By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
Outrigger's senior men's crew, front to back, William
Pratt, Wyatt Jones, Marc Haine, Mark Sandvold, Walter
Guild and Heath Hemmings, paddle to victory yesterday.
Outrigger overwhelming
in OHCRA
The Waikiki-based club wins
By Jack Wyatt
16 races to run away with
the championship
Special to the Star-BulletinIt was billed as a no-holds-barred showdown between two Oahu paddling giants -- defending state champ Lanikai and perennial power Outrigger. The clubs entered the Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association championship at Keehi Lagoon yesterday with three regatta wins each this season.
The regatta was expected to be pure paddling drama. Instead, Outrigger simply swamped the field.
''I can't remember a regatta where we won so many events or scored so many points,'' said Outrigger coach Mark Sandvold.
''My biggest thrill yet as coach,'' he said. ''Now to keep our winning tradition motto alive when the HCRA state championships take place at Hilo Bay on Aug. 2.''
Outrigger kicked off its quest for its first Oahu title in two years by winning the day's first event -- the boys' and girls' mixed 12s.
And the Waikiki-based club didn't let up until 15 first places later -- the last win coming with the mixed masters contest on the final heat of the afternoon.
By the time the long paddling day was over, Outrigger had amassed 109 points -- the highest point total of any OHCRA club this season.
Second-place Lanikai, Outrigger's nemesis this season, won seven races and scored 74 points. Hawaii Kai's Hui Nalu finished third, with 49 points.
Anuenue Canoe Club finished first among small clubs (15 crews or less) with 10 points, followed by Healani in second, one point behind. Third-place Leeward Kai finished with six points.
The Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association contest drew 1,800 paddlers, competing among 14 clubs. Racing conditions were perfect for the sleek, highly-varnished koa-wood canoes. The seas were flat, the wind gentle and the skies sunny for beachside cheering.
''From kids to seniors -- novices to veterans -- almost all our crews scored points,'' Sandvold said.
Through 10 heats, Outrigger led Lanikai, 26-25. After 15 races, Outrigger increased its margin to 11 points. And at 25 heats Outrigger was comfortably ahead, 83-59, and surging.
''The difference as I see it,'' Sandvold said of his club's mighty win, ''was that when I sounded the horn that paddlers were needed our members responded in force.''
Sandvold, who paddled on two winning Outrigger crews -- the men's senior and the men's and women's mixed race -- was quick to credit Kala Judd, his new no-nonsense men's coach.
''Kala implemented a tough training and crew selection program,'' Sandvold said. ''And the changes worked. We won our first senior men's race in six years.''
In addition to Outrigger's success in the boys' and girls' 18s events, sweeps took place in freshman, senior and masters events by both its men's and women's crews.
Outrigger also won yesterday's three mixed-crewed events.
Kisi Haine and Traci Phillips, among the women, and Walter Guild and Sandvold, among the men were Outrigger's double winners.
''Sweet revenge,'' said Lanikai steersman Jim Foti, after his Windward paddlers upset Outrigger for the men's open-4 title.
''This took a little sting out of Outrigger beating us in the senior men's event.''
Foti also made it clear that Lanikai wasn't dead, that they are still the defending HCRA regatta champ until they're beaten at Hilo, and that they are still the two-time defender of the prestigious Molokai Hoe.
''We'll all meet again in two weeks at the states,'' he said.
Healani Canoe Club won the women's open-4 title, topping Hui Nalu by just four seconds.
''Our Success?'' said steersman Robin Nonaka. ''A strong, talented crew and a good start.''
Joan Malama, OHCRA's long-time president, explained that crew shuffling surfaced among many clubs.
''All coaches were looking for ways to qualify their crews into the upcoming state championships,'' she said. ''This resulted in a lot of personnel changes -- that of assigning stronger paddlers among crews that have yet to qualify. The regatta became very tactical.''
OHCRA
Oahu Championship Regatta
At Keehi Lagoon
Team standingsAA division: 1. Outrigger, 109 points. 2. Lanikai, 74. 3. Hui Nalu, 49. 4. Kailua, 43. 5. Waikiki Surf Club, 30. 6. Hui Lanakila, 15. 7. Keahiakahoe, 6.
A division: 1. Anuenue, 10. 2. Healani, 9. 3. Leeward Kai, 6. 4. Makaha, 1. 5. (tie) Honolulu, Koolau, and Waimanalo, 0.
Race results
Boys
12--(1/4 mile): 1. Kailua (Kaina Neuman, Daniel Baldauf, Kalani Kane, Marques Kaonohi, Alan Akina, Kia Toomata), 2:09.15. 2. Lanikai, 2:10.69. 3. Leeward Kai, 2:15.32.
