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| Posted: 28 July 2008 at 7:50am | IP Logged
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MITCHELL STORMS TO 7TH MOLOKAI VICTORY
DESOTO WINS GRUELLING C4 WATERMAN STAND-UP RACE
Duncan Clinches 6th Women's Title; Cote Claims Solo Stockboard
HONOLULU - (July 27, 2008) -- Australian paddling sensation Jamie
Mitchell, 31 (Queensland), stormed to his seventh consecutive victory in
the QuiksilverEdition Molokai to Oahu Paddleboard Race today, solidifying
his status as the world's premier paddleboarder. Mitchell completed the
32-mile distance in a time of four hours, 57 minutes and 14 seconds.
While he was nine minutes outside of the record he posted last year,
Mitchell believed this to be his greatest ever performance, feeling like he
could have "just kept on paddling". His time today was merely a reflection
of the highly technical Molokai Channel conditions on offer. Runner-up to
Mitchell was Jackson English, 32, (Sydney, Australia - 5:17:23), and third
place overall was Hawaii's Brian Rocheleau, 32, (Honolulu - 5:19:22). One
hundred and three entrants started out today. All but five finished.
Above: Jamie Mitchell en-route to a 7th title.
Credit: Bernie Baker
While no-one came close to Mitchell in the Unlimited class, Hawaii
paddlers made a clean sweep of all other major divisions. Honolulu's
Kanesa Duncan, 32, claimed her 6th women's title (6:28:12), overcoming
a tight battle with defending champion Shakira Westdorp, 23 (Australia -
6:31:34). In the shorter, 12-foot stockboard division, Mikey Cote
(Wailupe) posted a win in 5:48:15 on just his second solo attempt of the
Ka'Iwi Channel. Makaha's Duane DeSoto clinched the gruelling C4
Waterman Stand-Up division in 6:17:06, an especially incredible feat
given that he has was coming off the back of a major longboard
competition this weekend, which he also won.
Above, left to right: Jamie Mitchell - men's winner; Kanesa Duncan
(Hawaii) - women's winner; Duane DeSoto (Hawaii) - C4 Waterman Stand-
up division winner; Mikey Cote (Hawaii) - stockboard winner. Photo credit:
Bernie Baker
It was undisputable that Mitchell was in a class of his own today. It was
only a matter of minutes after the 7:30am race start from Molokai that he
settled into rhythm and broke well clear of the field - a position he held
to the finish. Looking strong and relaxed when he hit the shore, Mitchell
was all smiles and 100 per cent satisfied with his race. Hearing his
account of the crossing, compared with those who filed in after, it
sounded like Mitchell had partaken in a completely different race to
everyone else. His win today was worth $3,000.
"As an athlete, I couldn't ask for anything more," said Mitchell at the
finish. "It was one of those days where I was just in the zone. I could
keep going now, I feel that good. Half way through I just knew it was my
day. I felt unbelievable.
"After five minutes, I didn't see anyone. I set a pretty fast pace and I knew
that if anyone tried to go with me, they'd probably suffer towards the end
and I knew I could hold that pace all the way. That was my plan and if
anyone wanted to come with me, well, good luck to them.
"The conditions weren't as good as I think everyone was expecting,"
added Mitchell. "The wind wasn't that great, there was a lot of
(conflicting) swell from the north, so it was a real technical course. You
had to really use the rudder. Your board's going side-to-side all the time.
For me, I like that. I'm good at using the rudder."
Second-placed English was elated with his performance, having spent the
past four years out of competition. His best finish here was third place in
2002. English's main motivation for doing the race today was as a fund-
raiser for Surf Aid International, an organization he has supported for
many years.
"It was everything and more," Jackson said, comparing today's race to his
memories of other races across this channel. "It's the best I've ever done
here.
"You've got to come over here and be very humble with this channel.
We're so lucky to be here and just to be healthy and to do this. If we can
go through some pain to raise
"I don't want to keep paddling. I'm glad this is the finish," said Rocheleau.
