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Molo Solo - Solo First Timers
Lance and Tina in the Molokai Crossing
April 23rd, 2009 by Jaimie Kinard
Each and every opportunity to cross the Ka’iwi Channel is both an honor and a blessing; to make the journey solo, even more so. It is a grueling test of body, mind and spirit, and one that takes bravery to stand in the face of, for the first time.
There is an array of hurdles that can keep one from the challenge, but it seems that fear of the unknown and of failure are the reasons that repeat most in chatting with paddlers who are “on the fence.“
I was lucky enough to cross the Channel with several first timers last Sunday in the PA’A Solo OC-1 World Championship Race. I applaud them for not only finishing what they set out to do, but to do so in the worst Channel conditions I have yet to paddle in -- 10 knot head winds for 94% of the 32-mile race course with many of the top male contenders pulling out throughout the day. Three first-timers were kind enough to share with me (and all of you) a little bit of their journey that began many months ago.
Makana Denton has been paddling OC-1s for only a year and a half and his OC-6 experience includes just one distance season in 2008. In that short time however, he has already cracked the top 15 in the O’ahu OC-1 race circuits and finished 17th overall in Sunday’s solo. You rarely see paddlers with such little experience taking on this giant of races! When I asked Makana why he decided to go for it, the quiet 19-year old with an unassuming build replied, “Mainly just to see how I compare to some of the world’s top paddlers and to gain experience for the following years. I figured since it was my first time for this race I would just use it as a learning experience for next year…â€
Makana began diligently training five months ago and felt the most challenging part of the race was simply not knowing what to expect. Looking back, he now knows what to expect and had this to say about the race, “You have to be prepared physically but mostly mentally, especially when it's flat or upwind. 5+ hours on the water gets really painful and boring, and that’s when the people who are mentally strong do well in a race like this.†Using his impressive top 20 finish as a stepping stone, he is one to watch in the coming years.
Marisa Mora of California has been paddling OC-1 for four years and OC-6 for twelve. She is a lover of endurance sports, “the longer, the better†for her! She participated in the Na Wahine O Ke Kai Moloka’i to O’ahu race in 2001, but has mainly focused on OC-1 paddling the last couple of years.
She began training six months ago, paddling roughly five times a week, doing CrossFit two times a week and adding in a combination of other cross-training to keep it fresh. The solo was Marisa’s rite of passage into the world of solo endurance racing and after finishing what she called a hellish race due to equipment problems, had this to say after making it through Sunday’s gauntlet, “Anything is possible as long as you have the WILL, love and passion for what you do (especially after the conditions for this crossing).†I could not agree with her more and congratulate her on sticking it out and refusing to throw in the towel!
Tina Leone and her boyfriend came all the way from New Zealand and raced in the OC-2 division. They crossed the Ka’iwi Channel in memory of their good friend, James Moore, who died in a paddling accident while training for this race; it was a final tribute to their dear friend, who is also the reason they met.
Tina has been paddling for many years but this was her first ever paddle across the Channel. Her background in sports science came in handy for the duo’s training, but mostly they listened to their bodies and always made sure to have fun. Despite the harsh conditions, Tina had a positive experience and walked away with a large amount of respect for the Ka’iwi Channel.
“As for what the channel means to me, I have great respect for nature, the outdoors, and the ocean. I don't take it for granted, and as we saw and felt during the Molokai crossing the conditions can always change, so respecting the power of nature has always been important to me.â€
Hearing each of these stories over the last few days, made me appreciate more and more my own personal journey and swell with pride to be a part of something so much bigger than any of us as individuals. The Ka’iwi Channel is this incredible and powerful body of water that demands our respect crossing after crossing, no matter our fitness level, our experience, our speed. Solo is a humbling experience and humbly I stand in awe and admiration of the Channel, the solo race and all of those amazing paddlers who completed it on Sunday.
Now, what to do with all my free time?!?
Aloha no,
Jaimie
Each and every opportunity to cross the Ka’iwi Channel is both an honor and a blessing; to make the journey solo, even more so. It is a grueling test of body, mind and spirit, and one that takes bravery to stand in the face of, for the first time.
There is an array of hurdles that can keep one from the challenge, but it seems that fear of the unknown and of failure are the reasons that repeat most in chatting with paddlers who are “on the fence.“
I was lucky enough to cross the Channel with several first timers last Sunday in the PA’A Solo OC-1 World Championship Race. I applaud them for not only finishing what they set out to do, but to do so in the worst Channel conditions I have yet to paddle in -- 10 knot head winds for 94% of the 32-mile race course with many of the top male contenders pulling out throughout the day. Three first-timers were kind enough to share with me (and all of you) a little bit of their journey that began many months ago.
Makana Denton has been paddling OC-1s for only a year and a half and his OC-6 experience includes just one distance season in 2008. In that short time however, he has already cracked the top 15 in the O’ahu OC-1 race circuits and finished 17th overall in Sunday’s solo. You rarely see paddlers with such little experience taking on this giant of races! When I asked Makana why he decided to go for it, the quiet 19-year old with an unassuming build replied, “Mainly just to see how I compare to some of the world’s top paddlers and to gain experience for the following years. I figured since it was my first time for this race I would just use it as a learning experience for next year…â€
Makana began diligently training five months ago and felt the most challenging part of the race was simply not knowing what to expect. Looking back, he now knows what to expect and had this to say about the race, “You have to be prepared physically but mostly mentally, especially when it's flat or upwind. 5+ hours on the water gets really painful and boring, and that’s when the people who are mentally strong do well in a race like this.†Using his impressive top 20 finish as a stepping stone, he is one to watch in the coming years.
Marisa Mora of California has been paddling OC-1 for four years and OC-6 for twelve. She is a lover of endurance sports, “the longer, the better†for her! She participated in the Na Wahine O Ke Kai Moloka’i to O’ahu race in 2001, but has mainly focused on OC-1 paddling the last couple of years.
She began training six months ago, paddling roughly five times a week, doing CrossFit two times a week and adding in a combination of other cross-training to keep it fresh. The solo was Marisa’s rite of passage into the world of solo endurance racing and after finishing what she called a hellish race due to equipment problems, had this to say after making it through Sunday’s gauntlet, “Anything is possible as long as you have the WILL, love and passion for what you do (especially after the conditions for this crossing).†I could not agree with her more and congratulate her on sticking it out and refusing to throw in the towel!
Tina Leone and her boyfriend came all the way from New Zealand and raced in the OC-2 division. They crossed the Ka’iwi Channel in memory of their good friend, James Moore, who died in a paddling accident while training for this race; it was a final tribute to their dear friend, who is also the reason they met.
Tina has been paddling for many years but this was her first ever paddle across the Channel. Her background in sports science came in handy for the duo’s training, but mostly they listened to their bodies and always made sure to have fun. Despite the harsh conditions, Tina had a positive experience and walked away with a large amount of respect for the Ka’iwi Channel.
“As for what the channel means to me, I have great respect for nature, the outdoors, and the ocean. I don't take it for granted, and as we saw and felt during the Molokai crossing the conditions can always change, so respecting the power of nature has always been important to me.â€
Hearing each of these stories over the last few days, made me appreciate more and more my own personal journey and swell with pride to be a part of something so much bigger than any of us as individuals. The Ka’iwi Channel is this incredible and powerful body of water that demands our respect crossing after crossing, no matter our fitness level, our experience, our speed. Solo is a humbling experience and humbly I stand in awe and admiration of the Channel, the solo race and all of those amazing paddlers who completed it on Sunday.
Now, what to do with all my free time?!?
Aloha no,
Jaimie
