minute-and-a-half behind Ching. “I was actually cruising in the beginning because I figured I was out of it,” Kai Bartlett told the Honolulu Advertiser. “I think that might have helped me in the end. As I started passing guys, I started feeling better and better, and I guess I had more gas in the tank at the end.”
Room to tinker Lauren Bartlett held the lead throughout the women’s race and took the opportunity to experiment with differentsized paddle blades. But late in the race, Alana Frazier of Kauai, Hawaii, made a hard push, quickly closing the gap to two minutes. Bartlett responded and finished about five minutes ahead of Frazier. Honolulu’s Jaimie Kinard took third. Lauren Bartlett commented to the Honolulu Advertiser about the conditions. “I don’t think any amount of training can prepare you for a day like this,” she said. “I think everybody who finished today should be commended.” Several competitors were unable to complete the crossing, among them two-time defending surf ski world champion Lewis Laughlin of Tahiti. Laughlin, competing in his first OC1 championship, hung with the lead group for much of the race, bowing out after four hours. Defending and seven-time solo champion Karel Tresnak, Jr. did not participate in this year’s race.
Kai Bartlett won the 2009 Steinlager Ka’iwi Solo World Championship
Top 5 Finishers - Women Lauren Bartlett
Hawaii
6:03:47
Alana Frazier
Hawaii
6:08:21
Jaimie Kinard
Hawaii
6:31:30
Arlene Holtzman
Hawaii
6:38:40
Lori Nakamura
Hawaii
6:40:48
Top 5 Finishers - Men Kai Bartlett
Hawaii
5:12:22
Danny Ching
California
5:13:35
Jimmy Austin
Hawaii
5:14:59
Mael Carey
Hawaii
5:22:36
Mike Judd
Hawaii
5:28:33
Stephen Mahelona is a outrigger canoe paddler originally from Hawaii, now living in Texas where he races both OC1 and OC6 boats.
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