Tomorrow is of course the Maui to Molokai race, as opposed to the higher profile Molokai to Oahu (aka "the Molokai").
However, according to Chris Parker @ SUPracer, the M2M is a far more enjoyable downwind race experience, whereas the world famous M2O is often more of a brutal long distance grind.
(see the full story @ www.supracer.com/2014-maui-2-molokai-preview/)
This is what we were talking about in another thread quite recently, discussing the merits of King of the Cut over The Doctor. Both M2O and The Doctor are older races designed with other paddle craft in mind, whereas M2M and KOTC are tailor made for SUP DW racing. Maybe in time, M2M and KOTC will become the more prestigious events in the SUP world, along with the Maliko run.
The guy in the red looks a bit like Dave Kalama and uses the same big QB paddle. I wonder if it is? Anyone know for sure?
whoever he is he sure can read the conditions. That was awesome.
Thanks
ET.
It is DK for sure.. but how good is JR keeping up with him and film him.. Awesome conditions.
Select to expand quotePTWoody said..
Tomorrow is of course the Maui to Molokai race, as opposed to the higher profile Molokai to Oahu (aka "the Molokai").
However, according to Chris Parker @ SUPracer, the M2M is a far more enjoyable downwind race experience, whereas the world famous M2O is often more of a brutal long distance grind.
(see the full story @ www.supracer.com/2014-maui-2-molokai-preview/)
This is what we were talking about in another thread quite recently, discussing the merits of King of the Cut over The Doctor. Both M2O and The Doctor are older races designed with other paddle craft in mind, whereas M2M and KOTC are tailor made for SUP DW racing. Maybe in time, M2M and KOTC will become the more prestigious events in the SUP world, along with the Maliko run.
I agree with your sentiments - I did both M2M and M2O last year and to say they were both a shock to the system would be an understatement.....Our downwinds in Cape Town are true as an arrow....no side paddling ever, so our downwinds did not prepare us particularly well for the Hawaiian experience. The Maliko has a short crosswind charge to get to the line but then it's perfectly lined up and then the last 900m in the harbour are pretty forgetful as well - but on the whole it's fantastic.
The M2M starts out with no bumps, then you get the bumps, but wind is on your right shoulder and pushing straight towards Lanai so you are weary about letting yourself run with, it took me about 1.5hours to get to where the action starts, but from then on in it's epic - funnest ever for sure. But you got to paddle 1/3rd of the race distance to get to the butter.......
M2O is like the first 3rd of the M2M - the entire way, but with potential for South swell running into the NE windswell + you can have adverse tides + there is massive bounce of Oahu which is felt for miles before reaching the corner at China Wall...(all of which conspired against us last year) after which you face another km or two straight into the wind.....definitely not the downwind conditions we were hoping for. But that is what makes it an spectacle, looking into the eyes of the competitors before the race you see focus and a high degree of masochism, those who have done it before know it's going to try and break you, those like us, who hadn't, were blissfully ignorant of what was about to hit us.....
I'd never attempt the M2O again on a rudderless board - it's just a stupid endeavour. The M2M would have me tempted as I'd get a boat and head South with the wind in the hope that when it's swings back in I wouldn't be too far in the **** and would make it back to the island. The Maliko is like a wet dream......
So yes, I also wonder if the SUP's will continue to treasure those types of paddles......I'm cured. But I can't wait to follow the race and see who comes out tops.......
Hey Peter,
What do you mean by treasure those type of paddles?
i bought one six months ago and it's the best thing I have done.
Just wondering what you mean.
Thanks
ET.
Results here.. www.supracer.com/2014-maui-2-molokai-results/
1st: Connor Baxter
2nd: Kai Lenny
3rd: Dave Kalama
4th: Travis Grant
5th: Livio Menelau
Select to expand quoteE T said..
Hey Peter,
What do you mean by treasure those type of paddles?
i bought one six months ago and it's the best thing I have done.
Just wondering what you mean.
Thanks
ET.
