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The 2012 Molokai World Championships of Paddleboard (Molokai2Oahu) was held in superb Kaiwi Channel conditions. At 7:30am on Sunday the 29th, paddlers departed Kalua Koi on Molokai and navigated their way across the 32-mile channel. At 7am Sunday morning there were already whitecaps forming on the channel horizon and conditions were shaping up to be a fast and technical channel!
Vertra was proud to support many of the paddlers making this years crossing. Vertra’s world championships paddleboard and Standup team consisted of a total of 15 athletes. 11 of which crossed the channel solo and 4 in 2-person team relay!
In the Men’s Standup paddle division Kai Lenny (2-time SUP World Champion) set the SUP Stock (14 foot board) record in a time of 4 hours and 22 minutes. An incredible accomplishment as this was Kai Lenny’s first SUP solo Molokai Channel crossing!
Kai Lenny-Coming across the finish line in record time!
Matt Becker from California also competed in the Molokai Channel for the first time. This year Matt crossed the finish line 6th overall in the Men’s Unlimited SUP in a time of 4 hours and 43 minutes. “The race conditions were excellent,15-20 knots with 6-8 foot swells made for some really fast times,” commented Becker.
Matt Becker mid Molokai Channel
In the Women’s Unlimited Paddleboard division Jordan Mercer (2-time Molokai World Champion) and Kanesa Duncan (8-time Molokai World Champion) went head to head across the channel. Mercer who was last years champion and current record holder completed the channel in 5 hours and 34 minutes adding a second world title to her name. Duncan finished 2nd overall in a time of 5 hours and 45 minutes.
Jordan Mercer- 3 miles off of China Walls
Kanesa Duncan
In the Men’s paddleboard division. Jackson English finished 2nd overall in a time of 4 hours and 59 minutes right in front of fellow Vertra and Bark Paddleboard teammate Brian Rocheleau who finished in a time of 5 hours and 1 minute.
Jackson English- Finish line
The young Jack Bark (18 years old) won the Men’s Stock Paddleboard division. In a blistering fast time of 5 hours and 28 minutes Bark won his first world title. Jack will be competing in next months annual Catalina Classic. A 32-mile race from Catalina Island to Manhattan Pier. Jack has the unique opportunity of joining an elite few who have one both the Molokai World Championships and Catalina Classic in the same year. Bark hope to join fellow teammates Keoni Watson who accomplished the feat in 2007 and Eric Abbott who just last year accomplished this same feat!
Jack Bark bombing a wave mid-channel
In the women’s SUP Unlimited Morgan Hoesterey finished the Molokai Channel in 5 hours and 33 minutes and 5th overall female across the finish line. Morgan will be competing in October at the annual Battle of the Paddle event in California!
Morgan Hoesterey mid Molokai Channel
Mikey Cote (2-time Molokai World Champion) and Mitch Degeus won the Men’s Stock Relay division in a time of 5 hours and 23 minutes! George Plsek of California finished in a time of 5 hours and 35 minutes.
In an unfortunate circumstance 2-time Molokai World Champion Eric Abbott and Pat Dolan were unable to finish the event due to escort boat problems. 10 miles into the race the escort boat of Abbott and Dolan lost the ability to operate and the duo were forced to terminate their race.
Pre Race meeting on Molokai with Eric (L) Mitch & Mikey (R)
Big congrats go out to all athletes who finished the grueling 32-mile event!
Click here for a full listening of the 2012 Molokai World Championships Results.
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