[ PADDLING ]
KEN IGE / KIGE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Boy Kalama, Miki Watson, Paul Shaner, Pat Goldstein, Howard Keller and Tom Conner won the 55 men's race for Kailua.
Kailua
accomplishes
both goalsThe club wins tune-up
while qualifying more crews
for the state championships
Aug. 2
In the final regular-season Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association regatta, clubs tend to mix up their lineups trying to qualify as many crews as possible for the state championships. If still possible, they of course try to win the regatta at the same time.
As a regular contender and the only winner other than Lanikai Canoe Club this year, Kailua had both goals in mind yesterday at the John D. Kaupiko Regatta at Keehi Lagoon.
And with its youth paddlers, in particular, turning in improved performances, Kailua delivered, leading almost from start to finish on the way to picking up its second regatta title of the season. The Windward-side club totaled 78 points and six wins out of 37 events.
"You wanna win the war -- (winning) states is the most important thing, the goal we set at the beginning of the year," Kailua head coach Jimmy Bruhn said. "But to get there, you have to play logistics and actually jockey crews around, moving people around, to try to get the right mix for the right race. All year long, you're trying to qualify, and then, too, win the regattas."
Kailua actually won only one (boys 16 and under) of 13 youth races, which occur before most of the adults compete. But its kids still scored important points for both the regatta title and states qualification with five second-place showings, three thirds and two fourths.
The top four clubs in the overall standings from each division after the association championships on Sunday qualify for states on Aug. 2. Both events will be held at Keehi Lagoon.
"The young kids have worked real hard the past few months," Bruhn said. "And as a club, I think we're right on track."
Hui Lanakila finished in second place in the AA division (18-plus crews entered) with 67 points and six wins, while Outrigger took third with 65 and a regatta-high eight wins. Largely due to three wins, Waikiki Surf Club won the A division (17 or fewer crews) with 19 points.
The winner of three regattas and also the Fourth of July Macfarlane races (which did not count toward the standings), Lanikai continued to fall out of contention as the day progressed, finishing fourth in the AA division with 52 points and four wins.
But with Lanikai the association powerhouse so far, head coach Bob Puakea said the club was most concerned about "stacking" its crews "on the bubble."
According to Puakea, about 25 Lanikai crews were already in solid position for states, so his focus was putting his strongest paddlers in the seven divisions in which the club was near, but not in, the top four in the standings. Largely using paddlers who paddle in senior competition, for example, Lanikai won the junior men's open race yesterday and leap-frogged Healani for fourth overall with the result.
KEN IGE / KIGE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Susan Heitzman, Pam Zak, Barbara Ryan, Maureen Kilcoyne, Keanuenue Rochlen and Sandra Simons of Outrigger took the 55 women's race.
"We're moving our crews around," Puakea said. "As a club, that's what we decided to do. I wouldn't say we're not trying to win this regatta or the (OHCRA) championships. But we know with the states race, the more crews you can get in the better chance you have."
Lanikai has won the senior men's race -- considered the most prestigious in regatta competition -- a season-high three times, but finished sixth yesterday with the changes.
The one-mile race still provided plenty of drama, however, as Outrigger won for the first time this year in 11 minutes, 19.99 seconds, just edging out Hui Lanakila (11:21.13), the only other victorious crew this year. Outrigger's crew received the Kala Kukea Memorial Trophy for the win. Members of the crew are Tim Twigg-Smith, Jim Austin, Mike Beyer, Jeff Brown, Jim Beaton and Scott Hendricks.
"Today was one of those unusual days, because of all the jockeying going on," said Kala Judd, the men's upper division coach for Outrigger. "Our senior crew has been developing over the regatta season and they're really coming into their own right now, really stepping up. And that, coupled with the jockeying that's going on with other clubs, put us in an opportune position to do well."
Outrigger also took the prestigious 1-mile senior women's race and the Lanakila Spencer Memorial Trophy, beating previously undefeated Hui Nalu, 13:13.62 to 13:28.46. The winning crew is Mary Smolenski, Paula Crabb, Donna Kahakui, Traci Phillips, Jennifer Horner and Kisi Haine.
Note: Na Ohana O Na Hui Wa'a, Oahu's other paddling association, will hold its association championships on Saturday, also at Keehi Lagoon.