I'm referring to same sentiments as highlighted by PTwoody - Will SUP paddlers continue to enjoy (treasure/like) the kind of paddles that originate from surfski and OC1 and which seem to have less of an issue with sidepaddling.
Great race yesterday. It was a grind with no real surf able bumps for the entire first half. Lots of left hand paddling and cutting right.
I didn't feel like I could get any kind of flow until about the 30km mark. Then it got fun, just surfing the big unlimited board off the tail.
The time that the top 20 guys and girls did is amazing considering the conditions in the first half. It was such a relief to reach that finish line!!! Fantastic hospitality from the local Molokai canoe club at the end. :)
A bunch of us have stayed on Molokai to do a local DW race the M4M today. Should be great as it's the last 9 miles or so of the M2M run which is the best part!!! 
2014 Maui 2 Molokai RESULTS
(We?ll have them cleaned up in an easier-to-read format shortly?)
1 33 CONNOR BAXTER 1 SUP UNL M01-29 3:04:31
2 3 KAI LENNY 2 SUP UNL M01-29 3:06:44
3 1 DAVE KALAMA 1 SUP UNL M40-49 3:08:58
4 2 TRAVIS GRANT 1 SUP UNL M30-39 3:14:13
5 67 LIVIO MENELAU 2 SUP UNL M30-39 3:18:57
6 66 VINNICIUS MARTINS 3 SUP UNL M01-29 3:24:38
7 56 KODY KERBOX 4 SUP UNL M01-29 3:25:12
8 53 JERRY BESS 2 SUP UNL M40-49 3:31:44
9 49 ARMIE ARMSTRONG 3 SUP UNL M40-49 3:32:16
10 69 MO FREITAS 5 SUP UNL M01-29 3:36:16
11 82 JOSHUA RICCIO 1 SUP STK M01-29 3:37:07
12 17 TOMOYAS MURABAYASHI 3 SUP UNL M30-39 3:39:59
13 78 AMIR ARBEL 4 SUP UNL M30-39 3:42:25
14 51 BULLET OBRA 2 SUP STK M01-29 3:43:24
15 72 PAUL JACKSON 1 SUP STK M30-39 3:44:35
16 31 JAMES CASEY 6 SUP UNL M01-29 3:46:03
17 63 ALEX MATERO 4 SUP UNL M40-49 3:46:55
18 62 RALPH SIFFORD 1 SUP UNL M50-99 3:47:44
19 32 GUSTAVO OLIVERA 5 SUP UNL M30-39 3:48:21
20 77 DEVIN BLISH 1 SUP UNL Female 3:48:37
21 25 PHIL GREGGORY 2 SUP UNL M50-99 3:48:50
22 10 JIMMY FITT 6 SUP UNL M30-39 3:49:12
23 61 ANDREA MOLLER 2 SUP UNL Female 3:50:03
24 81 TALIA DECOITE 3 SUP UNL Female 3:52:18
25 52 KATHY SHIPMAN 4 SUP UNL Female 3:52:48
26 40 ROBERT LOPES 5 SUP UNL M40-49 3:54:28
27 59 STEVE WALKER 1 SUP STK M40-49 3:55:13
28 34 NOAH GARFIELD 7 SUP UNL M30-39 3:55:25
29 74 BUZZY KERBOX 3 SUP UNL M50-99 3:56:35
30 80 BELARMI DIAZ GARCIA 2 SUP STK M30-39 3:56:53
31 54 JUSTIN GORDON 6 SUP UNL M40-49 3:58:58
32 73 ANGELA JACKSON 1 SUP STK Female 3:59:40
33 50 PENELOP STRICKLAND 5 SUP UNL Female 4:00:04
34 11 ED WHEELER 7 SUP UNL M40-49 4:00:20
35 43 KARLA GILBERT 6 SUP UNL Female 4:00:36
36 26 MASAO ****AYAMA JR 8 SUP UNL M30-39 4:00:48
37 16 JAMES MARTINDALE 8 SUP UNL M40-49 4:02:05
38 7 ANDERS JONSSON 9 SUP UNL M30-39 4:06:59
39 28 AMERICO PINHEIRO JR 9 SUP UNL M40-49 4:07:00
40 64 RANDY ROYSE 4 SUP UNL M50-99 4:08:20
41 4 JEFF CHANG 1 SUP STK M50-99 4:10:35
