A Big Thank You to Everyone!

The team has now been back in Victoria for several days and we would like to thank everyone who visited our blog and sent us encouraging comments.   To-date we have received over 2200 visitors to the blog from over 10 different countries! 

We also appreciatively acknowledge the local Hawaiian canoe clubs that generously provided us boats to practice and race in while we were in Kailua-Kona.  Thank you to the Keauhou Canoe Club,  the Northshore Canoe Club,  the Kahana Canoe Club and the Kamehameha Canoe Club.  The ohana that each of you shared with us was greatly appreciated and will not be forgotten!

We would also like to extend a special thanks to several individuals who worked hard on-site in Kona throughout the week to ensure that the logistics of managing five teams ran smoothly.  We owe a debt of gratitude to Erin Beckwith for her excellent organizational skills as well as the help of Shawn Stalker, Bruce Fogg, Peter Giesen, Marie Urban, Stephanie Fogg, and Alex White.  

A special recognition also goes out to our medical professionals, Jan Urban, Marie Urban and Shawn Stalker for attending to the injured among us, of which there were several throughout the week, including myself.

We would also like to thank our coaches, Cindy Wright, Julie Kippen and Todd Ayotte,  our generous sponsors, and several other individuals including,  Adam Kerrigan, Helen Currey, Jen Loo and Nappy Napoleon who selflessly assisted us in reaching our goals in a variety of different ways.

And finally, to all our teammates, thank you for the journey ... it was a fun ride!

Mahalo

Back in Seattle

The team back in Seattle waiting for the 11:00PM Horizon flight to Victoria

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone.

Sunday Racing V-12

The six mile double hull races started this morning with the teams needing to rigg their double hull canoes at the last moment before the race.  Luckily we were able to enlist Nappy Napoleon, probably the most famous outrigger paddler on the planet, to help us quickly rope rigg the double hulls.

The Mixed 40+ team placed 5th and the Mixed Open team placed 11th.

Mixed 40+ V-12 crew

Paddler's Torch Light Parade

Emma and Erin Beckwith

The paddler's torch light parade was held under somewhat wet conditions this evening.

OC-6 Iron Race Results

Women's A Team (Cindy)           2:33.58  (18/69 in Open Division)

Women's B Team (Marianne)      2:42:30  (37/69 in Open Division)

Women's C Team (Vivian)           2:56.52  (64/69 in Open Division)

Men's A Team (Paul)                 2:15.29  (40/69 in Open Division)

Men's B Team (Brian)                2:29.27  (64/69 in Open Division)

OC-6 Iron Race Day!

Preparing the canoes for racing at 6:00 AM

The day began with the women's teams getting up at 4:30 AM to get ready for their wahine race which started at 7:30 AM. 

Boat blessing at 6:30 AM

Launching canoes at 7:00 AM

Men's A Team Finish

Men's B Team Finish

Women's Boat Rigging

This morning the team met the Kamehameha Canoe Club, Oahu and the Kahana Canoe Club, Maui to help them rig the three boats they were loaning to our women's teams.  The rigging process took about four hours in the heat of mid morning on the Kona pier.

Boat rigging using tradition rope methods

Some of our women's crew members

Chimo from Kamehameha Canoe Club instructing in
traditional boat rigging. 

Boat Rigging

Canoe Blessing by Chimo

Afternoon pool antics

After rigging the team returned to the Kona Plantation and spent the rest of the day relaxing by the pool and other activities.

Second Practice at the Keauhou Canoe Club

Women's team during practice including, Jennifer Olson, Susan Simmons, Katie Dragert, Karrie, Holly Murray

Women's team during practice including, Mariola Jarosz, Elaine Roberts, Jodie Donaldson, Lyse Bugeaud and Emma Beckwith.

This morning the team had their second training practice at the Keahou Canoe Club at 9:00am.   Photo below shows both men's teams pushing each other during the training.  In background boat are Brian Mycroft, Jan Urban, Terry Curtis, Dave Schweter and Chris Raines.

Discussing team and race logistics after the practice at the Keauhou Canoe Club.

The two canoes that the men will be racing have been borrowed from the North Shore Canoe Club on Oahu.  Marianne and Cindy helping to rigg the canoes.

Canoes being readied for the Queen Lili race in front of the King Kamehameha Hotel.

Team members attending the International Paddlers Party.

Sun setting over Kona.

Free Day for ORPC Paddlers

Today was a free day for our paddlers who participated in a variety of activites around the island including, sun tanning, visiting Hilo on the wet side of the island, paddling with dolphins, snorkeling, diving, stgand up paddle boarding and hiking to the green sand beach among other activities.  Here are a few pictures of some of the sites and adventures.

Relaxing after long day in Kona

Relaxing in the pool and pool-side after a long day of work and play in Kona.  Temperatures are as high as 90 degrees which is about four degrees above normal for this time of year.   

Spending the evening in the cabana listening to Hawaiian music and discussing the days activities and just enjoying each others company.

Paddler Wounded in Action

Women's stern Vivian Thomas received 23 staple stiches today after not only being attacked by a fishing hook but also, in the process of trying to remove it, cutting her leg on some sharp lava rocks as her team was trying to dock their boat.   The doctors say she will still be able to steer her team to glory on Saturday.

First Practice at the Keauhou Canoe Club

Pictures taken from our first day of practice at the Keauhou Canoe Club.  Three of the canoes had just returned from a race on the windward coast and had to be re-rigged using the traditional rope rigging fashion.   Dave Schweter and Lyse Bugeaud watching the rigging process intently.
 

Emma Beckwith our youngest paddler at only sixteen holding the canoe down during the launch at Keauhou Bay

Womens crew heading out for practice.  Marianne, Pilon, Lyse Bugeaud, Elaine Roberts, Jodie Donaldson, Mariola Jarosz, and Emma Beckwith.

Vivian Thomas, Todd Ayotte and Erik Ages helping to rigg a canoe using tradition rope methods.

Men's crew Paul Pilon, Jordan Pilon, Erik Ages, Todd Ayotte, James Hill and Paul Shrimpton heading out during their first practice at the Keauhou Canoe Club.

Mens crew on the water.  Jordan Pilon, Erik Ages, Todd Ayotte and James Hill

Womens crew, Cindy Wright, Holly Murray, Katie Dragert, Susan Simmons, Jenny Olson and Karrie out on the water during their first practice.