13--(1/4 mile): 1. Outrigger (Aka Beaumont, Adam Dornbush, Joseph Udell, Andy Cavanah, Ross O'Carroll, Scott Bright), 1:58.63. 2. Kailua, 1:58.83. 3. Lanikai, 2:02.29.
14--(1/4 mile): 1. Keahiakahoe (Kalani Vares, Matt Fragas, Anthony Oshiro, Wailana Bautista, Erich Jenkins, Miles Uyemura), 1:51.08. 2. Lanikai, 1:52.02. 3. Outrigger, 1:56.70.
16--(1/2 mile): 1. Lanikai (Graham Perry, Nickolas Torrigren, Darvon Sylveira, Steven Murphy, Casey Nickel, Karel Tresnak, Jr.), 3:39.81. 2. Outrigger, 3:42.58. 3. Kailua, 3:49.20.
18--(1 mile): 1. Outrigger (Sam Chillingworth, Craig Gamble, Saafiga Foster, Will Estes, Michael Pietsch, R. McKibbin Mist), 7:15.84. 2. Kailua, 7:16.78. 3. Lanikai, 7:27.60.
12--(1/4 mile): 1. Outrigger (Erin Larsen, Ali Rigg, Elizabeth Miller, Lindsey Young, Lexie Timpson, Brooke Perry), 2:23.02. 2. Kailua, 2:23.24. 3. Lanikai, 2:23.71.
13--(1/4 mile): 1. Kailua (Rachel Hamasaki, Cari Kalama, Nita Kanehailua, Samantha Souza, Mahea Handley, Kanoe Akana), 2:16.04. 2. Hui Nalu, 2:19.16. 3. Lanikai, 2:22.72.
14--(1/4 mile): 1. Lanikai (Jessie O'Gorman, Tai Hawkins, Chrissie Twomey, Shavon Silveira, Sarah Rothbaum, Katie Dolan), 2:07.62. 2. Outrigger, 2:10.34. 3. Kailua, 2:12.49.
16--(1/2 mile): 1. Lanikai (Kathryn Shummon, Anna Schladermendt, Mina Elison, Stephane Dean, Brandi Castenguay, Thea Jon Geldern), 4:14.83. 2. Hui Nalu, 4:21.25. 3. Hui Lanakila, 4:27.59.
18--(1/2 mile): 1. Outrigger (Annie Rosa, Meleana Blaich, Melialani James, Kaleinani Kowalski, Melissa Gibson, Nanea Tannehill), 4:12.84. 2. Hui Lanakila, 4:15.17. 3. Lanikai, 4:18.12.
Novice A--(1 mile): 1. Outrigger (Andrew Nichols, James Triplett, Chris Laird, Keith Cockett, Rob Farrow, Kilipaki Vaughn), 7:03.06. 2. Waikiki Surf Club, 7:03.32. 3. Anuenue, 7:16.62.
Novice B--(1/2 mile): 1. Waikiki Surf Club (Curtis Smeller, Darren Harvey, Lars Erickson, Justin Ferdinand, Michael Komoda, Brett-Allen Floodman), 3:36.26. 2. Anuenue, 3:38.84. 3. Healani, 3:41.04.
Freshmen--(1 mile): 1. Outrigger (Ralph Gray, Chris Siefried, Chris Hochuli, Stewart Kawakami, Luka Estes, Kalani Schrader), 7:06.44. 2. Hui Nalu, 7:10.36. 3. Waikiki Surf Club, 7:12.74.
Sophomores--(1 mile): 1. Lanikai (Michael Pedersen, Giovanni Camuso, Bo Estabrooks, Todd Hart, Eric Levora, John Foti), 6:42.66. 2. Outrigger, 6:48.13. 3. Waikiki Surf Club, 7:21.76.
Juniors--(11/2 miles): 1. Lanikai (Giovanni Camuso, Michael Pedersen, Vince Olds, Alan Lipp, Todd Hart, Scott Freitas), 11:10.76. 2. Outrigger, 11:12.31. 3. Waikiki Surf Club, 11:56.97.
Seniors--(2 miles): 1. Outrigger (William Pratt, Wyatt Jones, Marc Haine, Mark Sandvold, Walter Guild, Heath Hemmings), 14:14.76. 2. Lanikai, 14:26.77. 3. Waikiki Surf Club, 14:28.30.
Masters--(1 mile): 1. Outrigger (Courtney Seto, Mark Rigg, Jimmy Kincaid, Chris Kincaid, Brad Wagenaar, Chris Crabb), 7:18.75. 2. Hui Nalu, 7:22.99. 3. Hui Lanakila, 7:33.43.