42 84 MRON AKMAN 3 SUP STK M30-39 4:10:53
43 39 JEFF OKUNA 1 SUP Team 3 Male 4:11:21
44 38 TIMMOTH WYERS 10 SUP UNL M30-39 4:11:59
45 47 GREGG LEION 5 SUP UNL M50-99 4:12:24
46 14 BRETT STAIB 10 SUP UNL M40-49 4:16:37
47 44 JEREMY WILLMESS 1 SUP STK 14' 2 Team M 4:18:32
48 41 ROB WALTON 2 SUP STK M40-49 4:18:47
49 19 ANTONIO CHAER FILHO 4 SUP STK M30-39 4:19:46
50 5 MIKE JUCKER 3 SUP STK M40-49 4:21:13
51 46 SHEP NELSON 11 SUP UNL M30-39 4:21:40
52 35 GAVIN FERGUSON 2 SUP STK 14' 2 Team M 4:21:59
53 20 CRAIG WRIGHT 12 SUP UNL M30-39 4:22:26
54 75 MARTIN GIROUD 4 SUP STK M40-49 4:23:12
55 27 KIERAN O?RIORDAN 13 SUP UNL M30-39 4:26:22
56 76 BAILEY ROSEN 2 SUP STK Female 4:26:34
57 29 STEPHEN PUGH 3 SUP STK 14' 2 Team M 4:26:55
58 60 BRAD FELDMAN 6 SUP UNL M50-99 4:28:40
59 55 MAHEA GRAMBILL 1 SUP STK 14' 2 Team F 4:30:35
60 42 SEAN BICKNELL 5 SUP STK M40-49 4:31:32
61 68 KELSA GABEHART 7 SUP UNL Female 4:31:52
62 9 ED PRICE 2 SUP STK M50-99 4:33:47
63 71 LORI PARK 8 SUP UNL Female 4:34:04
64 83 VICTOR LOPEZ 3 SUP STK M50-99 4:34:26
65 6 JENNIFE LEE 9 SUP UNL Female 4:37:51
66 18 CANDIO CHUZORIANSC 5 SUP STK M30-39 4:39:22
67 45 ALYSSA WALTZE 1 SUP Team 3 Mixed 4:41:17
68 23 CARLO PRADO 11 SUP UNL M40-49 4:41:42
69 24 FABIO VALANGO 6 SUP STK M30-39 4:43:34
70 30 WARWICK GRAY 4 SUP STK M50-99 4:43:47
71 15 NICOLE MADOSIK 3 SUP STK Female 4:46:16
72 37 NICHOLE KLINK 4 SUP STK Female 4:47:11
73 70 BOB FRO BRASIL 14 SUP UNL M30-39 4:48:04
74 21 FABIANO FARIA 7 SUP STK M30-39 4:49:25
75 12 PEGGY KING 10 SUP UNL Female 4:50:38
76 36 LARA CLAYDON 5 SUP STK Female 4:58:28
The Pai’lolo Channel Crossing M2M is THE BEST long distance race on the planet. In 2010/12 Pai’lolo had THE BEST Downwind conditions I’ve ever seen for a Downwind race. There were only 25 of us at the starting line in 2010 with conditions looking really good. The wind was on your back - 25 knots, good 4 feet of ocean swell. You could see the corduroy lines of chop up ahead then all of a sudden you’re in this big trough & the trough turns into a nice glassy bit of ocean. I guess you’re so far down in the trough you’re out of the wind & you’re just surfing this ocean swell for BULK. Like you’re in the trough standing as far back as you could get on the board just surfing from rail to rail, maybe giving a stroke of your paddle every 10 or so seconds just to stay down in the trough. This years Pai’lolo 2014 Channel Crossing had a record breaking 76 competitors lining up. Conditions for this years race was very ordinary with small choppy seas, no real big ocean swells with a reverse current the whole way making the run Brutal with a lot of just paddle power. I would rate this years Pai’lolo Channel Crossing 2/10 (looked like the East Coast of Australia’s condition on a good day though).
