Maui paddler Connor Baxter breaks his own world record, Australia’s Jordan Mercer celebrates most consecutive wins of any woman and Jack Bark sets new record in stock paddleboard category.
The Molokai Channel, traditionally known as Ka’iwi Channel (translation: the channel of bones) is named for the Iwi of ancestral travelers, shipwrecked on the voyage between Molokai and Oahu. Ka’iwi Channel has the reputation for being one of the most treacherous bodies of water in the world, infamous for the tragic death of Eddie Aikau during the 1978 Polynesian voyage of the Hokule’a. When 30 foot swells and gail force winds disabled the traditional sailing canoe, Aikau launched his rescue paddleboard into the ocean to seek help for his crewmates, and was never seen again.
Swimming and paddling the unpredictable channel has been a personal test for generations of waterwomen and men. The inaugural Molakai-2-Oahu Paddleboard Race was held in 1997, created by Hawaii paddleboarders Dawson Jones, Garrett McNamara and Mike Takahashi. The world’s most challenging paddleboard race today includes SUP racers as well as traditional prone paddleboarders and attracts competitors from 20 countries. Last year’s event took place during Tropical Storm Flossie, when Hawaii’s paddlers battled not just tough winds and vicious currents, but a dominant Australian contingent.
This year’s race occurred a lucky two weeks before the convergence of Hurricanes Iselle and Julio on the Hawaiian Islands. Competitors were treated to beautiful weather and strong swells. At the Opening Party hosted by Surftech and presenting sponsor Kona Brewing Co, the paddler ohana mingled at Surftech’s beautiful Hawaii showroom, downed Longboard Lagers, and predicted that records were going to fall. By midmorning Sunday, July 27th, it was clear the pundits were right. New records were set by three young paddlers in different disciplines. The rivalry between Australia and Hawaii continued, and Hawaii paddlers won back some championship podium places from their friends on the other side of the Pacific.
The 19 year old SUP racer from Maui, Connor Baxter, surfed the strong swells to a new SUP Unlimited men’s world record time of 4 hours, 8 minutes, 8 seconds across the Ka’iwi Channel. Baxter’s family and friends dove from his escort boat and swarmed his board, elated with his victory. Baxter beat his former best time by more than five minutes, as well as 2013 champion Travis Grant from Australia, who finished second (4:09:15). The SUP Unlimited men’s podium was rounded out by another Hawaii racer, Scott Gamble, in 4:19:57.
Travis Baptiste, 17, scored another win for Hawaii, finishing first in the SUP Stock men’s category in 4:23:54. The first place SUP men’s 2-person team, Aaron and Riggs Napoleon, also of Hawaii, charged out of the water a few minutes later at 4:29:33.
Australians reasserted their dominance with a decisive first and second place in the Paddleboard Unlimited men’s category. Matt Poole, 26, won his first M2O in a time of 4:52:02, the 13th straight year an Australian has won this category. Aussie countryman Rory Chapman came in second, and Hawaii athlete Keoni Watson rounded out the top three.
Hawaii athletes continued to claim wins in the team categories, with a 3-man SUP team victory by Wyatt Jones, Hunter Eggers and Loch Eggers (combined age only 44) in 4:59:35. Locals Michael Schweiger and Manca Notar won the 2 person mixed SUP team category and Alfred Van Gieson, Noland Keaulana and Jennifer W. Lee took home gold in the 3 person mixed SUP category.
As the morning progressed the enthusiasm of the spectators at Maunalua Bay Beach Park increased, as favorite divisions closed in on the red Duke’s finishing buoys.
20 year old Jack Bark from California grabbed the win in the Paddleboard Stock men’s division in 5:12:35, chased through the bouys seconds later by Sonni Hoenscheid of Germany, SUP Unlimited women’s winner in 5:12:38. Hoenscheid, who finished 3rd last year, sportingly waited in the bay for 2nd place finisher from Hawaii Jenny Kalmbach, who paddled in three minutes later.
Jack Bark’s finish was not only his second win at M2O but a new world record time. His achievement was fueled by the fast conditions and more importantly hot competition in his category. Mid-channel five stock paddleboarders were racing head to head together, swapping runners, before Bark broke free from the pack. Before he could even leave the water his ecstatic Surftech board sponsor waded in to shower him with champagne.
The battle everyone was waiting for took place between 20-year old Australian Jordan Mercer and Hawaii champion Kanesa Duncan-Seraphin, both charging for the win in the Paddleboard Unlimited women’s category. Going into the 2014 M2O Mercer had 3 straight wins as well as the world record time of 5:22:31. Kanesa Duncan-Seraphin, who took off competition in 2013 to become a new mother, had won eight of her 13 channel crossings. After a tough race, Mercer’s finishing time of 5:33:23 was not enough to break her 2011 record time but did put her in the history books for most consecutive women’s wins. Mercer collapsed on her board at the finish, surrounded by well-wishers, sprayed by champagne, overcome by her battle and achievement.
The winners circle was rounded out by the finish of promising young Californian Carter Graves, who captured the women’s prone stock division in her first attempt at the M2O.
The jubilation of the racers and their families continued at the awards banquet at the Outrigger Canoe Club, home to many of the original racers at the inaugural M2O race in 1997, with celebrations continuing late into the night at Duke’s. The paddleboard ohana came together to crown their kings and queens, and also renew the bonds of friendship that bring them together each year from 20 countries all over the world.
For a complete listing of results and pictures of the event please see www.molokai2oahu.com