Pacific Paddler magazine - August 2011 - (Page 21)

The Hui He’e Nalu Independence Day Race ConnoR’s Re-CaP oF July 4th’s big event – and Winning P oF vent W After Sunday’s Triple Crown Event – I was on a plane to Oahu for this event on Monday. The 2011 Da Hui race was one of the best events I have been to this year. The race started at Sunset Beach on Oahu’s North Shore. Before the event, everyone got together for the pule (Hawaiian blessing), and it was a circle of over 550 people, so the whole beach was filled with SUP and paddle boarders. The paddle boarders started first, and we started 10 minutes after them. There was a total of 545 competitors, and 363 were Stand-Up paddlers. What was really great at this event is that they had so many different classes to enter – racers, novice, tandems – mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, as well as kids classes. The race was only 4 miles down to Waimea Bay, so my tactics for this race were simple, sprint as hard as I can for 4 miles until I get there. So when they started the race, I sprinted right from the get go and I pulled into the front. The conditions were OK, but could have been better. It was super light and it was pretty much ing for me, which was super cool, but the race wasn’t over. To top off the 4 mile paddle, we had at least a 100 yard run uphill on the beach. Luckily they had a lot of water and snacks at the finish, and of course, a nice burger. Once everyone got in, the band started playing music and the awards started. And, guess what? My dad, Keith, ended up getting second place in his division. A big mahalo to the event organizers and volunteers. What a great event! Photo courtesy of HawaiianSwell.com a flat water race, but I still caught some small bumps in the beginning. Halfway into the race, I was a good distance in front of second place. I still was paddling as hard as I could and still felt strong. As I got closer to Waimea, the wind was blocked and it went completely flat for the last mile. So I put my head down and just tried to stay in front until the end of the race. As I got closer to the finish, there were hundreds of people on land, in the water swimming and on boats waiting for everyone to come in. They were all cheer- Aloha, Connor Baxter Here’s a great link to a YouTube video with an interview with Connor: http://youtu.be/wd9184RGaUY pacificpaddler.com august 2011 21 http://www.HawaiianSwell.com http://www.pacificpaddler.com

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