"It's never easy."
DUNCAN CLAIMS 6TH WOMEN'S TITLE:
Kanesa Duncan (Honolulu) is to women's paddleboarding what Jamie
Mitchell is to the men. Winning multiple Molokai crossings comes with
nothing less than total dedication to paddling and a complete lifestyle
investment. Duncan has been winning titles on this channel on and off for
a decade. She also holds the women's record for this course - 5:53:49,
set back in 2004. Duncan won $1,000 today.
Duncan was neck-and-neck with defending champ Shakira Westdorp
(Queensland, Australia) for much of today's race. By the time she finished,
six hours, 28 minutes and 12 seconds after the start, little more than
three minutes separated them.
"I had no idea I won until I crossed the finish line," said Duncan. "Today it
was totally the channel - sideways, behind you, against you. It was an
absolute channel crossing. Out in the channel there were nice, long
bumps. It was an awesome middle of the channel. You just feel awesome.
Then you hit the shelf (of Oahu) and it starts getting all choppy. I fell off
my board laying down."
Westdorp was clearly fatigued by the finish.
"That was way harder than last year," said a breathless Westdorp. "It was
a bit chopped up and not as windy as we expected it to be. I just got here
as quick as I could."
COTE CLAIMS STOCKBOARD:
Electing to ride a smaller, 12-foot, rudderless board known as a stock
paddleboard pretty well guarantees a paddler that he has no chance of
ever being first across the line in the QuiksilverEdition Molokai race. But
for Mikey Cote (Wailupu, Oahu), there's no question.
"Always stock," said Cote. "This is the way that they always did it here in
Hawaii and I feel like I should be traditional. I love doing it the old
Hawaiian way. Keep the Hawaiian tradition going.
"I live about two, three miles away in Wailupe and I paddle this run all the
time. It's great to finish on a home course. It's really special. Such an
honor to paddle this race."
Cote finished the course in 5:48:15. It was an exceptional time, given
that he was 10th across the line overall, surpassing the majority of the
longer-equipped unlimited board paddlers. Second was Mitch Degeus
(Kailua, HI), and third was Eric Abbott (Honolulu, HI).
C4 WATERMAN STAND-UP DIVISION GOES TO ULTIMATE WATERMAN:
Hawaii's Duane DeSoto was exactly the kind of waterman C4 Waterman
had in mind when they sponsored the C4 Waterman Stand-up division of
the QuiksilverEdition Molokai race. On Friday, DeSoto was busy winning a
high profile professional longboard event in Waikiki. On Saturday, he was
aboard a boat cutting through the chop and swells en-route to Molokai.
Today, he won the most gruelling division of the race.
Standing feet planted for 32 miles, paddling stroke after stroke towards
Oahu with a one-ended paddle, today's conditions were the ultimate test
of balance on water. Only five paddlers were crazy enough to take on the
solo stand-up category and DeSoto was the clear winner in a time of
6:17:06 - 22 minutes outside of the record set last year by Kauai's Kevin
Horgan. Horgan was another of the solo stand-up paddlers today,
finishing second to DeSoto in a time of 6:45:33. Third was Kevin Seid
(Haleiwa, HI), fourth was Phillip Gregory (Queensland, Australia), and fifth
was the only female solo entry, Morgan Hoesterey (Honolulu, HI) 8:54:00.
Above: Duane DeSoto opening up his channel assault.
Credit: Bernie Baker
"Friday was good, Sunday was even better," said DeSoto. "It was one of
those accomplishments I never thought I was going to get a chance to
do. I'm incredibly happy to be able to do something like that in my life."
Maui brother team Dave and Ekolu Kalama were the first 2-person stand-
up team across the channel today (4:50:02); and Buzzy Kerbox &
Campbell Farrell (Maui/NZ) were the first non-rudder stand-up team to
finish.
