MOLOKAI SOLO
The Molokai Solo is the race of all races for OC-1. This is the World Championship of OC-1. The conditions were ideal, 20 knot trades with a rising tide. These were the best conditions we've had in 6 years. This years field was packed with four former champions and a bunch of young and eager paddlers ready to be a champion of their own. One of the young paddlers we had the pleasure of hosting was Kevin Ceran-Jerusalemy from Tahiti. Kevin is a champion in the va'a or rudderless. He's the top V-1paddler down there in Tahiti. We had a chance to spend some time with Kevin the week before the solo and had some fun as you can see from the video below.
Kevin and Patrick Dolan put on a clinic in the solo. They were just toying with guys early in the race. They both held a solid lead from the rest of the pack. At Portlock Point they converged and battled to the finish with Patrick edging out Kevin and taking the new record along with his first Molokai Solo win of his career. Back in the pack I made it to Portlock Point in 3rd but was passed on the upwind leg to the finish by the talented young giant from the Big Island, Kainoa Tanoai. I took fourth overall and was stoked to see that the ARES was able to take 1st, 2nd and 4th overall.
In the women's division Amy Woodward did an outstanding job taking home a 2nd place finish and Hope Grunfeld from Australia finished 4th overall.
You have to check out this epic video that Keizo Gates and Hayden Ramler did on the Molokai Solo this past year. I think they did a great job capturing the paddlers and the event. ENJOY!