There was many of paddle battles along the way with myself and Andrea Moller catching the same runner (Andrea is a weapon of a sheila paddle surfs 40ft JAWS just for fun. Even winning the biggest wave ever surfed by a female award, I take my hat off to her what a gun. I tell ya what they breed the sheilas hard core over here on Maui.
Had a great paddle battle with young James Casey neck and neck the whole way till the last 3 kilometres. Big congratulations to Devin Blish who won the women’s unlimited (Devin is one of THE Fastest women on Maui). Myself, Alex Matero and Gustavo Olivera my Brazilian mates where on a mission to do a good time, take a different line than last year and we had some all time paddle battles as always along the way. We where all way outside the Kamalo Buoy by about 2 kilometres which is the best line to take. I had some major falls out there, I just had to sit on my board at one stage for like 2 minutes adjusting everything even fixing my GPS watch as I nearly lost it of my wrist on a fall, Gustavo paddled past me asking if I was OK “I yelled out all good mate just keep going.” I was hoping to beat my best time of 3 hours 35 minutes but that wasn’t going to be the case. I ended up doing a time of 3 hours 48 minutes getting a second place finish in the over 50’s which I was more than happy with. Well done to good mate Ralf Stifford wining the over 50’s beating me by less than a minute and well done to Kathy Shipman who was paddling Jeremy Riggs old board this sheila is a weapon of a paddler and a very talented surfer and can butterfly as fast as a fish in the pool, finishing only 4 minutes behind me (Kathy is another fast female on Maui - both Devin, Kathy and Andrea have smashed a lot of guys egos “Yes Please Mr Wizard” thats Gold)
I recon If you was to make love to any of the girls here on Maui you’d better make love to them like a mink and not like a lion or I’d hate to be in your shoes.
It was great to see Australia’s Karla Gilbert paddling the Pai’lolo Channel for the first time. This sheila is one of the best Iron-Women Australia has ever produced. Karla Gilbert is the Elle Macpherson of Australian Women Water Sports in my books, mate.
One Lady I’m so stoked and very happy for is good friend Peggy King I believe Peggy is the oldest female competitor to ever enter this race. Peggy was on a mission to do the Pai’lolo Channel in under 5 hours. Peggy smashed her 5 hour goal with ease well done Peggy.
Congratulations to Connor Baxter, Kai Lenny and the Legendary Dave Kalama for coming in first, second and third, mate these blokes are weapons. How good would it be to Paddle as fast as those guys.
I’m so stoked for Connor Baxter winning for the fifth year in a row with fierce competition every year “No Shallow Victories Ever In This Race.” Connors fastest time ever for a Pai’lolo Channel Crossing is 2 hours 55 minutes, thats super human fast. Hope Connor can keep going and make it 10/10 like World Paddleboard champion Jamie Mitchell.
Thank you Rodney Kilborn for putting on this great event You Handsome Bugga You.
Looking forward to returning in 2015 for another Pai’lolo Channel Crossing.
iRONPHIL
Select to expand quoteDownwinder said..
The Pai’lolo Channel Crossing M2M is THE BEST long distance race on the planet. In 2010/12 Pai’lolo had THE BEST Downwind conditions I’ve ever seen for a Downwind race. There were only 25 of us at the starting line in 2010 with conditions looking really good. The wind was on your back - 25 knots, good 4 feet of ocean swell. You could see the corduroy lines of chop up ahead then all of a sudden you’re in this big trough & the trough turns into a nice glassy bit of ocean. I guess you’re so far down in the trough you’re out of the wind & you’re just surfing this ocean swell for BULK. Like you’re in the trough standing as far back as you could get on the board just surfing from rail to rail, maybe giving a stroke of your paddle every 10 or so seconds just to stay down in the trough. This years Pai’lolo 2014 Channel Crossing had a record breaking 76 competitors lining up. Conditions for this years race was very ordinary with small choppy seas, no real big ocean swells with a reverse current the whole way making the run Brutal with a lot of just paddle power. I would rate this years Pai’lolo Channel Crossing 2/10 (looked like the East Coast of Australia’s condition on a good day though).
