Medal, erm…vampires?

A lot has happened since my last post and really, I should have been documenting it more. In a strange way I am happy to have a bad back today, as it’s giving me some time to rest and (finally!) get around to writing a new blog. Apologies for my absence dear readers!

The last time I wrote, I was still jubilant about winning our first medal of the season. When we set out at the start of the 2011 Maui County Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association (MCHCA) campaign, we wanted to win a medal. One medal, any color and we would be happy. We were and still are on cloud nine about our bronze medallions and we all gazed dreamily at them for an entire week, as they took pride of place in our respective homes. Only one problem… like the vampires you see in the movies drinking blood for the first time, we now have a taste of it and we want more!

He's got the taste for medals and he's still wearing his too.

And more we had. Just seven days later we placed again – finishing in third place to claim bronze at Napili’s Dougie Tihada Memorial Regatta. It was a close race, a really close race and our boat felt great. Hawaiian came in first with a time of 4:50.17,  Kahana in second on 4:53.75 then our crew with a time of 4:58.24. Na Kai Ewalu were fourth with 5:06.83,  Lae’ula O Kai in fifth on 5:16.85 and Napili in sixth on 5:30.08. Kihei had actually come in third, but they were disqualified for breaking the rules, so we took third. We were delighted, to say the least.

We were also delighted for our Boys 12B who, for the third time in as many weeks, struck gold at Napili’s regatta. Imua boys, we are so proud of you!

The next week it was back to Hanakao’o Beach for Kahana’s regatta and it was actually a tough week at Lahaina Canoe Club. We didn’t manage to get any first-place medals but took home some hardware; our Boys 12B winning silver, our Girls 15 won bronze (well done girls!), our Men’s Novice A also won bronze and I think that was just about it!

It didn’t feel so good in our boat – I think I could have gone faster and smoother up-front and, if we’d had a better lane I think we could have done better. But it doesn’t matter – we gave it everything and we’re looking forward to the next regatta on June 9!

So… we have got a taste for it now and we are chomping at the bit to have another try. We’ve got a bye week coming up, which gives us extra time to prepare for Na Kai ‘Ewalu’s John Wilmington III Regatta. Keep checking back to see how we do in Kahului Harbor in two week’s time.

Aloha for now, Laura

Finally, our medal day arrives

Like a perfectly poured pint of Guinness, some things are worth waiting for. Although it felt like they were a long time coming, our first medals were absolutely, definitely worth it.

As Novice Bs last season we came so very close - one seventh of a second was all that kept us from the silverware during regatta season. And regular readers of my blog will now all about the long-distance race where we were given OFF! insect repellent instead of a medal (I kid you not…)

Guinness and medals, both worth waiting for.

But at the Kamehameha Regatta, hosted at Canoe Beach by Wailea Canoe Club, our day finally came. We have been working so hard in training, trying to piece together our turns and our strategies as a crew and trying to get good time on the water.

In the season’s first race our aim was just not to come last, which we managed at Lae ‘Ula O Kai’s Mayor’s ‘Umeke regatta at Kahului Harbor – finishing in sixth place out of eight crews.

But in home waters we really wanted to push it and see what we could do. We warmed up and there was a sense of real determination as we paddled towards the starting line. I was in seat one, Lindsey in two, Cynthia in three, Carlee in four, Aviva in five and Jenny in six. Eli was most definitely there in spirit.

The race seemed to go by in a flash, before we knew it we were into our turn and Jenny turned the boat brilliantly – especially as she has essentially taught us and herself how to do it. Imua Jen!

The whole way back to the starting flags was a blur, I knew we were up there in the mix but you can’t look around, as it’ll destroy your rythm, concentration, balance and more. From the tone of Jenny’s voice, we knew we were in with a chance and when we crossed the line we were pretty sure we came in third.

Third!!

 

To say we were happy is a huge understatement, we were overjoyed, reduced to tears, you name it. Here’s a couple of pictures that speak volumes:

 

Carlee and Eli after the race.

 

The Novice As brought their A game and their, erm, guns...

 

Although we probably celebrated it the most, we weren’t the only Lahaina Canoe Club team to win medals last Saturday. The Novice A Men took gold again in their race, as did the Master Men. Our Boys 12B continued their winning streak with their second first-place finish in consecutive weeks, fantastic! Imua boys (and men)!

 

To add even more good news to the occasion, I was shocked on Sunday morning when I rode into Lahaina to pick up a copy of The Maui News. You see, there is a big bias in the paper for Hawaiian Canoe Club – it’s the island’s biggest and most successful club and therefore get the most exposure. LCC are lucky if they get a mention at all. But low and behold, our Novice A Men were pictured on the front page, and name checked too. Not only that but the Novice A girls made the front page too! You can see the article by clicking here. Yes, we were stoked!

 

We’re hoping to keep the momentum going at this Saturday’s regatta, the Dougie Tihada Memorial, hosted by Napili. Keep checking back to see how we did.

 

Mahalo for reading, Laura

Here we go again!

The new regatta season is soon to be upon us and I can’t wait! The Maui County Hawaiian Canoe Association (MCHCA) kicks off tomorrow at Kahului Harbor for the Mayor’s Umeke Regatta, hosted by Lae ‘Ula O Kai and those familar feelings of excitement and trepidation are creeping back in…

I’ve just been reading my post from last year (you can see it by clicking here) and it made me chuckle as I’m feeling exactly the same as I did then, preparing in exactly the same way and tomorrow’s race is all I can think about. Again.

We know what to expect this time around, apart from the fact that we have to do turns this year. Last season, we just raced a quarter-mile as Novice Bs but as As we have to race half a mile, with a turn around the flags. This adds a whole new dimension to our race. The only way we’ll know where we stand is by racing and seeing how we fare against the opposition. It’s exciting to say the least.

A Lahaina wa'a, pictured during the 2010 season. Picture courtesy Kenny Moore.

I know I speak for both myself and the rest of the Novice A women when I say that we’re really excited to support our Novice B Women out there. We’ve got a great group of girls and their crew has really started bonding. They’ve been practicing hard, so I hope all the hard work pays off. They will have fun out there whatever happens, and that’s what counts.

I do feel like we’d trained a LOT more this time last year, which does concern me but we just have to do our best and then keep training as hard as we can for the rest of the season. No matter what I can’t wait to race with our A crew tomorrow, let’s just hope we bring our A game. Imua Lahaina!

I’ll be back with all the results very soon. Mahalo for reading, Laura