

Rigg finished in 4:14:52 -- 1:55 in front of second place Foti. Rigg bettered his own men's canoe mark set last year by 2:43.

Kahakui, of Honolulu, won the women's canoe division 5:16:29.

"Because of poor wave conditions, the last part of the crossing was hell (tiring). I'm glad the race is over," she said.

Kahakui, along with the other canoe and kayak division leaders, won $1,000 in prize money. Kahakui's award will go to wildlife and marine conservation projects.

Australia topped the event's team competition, with Ha-waii/USA placing second and Tahiti third.