Kīkaha finishes historic 2024 racing season
Kīkaha O Ke Kai finished one of its best seasons on record, notching a victory in the Gorge Outrigger Canoe Race, sending paddlers to the world sprint championships in Hilo and fielding three crews at the Queen Lili’uokalani Canoe Races in Kona, the largest event of its kind in the world.
From long-distance events to regatta sprints, Kīkaha crews finished strong in races throughout the season. Coaches were blessed with the largest active membership since the start of the pandemic, with about 100 active paddlers.
Here are some highlights.
Making history at the Gorge
Kīkaha’s overall first place finish in the men’s division of the 26th annual Gorge Outrigger Canoe Race on July 6 was the season’s racing high point. The 10-mile men’s race, the most prestigious canoe race in the Pacific Northwest, is held on the Columbia River, where the prevailing winds and currents can create river swells for crews to surf. This year, however, the winds were absent and temperatures were pushing into triple digits, providing extremely challenging conditions.
The crew included Jason Park (Seat 1), Beau Whitehead (Seat 2), Gordon Martinez (Seat 3), Matt Taufa’asau (Seat 4), Dan Moseley (Seat 5) and Brent Campbell (Steersman).
“Big cheeehooo!” said Martinez, head coach of Kīkaha. “Felt great to compete against some of the best crews throughout the U.S. and Canada. It’s a milestone moment to cross the line first overall with the fastest time. It’s truly my and Kīkaha’s highest achievement in history.”
It was the club’s first overall victory at the Gorge in 25 years of trying, Martinez said. Steersman Campbell caught nearly every bump on the river, Martinez said, adding that the engine room paddlers of Moseley, Taufa’asau and himself hammered hard behind the steady stroke from Whitehead and Park.
“I felt honored to paddle with these guys,” Martinez said.
Racing with the best in the world
A Kīkaha crew of kupuna 70s men traveled to the 2024 International Va’a Federation World Sprint Championships in Hilo, Hawaii from Aug. 13-24. The crew, which trained for nearly two years, had qualified in September 2023 in races in Sacramento, California, including races in the men’s 60s division, said crew member Joe Wall.
“We’re very proud,” Wall said. “We did really well.”
The crew included Craig Holt, Lon Kincannon, Joe Wall, Doug Close, Jim Hill and Dave Oreiro. They regularly practiced in Tacoma, Olympia and Portland, Wall said. Kincannon took videos so the crew could critique form. During some practices, paddlers would tow a bucket to improve strength, Wall said. “It slows you down and you work on your timing,” he said. “When you pull it up, it’s like you’re Superman.”
In Hilo, the crew competed in the 60s 500 meter (straight) and 1,000 meter (with turns) as well as the 70s 500 meter (with turn) and the 500 meter (straight). The crew also teamed up with other paddlers for the 70s V-12 500 meter (straight). Holt also competed in the V1 500 meter 75 year old division.
The crew’s most exciting race was the 70s 500 meter (with turn), Wall said.
“Our time of 3:01 placed second in our heat and we had the fourth best time of all three heats, which sent us straight to the finals,” Wall said. “In the finals we had a great start and were
in the first three at the turn, but as we came out of the turn we misread the finish flag location and briefly headed out of our lane for a DQ.”
Under a Kona sun
Warm weather, humidity and clear blue skies welcomed the three
Kīkaha crews that competed in the Queen Lili’uokalani iron race in Kona over the Labor Day weekend.
The first Kīkaha crew to finish was Orca-Kīkaha in the Masters Mix division. The crew included Joe Villegas, Alyssa Reischauer, Beth Wolfe, Sofia Zapata, Aaron Tyerman and Joe Aquino steering.
The crew had a great start but hulied at the halfway mark, Villegas said.
“That cost us a lot of time, then the next eight miles we paddled on our left cheeks because we had a small ama, and very short iakos, (cause we almost hulied four more times afterwards) which really cost us time,” Villegas said. “The team was really close and we really experienced ohana with this team. It was such an experience that most of us want to do it again and place this time without huliing.”
Next to finish was a mixed 60s crew, Kīkaha Silver Blazing Kupuna. The crew included Linda Murillo, Nellie Bell, Mike Gordon, Arnold Iaea, Joy Yoder and John Murillo steering.
“We placed sixth out of nine crews and paddled strong and hard for about 16 miles in beautiful Hawaiian waters,” Bell said. “Blessed memories made and grateful for the opportunity.”
Rounding out the Kīkaha contingent was Team Wazzup, a mixed 70s group of Washington and Arizona paddlers: Lon Kinannon, Faye Tong, Cathy Chandler, Michele Kirkpatrick, Pat Brown and Cliff Libed (Steersman).
“We had just one practice the night before the Queen Lili’uokalani, so Queen Lili’uokalani was our second ‘practice,'” Tong said.
Talk Story seeks to cultivate a strong, unified identity for Kīkaha O Ke Kai, reflecting the spirit of Hawaiian outrigger canoe paddling. It is dedicated to sharing club news and managing information promptly. It aims to provide members and supporters with a newsletter that enhances their connection to the club and represents our shared values on and off the water.
in Kona.
Talk Story seeks to cultivate a strong, unified identity for Kīkaha O Ke Kai, reflecting the spirit of Hawaiian outrigger canoe paddling. It is dedicated to sharing club news and managing information promptly. It aims to provide members and supporters with a newsletter that enhances their connection to the club and represents our shared values on and off the water.
Find us on the web at www.kikaha.com. Contact us at [email protected]