Pacific Paddler magazine - August 2011 - (Page 12)

the Liberty World Outrigger Challenge River and the Manhattan Bridge threw long shadows on the canoes below, Elizabeth Keama from Kalihi Kai Canoe Club led the paddlers in a pule. Gathered for the blessing were clubs from Hawaii, Washington and Canada along with free agent paddlers from Florida, California, the UK and Hong Kong. While Liberty gives many visiting paddlers the opportunity to experience New York City, it is also a wonderful occasion for crews from Hawaii to spread the spirit of aloha. “What an incredible experience the race was for me, and how great it was to see and feel the 'Aloha' of the Hawaiian outrigger canoe paddling culture in a place other than the waters off the shores of Hawaii,” said Malia Maldanado of Lanikai Canoe Club. Probably no team better exemplified the aloha spirit at this year’s competition than Na Keiki O Ka Mo’i. Along with bringing an amazing team of paddlers and support crew, Na Keiki O Ka Mo’i also brought Hawaiianthemed children’s books for an elementary school in Harlem. Through their generosity and willingness to educate about the Hawaiian culture, Na Keiki O Ka Mo’i helped bring a bit of aloha to the Big Apple. Along with the spirit of aloha, Liberty is also about competition, and this year’s race brought an amazing caliber of paddlers together for a tough contest. The day began with the women’s race. For 15 miles, crews battled it out with one another while trying to avoid the harbor’s boat traffic and steal a peak at the city sites when they thought their steers person wouldn’t catch them. The women’s race came down to a battle between the Hawaiian crew from Kalihi Kai and the women from Washington DC. As the crews left the Statue of Liberty and cut across the harbor to Governor’s Island, Kalihi Kai opened their lead and secured their first place finish. Next up was the men’s race which pitted two teams from defending champion Manu’iwa Canoe Club of Milford, Connecticut against a field of competitors from the east coast and Canada. With currents building in the Hudson and East Rivers, teams had to strategize their course to take advantage of eddies along the shoreline. At several points crews encountered heavy ferry traffic, and Washington Canoe Club was briefly stopped and questioned by friendly officers from Homeland Security. Manu’iwa dominated the men’s race with first place finishes in their respective divisions and finished first and second overall. “Both men's teams paddled a flawless race, and anybody who has been around knows that to be the best you have to eliminate mistakes and capitalize on opportunities,” said Blake Conant of Manu’iwa. “Catching bumps on the Hudson is fun, particularly when the Staten Island Ferry is bearing down your tail end. That said, to see the Hawaii local teams from Haleiwa, Kalihi, Maui, Waikiki, and Kauai just makes the trek into the bowels of New York City with $30k worth of outrigger in tow all worth while.” The Hawaii paddling community was strongly represented at this year’s Liberty race. While most crews raced under an east coast club’s name, many included paddlers from Hawaii. “I was really happy to see a Hawaii team (Kalihi Kai) win the women’s race and so many “free agent” guys from Hawaii jump in to men’s crews,” commented Jake Moore of Healani Canoe Club. One of the most diverse crews was the Wai Nui men’s crew, which included paddlers from Canada, Florida, California and Hawaii. Without ever having paddled together, the team went on to an impressive third place finish in the open division. Rounding out the day was the mixed race which also experienced the roughest conditions. Canoes encountered strong chop in the Battery and dealt with rogue swells and boat wake as they made their way across New York Harbor. “You assume because it’s a shorter course that the mixed race would be easier, but the conditions are usually the toughest of the day,” said Jason Ng, steersman for one of New York Outrigger’s mixed crews. After the race, crews made their way from Brooklyn to The Frying Pan on Manhattan’s west side for a post-race luau overlooking the Hudson River. Even as hundreds of people waited to get in, Liberty crews were ushered to the front of the line and directed to their VIP section in the Frying Pan. Crews enjoyed familiar island favorites from New York’s L&L Barbecue restaurant while dancers entertained the crowd with traditional hula. As the sun set over the river, crews talked story about the day’s races. Competing crews that day had covered shoreline in Brooklyn, Manhattan and New Jersey. If only for a day, everybody at Liberty felt that New York City was all about paddling. Liberty has been about giving paddlers a true sense of New York. From the Brooklyn Bridge to the World Trade Center, Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, the crews experience New York in a way few visitors ever do. Over the years the race has grown and the logistics refined, but like most races, it did not start out that way. Fifteen years ago Roger Meyer decided that his young canoe club, New York Outrigger, should host a regatta that would attract teams from around the world. At the time, New Yorkers had only recently begun to take notice of the city’s waterways after decades of neglect. “In 1997 the New York City waterfront was like the wild west. It wasn’t clear who was in charge,” Meyer recalled. Without applying for a permit, New York Outrigger hosted the first Liberty with crews from Hawaii and the east coast in attendance. While the first year was a success, the second year did not go as well. “We had nasty chop that came from every angle. There were hulies in the Battery, crews were getting swamped, the Coast Guard was towing canoes back, and NYPD was dropping rescue teams from a helicopter,” Meyer remembered. With time, an understanding of the necessary logistics were developed with city and state agencies. “There are so many challenges in putting on this race: the logistics, the trailers, even launching the canoes. It’s very different from your typical race,” explained Ed Acker, the head race coordinator. “You can’t just drive your trailer up to a beach.” The canoes in fact are rigged and launched from a rolling lawn in the Brooklyn Bridge Park, beneath the Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges. This year as the sun rose over the East This year marked the 15th Anniversary of the Liberty World Outrigger Challenge. Since it began, Brent Beck more photos 12 pacific paddler august 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pacific Paddler magazine - August 2011

Contents
Walter J. MacFarlane Regatta
Waikiki beach Boys Regatta
Liberty World Outrigger Challenge
OHCRA regattas
The 2nd Event of the Triple Crown
Hui He’e Nalu
Jimmy Austin
Gold Coast Cup
VOS' Chasedown in Vancouver
Round Bowen Island
SCORA score
Na Wahine O Ke Kai schedule
Andrea Moller
Hine Moana blog
Fiji Outrigger International
Kris Kjeldsen 1943 – 2011
Hui Waa Champs
OHCRA Champs
Calendar

Pacific Paddler magazine - August 2011

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