Senior masters--(1/2 mile): 1. Kailua (Hank Leandro, Cy Kalama, Rem Mikus, Bob Thurston, Vance Smith, Denis Yap), 3:47.82. 2. Outrigger, 3:55.59. 3. Waikiki Surf Club, 4:03.17.
Golden masters--(1/2 mile): 1. Outrigger (Michael Clifford, Tay Perry, Roger Cundall, Charles May, Pokii Vaughn, Bruce Ames), 3:55.87. 2. Anuenue, 3:56.74. 3. Kailua, 3:57.94.
Open 4--(1/2-mile): 1. Lanikai (Herb Nahinu, Jim Foti, Peter Binney, Kalani Irvine), 3:48.86. 2. Outrigger, 3:54.35. 3. Hui Nalu, 4:04.17.
Novice A--(1/2 mile): 1. Waikiki Surf Club (Maggie Chimienti, Nikki Holbrook, Beth Rockett, Diane Rockett, Lehua Kalima, Daphne Edmonston), 4:17.10. 2. Hui Nalu, 4:20.10. 3. Outrigger, 4:20.84.
Novice B--(1/4 mile): 1. Outrigger (Sasha MacNaughton, Shyrah Maurer, Laurie Lawson, Donna Muller, Susan Heitzman, Ginny Porteus), 2:05.09. 2. Waikiki Surf Club, 2:05.49. 3. Lanikai, 2:06.74.
Freshmen--(1 mile): 1. Outrigger (Kendra Jenkins, Stephanie Smart, Tia Fergusson, Nancy Muller, Pam Davis, Traci Phillips), 8:14.42. 2. Lanikai, 8:32.56. 3. Healani, 8:35.29.
Sophomores--(1 mile): 1. Hui Nalu (Sarah Jenny, Chris Jahrling, Maile Chong, Lorey Gaffney, Lorey Bode, Denise Darval-Chang), 8:05.70. 2. Outrigger, 8:11.81. 3. Hui Lanakila, 8:33.85.
Juniors--(1 mile): 1. Kailua (Cynthia Ricciardelli, Christily Silvernale, Annie Wilkerson, Ann Malama, Sheri Broad, Lemomi Kekina-Dierks), 8:41.98. 2. Hui Nalu, 8:47.58. 3. Leeward Kai, 8:54.16.
Seniors--(11/2 miles): 1. Outrigger (Traci Phillips, Donna Kahakui, Diana Clifford, Sara Ackerman, Nicole Wilcox, Kisi Haine), 12:20.36. 2. Hui Nalu, 12:40.29. 3. Lanikai, 12:50.64.
Masters--(1 mile): 1. Outrigger (Genie Kincaid, Kaiulu Downing, Tiare Richert-Finney, Patricia Nagatani, Ann Martin, Paula Crabb), 8:19.90. 2. Lanikai, 8:33.18. 3. Hui Nalu, 8:58.49.
Senior masters--(1/2 mile): 1. Hui Nalu (Marilyn Kiner, Trudy Lacno, K.T. Scott, Diane Warncke, Liz Sutter, Mary Fern), 4:39.36. 2. Outrigger, 4:40.81. 3. Lanikai, 4:56.59.
Golden masters--(1/2 mile): 1. Lanikai (Mary Lerps, Georgia Mitchell, Alice Zacherle, Bette June Yap, Hoppy Smith, Mollie Foti), 4:37.23. 2. Outrigger, 4:38.51. 3. Hui Nalu, 4:47.12.
Open 4--(1/2 mile): 1. Healani (Nikki Queyrel, Heather Cottrell, Deneen McNicoll, Robin Nonaka),
4:36.26. 2. Hui Nalu, 4:40.63. 3. Outrigger, 4:41.78.
12--(1/4 mile): 1. Outrigger (Jessica Hancock, Makena Carr, Elizabeth Stams, Jay Loui, Chelsea Stanley-Muir, Billy Lawson), 2:09.97. 2. Hui Lanakila, 2:13.62. 3. Hui Nalu, 2:16.01.
Open--(1/2 mile): 1. Outrigger (Clayton Chee, Walter Guild, Lisa Livingston, Naunani Kamalii, Mark Sandvold, Kisi Haine), 3:45.03. 2. Lanikai, 3:55.94. 3. Kailua, 3:56.90.
Masters--(1/2 mile): 1. Outrigger (Walter Guild, Bill Bright, Chris Kincaid, Tiare Richert-Finney, Patricia Nagatani, Paula Crabb), 3:45.53. 2. Kailua, 3:53.21. 3. Lanikai, 3:55.07.
