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OC6 Dana Point August, 07

Aloha Paddlers

Last Saturday, SCORA held their first 9-man race of the season. Hosted by Dana Point Canoe Club, it was attended by 39 men’s teams and 42 women’s teams.  Designed with a longer course, it went north towards Laguna Beach, out to sea and back towards Dana Point.  To keep the last leg longer, but still aligned with the wind and waves, they set it to pass Dana’s harbor by about a mile.  Passing the harbor and turning on the last buoy everyone had to travel back along the coast one mile to reach the finish line.  That last stretch can often produce very challenging results as the wind and waves were constantly resisting the racers.  

That’s when the strongest and most conditioned usually prevail.  It could be grueling, since it is at the end of nearly three hours of all out racing.  For the men, it could be especially difficult since the weather in the afternoon has usually deteriorated and keeping the ama down and bailing water is almost always an added misery to the fun.  But everyone has to go through it whether they are first or last and it makes it no less difficult whoever you are. 

Speaking for all the paddlers, I find it ever so appreciative to see race organizers copying each other and planning these courses to take advantage of the wind and swells on the last leg.  It shows they are thinking about the well being of the paddlers, their safety and yes, their enjoyment, not just planning a course from A to B for mileage.   Mahalo Dana. 

Being the first 9-man race, I know there were many small bruises from climbing in the canoes.  Also there were many women with unsightly marks on their legs.  It could be a badge of honor to some, but probably needed some explanation to a suspicious husband or boyfriend.  One of our paddlers sustained a bruised rib from the gunnels, not the first nor the last paddler to receive that.  In any case this seems to be the week of healing before the next 9-man race. 

Congratulations to the 19/unders of Hokuloa and Lanakila, especially to their coaches.  Great job.  It’s good to see the resurgence of 19/u men and women teams this late in the season.  They are few but that’s the start.  For the last few weeks Junior coach Philip Dielh of Lanakila, who is only 19 yrs himself, has been bringing his team to several of the adult men’s workouts.  Though the workouts are a lot stricter than their normal workouts, they have been hanging in there like real troopers.  Everyone admires their courage and respect them for sticking it out.  Hokuloa too has produced enthusiatic 19/u men and women teams.  Actually they all  do very well against many of the adult teams.  With each practice and time in the water, all the 19/u teams will inevitably improve and move higher in the ranks.  You go juniors. 

Lanakila’s Canoe Club performed very well in their first 9-man race of the season.  The men took 1^st Spec, 1^st Bradley, 1^st 19/u, and 2^nd SrMasters.  The women took 1^st Spec, 1^st and 2^nd   Bradley.   Someone called the coaches and asked jokingly, “What the heck are you feeding those guys?”  Well done. 

Also doing great and rounding out the top was

Team California 2^{nd overall} 1^st Masters, 

Imua men 3^{rd overall} 2^nd Masters.  Imua women 3^rd Spec, 3^rd Bradley, 3^rd SrMaster. 

NAC men 2^nd spec.  NAC women 2^nd spec. 

Dana men 3^rd spec and 1^st Srmasters.  women 1^st masters and 1^st 19/u  2^nd SrMstrs.

Marina men 3^rd Bradley. 

Oceanside men 3^rd Srmasters- women took 1^st  SrMasters 2^nd Coed and 3^rd Masters

Kai Elua took 1^st coed

Kahakai men took 2^nd Bradley and 3^rd Masters

Hanohano men took 1^st Golden women took 2^nd Masters.

Hokuloa took 2^nd 19/u –women took 3^rd coed

 Please check the official SCORA results  at       www.SoCalOutrigger.org

Thanks to the members of Dana Outigger Club for hosting the race also to the skippers.  We hope to see you all at the Paopao race next on Ausust 18^th for another round of 9-man racing

Mahalo  Al