There was many of paddle battles along the way with myself and Andrea Moller catching the same runner (Andrea is a weapon of a sheila paddle surfs 40ft JAWS just for fun. Even winning the biggest wave ever surfed by a female award, I take my hat off to her what a gun. I tell ya what they breed the sheilas hard core over here on Maui.
Had a great paddle battle with young James Casey neck and neck the whole way till the last 3 kilometres. Big congratulations to Devin Blish who won the women’s unlimited (Devin is one of THE Fastest women on Maui). Myself, Alex Matero and Gustavo Olivera my Brazilian mates where on a mission to do a good time, take a different line than last year and we had some all time paddle battles as always along the way. We where all way outside the Kamalo Buoy by about 2 kilometres which is the best line to take. I had some major falls out there, I just had to sit on my board at one stage for like 2 minutes adjusting everything even fixing my GPS watch as I nearly lost it of my wrist on a fall, Gustavo paddled past me asking if I was OK “I yelled out all good mate just keep going.” I was hoping to beat my best time of 3 hours 35 minutes but that wasn’t going to be the case. I ended up doing a time of 3 hours 48 minutes getting a second place finish in the over 50’s which I was more than happy with. Well done to good mate Ralf Stifford wining the over 50’s beating me by less than a minute and well done to Kathy Shipman who was paddling Jeremy Riggs old board this sheila is a weapon of a paddler and a very talented surfer and can butterfly as fast as a fish in the pool, finishing only 4 minutes behind me (Kathy is another fast female on Maui - both Devin, Kathy and Andrea have smashed a lot of guys egos “Yes Please Mr Wizard” thats Gold)
I recon If you was to make love to any of the girls here on Maui you’d better make love to them like a mink and not like a lion or I’d hate to be in your shoes.
It was great to see Australia’s Karla Gilbert paddling the Pai’lolo Channel for the first time. This sheila is one of the best Iron-Women Australia has ever produced. Karla Gilbert is the Elle Macpherson of Australian Water Sports in my books.
One Lady I’m so stoked and very happy for is good friend Peggy King I believe Peggy is the oldest female competitor to ever enter this race. Peggy was on a mission to do the Pai’lolo Channel in under 5 hours Peggy. Peggy smashed her 5 hour goal with ease well done Peggy.
Congratulations to Connor Baxter, Kai Lenny and the Legendary Dave Kalama for coming in first, second and third, mate these blokes are weapons. How good would it be to Paddle as fast as those guys.
I’m so stoked for Connor Baxter winning for the fifth year in a row with fierce competition every year “No Shallow Victories Ever In This Race.” Connors fastest time ever for a Pai’lolo Channel Crossing is 2 hours 55 minutes, thats super human fast. Hope Connor can keep going and make it 10/10 like World Paddleboard champion Jamie Mitchell.
Thank you Rodney Kilborn for putting on this great event You Handsome Bugga You.
Looking forward to returning in 2015 for another Pai’lolo Channel Crossing.
iRONPHIL
Awesome Phil - well done!!!
It's unbelievable that Dave Kalama can still be pushing the top two guys in the world who are literally half his age, and thrashing everyone else. Makes you wonder what he'd have been like against Kai and Connor when he was their age, had he had their upbringing. What a legend.
Select to expand quoteDownwinder said..
