Yesterday SCORA ran the OC6 State regatta hosted by Santa Barbara OCC.It was perfect conditions for sprint racing.There was absolutely no wind all day and the conditions couldn’t have been better for sprints.Earlier in the morning the OC1 sprints included all ages from youngest to the oldest.Later the juniors and novices took over and finally the seniors and golden masters.
Among the many junior teams Dana's boys and girls scored often and well.
From my vantage point it looked like the logistics ran very smooth, thanks to the planning and work of the SCORA officials.I missed Sandy Kahanamoku’s booming voice, this is a new day, a new era, and it was good to see that what we had started decades ago is still carrying on.The association looks healthy and well organized, something we are happy to observe.Looking around, I saw Billy still running the races from his escort boat cruising up and down the course, while Bud made himself busy on land and sea. Cheance Adair was busy in the SCORA trailer doing some paper work not an envialbe job on a nice day.At the official's tower, Nancy Dopp, Carol Shick and others were smoothly running business as usual.Thanks everyone for running a well-coordinated operation.
Calm waters and no wind helped to run everything faster.
One of the big factors in organizing a regatta is the wind.When there is no wind as it was yesterday, things run much smoother, because communication at the lineup is easier and therefore saves time, canoes aren’t drifting, junior steersmen aren’t dragging flags. Even the officials on land don’t have to catch flying paperwork and tie everything down.Windy days make it a lot more difficult for everyone.So yesterday we were blessed with the best of the best.
Lanakila Junior team shouting out their joy
Bill Bauer who is in charge of the Senior and Golden Master for the world sprints, called a short practice just before the race.It was made up of men from several different clubs.I think we really enjoyed the experience, as we tested our starts and turns, with input from several different clubs.I especially enjoyed working with Calvin Hirahara as he stroked our canoe and gave his input about the best way to make a turn from seat one. Although we’ve had very few practices together, I look forward to racing with them in the World Sprints.
Parents as well as kids cheered their teams on at the loud awards ceremony.
As usual the juniors had the most fun of all the paddlers.We enjoyed watching their interaction between teams and the boys and girls.Last week Lanakila had a flurry of activity within the junior ranks as we tried to bring them up to speed for the big race.Junior coach Philip Diehl was assisted and reminded by men’s coach Danny Ching of the small nuances of sprint racing as they anxiously prepared the junior teams.
Horseplay was part of the ceremony
Congratulations to all the clubs that have Junior Programs.Thanks for the help of the parents, some of whom have helped their program by assisting in paperwork and getting
the juniors organized before and after practices.Parents are willing to help; they just need jobs and guidance that are straightforward and simple every time they bring their juniors to practice.Most don’t necessarily want to coach, but want to help. One little girl asked me, “Who is faster, you or Danny Ching?”I thought for a moment as said, “I think he is a little bit faster.”
Jody Van De Wouw contemplating her next move.
Winners of the Masters division, Lanakila Quick Silver team.
Talking to Kare Hareiti of Oceanside OCC, she is of half Maori and half Caucasian ancestry.She said her mother was the first to marry into a full-blooded Maori family and it was difficult at first, but turned for the best.The family has a tradition of carrying on their genealogy through memory and I guess now through the written word.They can trace their genealogy back to the first canoe that landed in Auroa tea (New Zealand) and the name for the person in the canoe, all of which I had read and heard of before.When the first explorers came to Hawaii, they didn’t believe it when families especially the high-ranking families would recite their geneology dating back to when they arrived in the islands.The English later discovered it to be true.
Kare wrote: It's kind of you to take an interest in these traditions. I remember one day at the kitchen table my Dad sat me down and had me repeat over and over Tainui, Maniapoto, Te Kanawa. He told me "He wanted me to know who I am".
Our genealogy is also known as Whakapapa. When a maori asks "Who are you", they aren't necessarily asking YOUR name, they are referring to your whakapapa. My response would be Tainui, Maniapoto, Te Kanawa. But a traditional maori would respond by reciting the whakapapa back to their original ancestor who came over from Hawaiki on their ancestral waka. Tainui refers to my waka designation, maniapoto is my tribal designation and Te Kanawa is my sub-tribe. For Maori a waka is more than a means of transportation or sport, it is a fundamental basis for our identity. But the idea of introduction of one's self by using the ancestors, reflects our belief that an "individual" is actually a reflection of many generations of family members. To know one's whakapapa is to know one's identity.
Hope this is the information you requested, it was really nice "taking story". Unfortunately my Dad passed away years ago or else I'd have him tell you these stories and so many more. I look forward to seeing you again soon.
Aroha, Kare
Kare in white t-shirt with her family.
Mahalo Santa Barbara OCC for hosting the regatta.
The overall winners of the regatta were Dana 1st, Lanakila 2nd, Kahakai 3rd, and Marina 4th. For Official results, please visit the SCORA site. It was well organized, especially the beer garden, which I thoroughly inspected and found to be in good condition.
Even the bigger girls seemed to have a great time too.
Beautiful dancer performing for the paddlers.
UPDATE
Hokuloa’s race
At Ventura’s race hosted by Hokuloa OCC, the weather started out breezy and continued to build until the men’s race.A few teams remembered to bring their covers and dutifully put them on.However by the time the men raced, the wind died and they actually raced in a fairly calm sea.The advantage went to the teams without canvases, as they were unrestrictive and lighter.Oh well, it’s a chance we all must take.Earlier the novices and women races were much rougher. I think this year we saw the largest attendance at Hokuloa’s race ever.Mahalo Hokuloa for your hospitality.
Avila Beach:
Pale Kai hosted their Pineapple Express race.It was a little chilly, but nothing we haven’t seen at other races.The water there is always unpredictable and you never can tell what the ocean will throw at you. But the big talk was about the after party campsite competition.It seemed like everyone was in a good mood from the start and it only got better as the evening went on. When you know you’re staying for the night and not worry about driving it’s easier to party, especially when all your friends are there.Several of the northern Californian clubs came down and San Francisco OCC did very well in the races as well as in the party too.Thanks Pale Kai.
Iron championship
San Diego was packed solid with paddlers.From the road approaching the site, the tents were lined up from one end of the beach to the other.Host club Kai Elua always rolls up a huge portable trailer/stage that works out great for the awards.Everyone receiving their awards must walk up on stage high above the crowd and it’s a real stage.During the last leg of the race, we had some good bumps with fairly steep faces.That made it so much fun.Good job Kai Elua OCC.The Kahakai sprints and the Noah Kalama sprints at Long Beach were well attended and solid with kids.There were many qualifying entries for the OC1 and OC6 for the upcoming World Sprints.
MahaloAL
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