We are celebrating 20 years of individual paddle racing on Maui this season. Sponsor Aaron Placourakis kicked off the anniversary year in style with a South Side race ending at his spectacular oceanside restaurant, Sarento’s, where paddlers enjoyed great food, plenty of beer, and some nice music.
There was a happy feeling of ohana as paddlers were reunited after a bit of time off this fall. The sun was shining, the ocean was calling, and everyone seemed especially friendly. 
The challenges of the day were waves and turtles. It was a turtle obstacle course out there. The race passed over one of Kihei’s many “turtle towns” where the honus sleep and bask. Popping up for air randomly and seemingly everywhere you looked (or wanted to paddle). No turtles were injured or bumped in the race, they just blissfully basked while paddlers worried about how to get ahead of the next racer. The shore-break at the start was small, but Keawakapu Beach, where the race ended, had some bombs rolling in. No canoes or people were damaged, but there were plenty of entertaining crashes. 

Kai Bartlett led the race on a surfski finishing the five and a half mile course in just under 44 minutes, followed by Tony Calderon on a surfski, and Felipe Gomes on the new Scorpius XM. Tony reported that he was close to Kai until Kai caught a ground swell at our local surf spot “The Cove”, which propelled Kai into an insurmountable lead. Lauren Bartlett came in 3rd overall on an OC-1 and won the women’s elite division, finishing four minutes ahead of the second place elite paddler Sharon Balidoy, who herself had a good lead on the other women competitors. Biggie Lara and Wendell DeVera, owner of TriPaddle, came in first in the OC-2 division, finishing in just under 50 minutes. There were four people competing in the rudderless V1 division, lead by Kevin Sarich who finished the course in just under 54 minutes, having paddled 95% on the right side into a side on light Kona wind.
Other top finishers included Barb Querry and Carla Fadriquela who took first place in the OC-2 women’s division, finishing in just over 53 minutes. The lone woman paddleboard competitor, Joanna Lee, brought home a gold medal for her efforts. What a tough sport – way to go Joanna!

Blair Thorndike won the men’s paddleboard division, and Larry Risley came in first on SUP in 1:12:46. Xavier Leon took first in the junior’s OC-1 division followed by Noa Herrera racing his custom converted V1.
The few good battles were race director Tim Lara and Keona Dang bumping canoes and really digging in at the finish. Pia Aluli on a surfski and Pedro Gapero racing an OC-1 were neck and neck the whole way. The two-man team of Ed Begley and Kaz managed to barely finish in front of a girl team after jockeying the whole race and retaining their manhood for another week. Race sponsor, Aaron Placourakis, in a pack with Kevin Sarich and Aaron Brummel were racing each other while trying not to get taken out by the breaking waves at Kalama Bowls.
Season awards were presented to racers for accumulating the most points during the 2009 season. Winners were Sharon Balidoy (OC-1 women), Kevin Sarich (OC-1 men), Tony Calderon (surfski), and  Mark Raaphorst (paddleboard).
As part of the 20th anniversary, founding members of the Maui Canoe and Kayak Club were given honorary membership in appreciation for their efforts in creating a club for all paddlers to enjoy. Honorary members for 2010 are:  Abraham Ie “Snake”, Timmy Medeiros, Louis Cocherolla, Kimo Knutson, John Stuart, Derick Vinuya, and Geoff Bogar who paddled the race with JP, coming in 2nd in their division.
Looking ahead, MCKC has eight more races this season, some flat water and some downwind, culminating with three downwind races: the Maui Brewing Company North Shore Challenge, Nick’s Fishmarket/ Makena Resort championship, and the wonderful Maui to Molokai Race on April 24th. 133 paddlers came out to race this weekend, most of them signing up for all the races this season. We look forward to a fun, safe and well attended paddling season with great parties and gifts from our sponsors. Many thanks to Sarentos’ Restaurant owner Aaron Placourakis and his staff for putting on a great party; thanks to Hammer Gel and Kai Wa’a for prizes; and a big mahalo to the volunteers and water safety officials who make these races possible.
For more information, schedules, and courses, please visit mauicanoeandkayak.org.
Brandis L. Sarich, Vice President