The QuiksilverEdition Molokai to Oahu Paddleboard Race is the unofficial
world championship of paddleboarding. The race covers the 32-mile
distance from Molokai's northern shore to Oahu's Maunalua Bay.
RESULTS FOLLOW AT BOTTOM.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jodi Wilmott, Ocean Promotion, Hawaii - +1.808.258-8533 -
oceanpromotion@hawaii.rr.com
Presents the C4 Waterman Stand Up Paddleboard Division
MAJOR CATEGORY RESULTS FOLLOW.
For complete results: www.timelinehawaii.com
Unlimited- Elite
1 - JAMIE MITCHELL
QUEENSLAND AUS
4:57:14.9
2 - JACKSON ENGLISH
SINGAPORE SINGAPORE
5:17:23.2
3 - BRIAN ROCHELEAU
HONOLULU HI
5:19:22.0
Stock - Elite
1 - MIKEY COTÉ
HONOLULU HI
5:48:15.0
2 - MITCH DEGEUS
KAILUA HI
6:06:44.0
3 - ERIC ABBOTT
HONOLULU HI
6:09:37.0
Women Overall
1 - KANESA DUNCAN
HONOLULU HI
6:20:12.0
2 - SHAKIRA WESTDORP
CURRUMBIN, QLD AUS
6:31:34.0
3 - CYNTHIA AGUILAR
HIALEAH FL
8:58:56.0
Stand Up Solo Unlimited
1 - DUANE DE SOTO
HONOLULU HI
6:17:06.0
2 - KEVIN HORGAN
HANALEI HI
6:45:33.0
3 - KEVIN SEID
HALEIWA HI
7:31:43.0
4 - MORGAN HOESTEREY (only female)
HONOLULU HI
8:54:00
Stand Up Womens Team
1 - MARIA\ANDREA SOUZA\MOLLER
PAIA HI - 6:28:21.0
2 - TIARE\DANE LAWRENCE\WARD
MAKAWAO HI - 6:50:13.0
3 - JENNIFER\LANI KONOHIA\GOMES
WAILUKU HI - 7:06:15.0
Womens Team
1 - TALIA\LAUREN GANGINI\BARTLET
HAIKU HI - 6:41:06.0
2 - BIANCA\JOCELYN SALAZAR\KEMPE
HONOLULU HI - 7:42:46.0
Unlimited Women
1 - HEIDI GUTGESELL
HONOLULU HI
8:23:56.0
2 - ERIN WASCHER
KAILUA HI
8:30:30.0
Stand Up Team Stock
1 - BUZZY\CAMPBELL KERBOX\FARRELL
RAGLAN NEW ZEALAN
5:33:02.0
2 - TODD\CHRISTIAN BRADLEY
HONOLULU HI
5:35:47.0
3 - GREG\NOLAND PAVAO\MARTIN
WAIANAE HI
5:37:35.0
Stand Up Team Unlimited
1 - EKOLU\DAVID KALAMA
PAIA HI
4:50:02.9
2 - SCOTT\ALAN TRUDON\CADIZ
HAIKU HI
5:16:33.0
3 - GREG\PHILIP SHEEHAN\BINNEY
PAIA HI
5:46:34.0
Stand Up Celebrity Team
1 - TEAM GUERRERO\PESTAN
HONOLULU HI
6:39:31.0
2 - TEAM KEAULANA\DUDLEY
WAIANAE HI
7:27:23.0
3 - TEAM CHUN\KEAULANA\K
HONOLULU HI
7:56:00.0
Stand Up Solo Stock
1 - JACK GILLEN
KAILUA-KONA HI
7:02:46.0
Mixed Team
1 - SHANNON\TOM DEVANEY\HINDS
CARDIFF CA
6:27:53.0
2 - CHRISTINE\KIMO POWERS\CAMBRA
REDONDO BEACH CA
7:24:56.0
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Topic: Mitchell Claims 7th Victory