The Pai’lolo Channel Crossing M2M is THE BEST long distance race on the planet. In 2010/12 Pai’lolo had THE BEST Downwind conditions I’ve ever seen for a Downwind race. There were only 25 of us at the starting line in 2010 with conditions looking really good. The wind was on your back - 25 knots, good 4 feet of ocean swell. You could see the corduroy lines of chop up ahead then all of a sudden you’re in this big trough & the trough turns into a nice glassy bit of ocean. I guess you’re so far down in the trough you’re out of the wind & you’re just surfing this ocean swell for BULK. Like you’re in the trough standing as far back as you could get on the board just surfing from rail to rail, maybe giving a stroke of your paddle every 10 or so seconds just to stay down in the trough. This years Pai’lolo 2014 Channel Crossing had a record breaking 76 competitors lining up. Conditions for this years race was very ordinary with small choppy seas, no real big ocean swells with a reverse current the whole way making the run Brutal with a lot of just paddle power. I would rate this years Pai’lolo Channel Crossing 2/10 (looked like the East Coast of Australia’s condition on a good day though).
There was many of paddle battles along the way with myself and Andrea Moller catching the same runner (Andrea is a weapon of a sheila paddle surfs 40ft JAWS just for fun. Even winning the biggest wave ever surfed by a female award, I take my hat off to her what a gun. I tell ya what they breed the sheilas hard core over here on Maui.
Had a great paddle battle with young James Casey neck and neck the whole way till the last 3 kilometres. Big congratulations to Devin Blish who won the women’s unlimited (Devin is one of THE Fastest women on Maui). Myself, Alex Matero and Gustavo Olivera my Brazilian mates where on a mission to do a good time, take a different line than last year and we had some all time paddle battles as always along the way. We where all way outside the Kamalo Buoy by about 2 kilometres which is the best line to take. I had some major falls out there, I just had to sit on my board at one stage for like 2 minutes adjusting everything even fixing my GPS watch as I nearly lost it of my wrist on a fall, Gustavo paddled past me asking if I was OK “I yelled out all good mate just keep going.” I was hoping to beat my best time of 3 hours 35 minutes but that wasn’t going to be the case. I ended up doing a time of 3 hours 48 minutes getting a second place finish in the over 50’s which I was more than happy with. Well done to good mate Ralf Stifford wining the over 50’s beating me by less than a minute and well done to Kathy Shipman who was paddling Jeremy Riggs old board this sheila is a weapon of a paddler and a very talented surfer and can butterfly as fast as a fish in the pool, finishing only 4 minutes behind me (Kathy is another fast female on Maui - both Devin, Kathy and Andrea have smashed a lot of guys egos “Yes Please Mr Wizard” thats Gold)
I recon If you was to make love to any of the girls here on Maui you’d better make love to them like a mink and not like a lion or I’d hate to be in your shoes.
It was great to see Australia’s Karla Gilbert paddling the Pai’lolo Channel for the first time. This sheila is one of the best Iron-Women Australia has ever produced. Karla Gilbert is the Elle Macpherson of Australian Women Water Sports in my books, mate.
One Lady I’m so stoked and very happy for is good friend Peggy King I believe Peggy is the oldest female competitor to ever enter this race. Peggy was on a mission to do the Pai’lolo Channel in under 5 hours. Peggy smashed her 5 hour goal with ease well done Peggy.
Congratulations to Connor Baxter, Kai Lenny and the Legendary Dave Kalama for coming in first, second and third, mate these blokes are weapons. How good would it be to Paddle as fast as those guys.
I’m so stoked for Connor Baxter winning for the fifth year in a row with fierce competition every year “No Shallow Victories Ever In This Race.” Connors fastest time ever for a Pai’lolo Channel Crossing is 2 hours 55 minutes, thats super human fast. Hope Connor can keep going and make it 10/10 like World Paddleboard champion Jamie Mitchell.
Thank you Rodney Kilborn for putting on this great event You Handsome Bugga You.
Looking forward to returning in 2015 for another Pai’lolo Channel Crossing.
iRONPHIL
Great summary Phil. Felt like I was there .
Despite the average conditions those guys still did great times!
