There has been a number of people asking for info on a suitable race or two to do on their first trip to Hawaii as a paddler.
I can highly recommend two races run on consecutive weekends on Maui, the Maliko - Kahului run which usually has 140 paddlers participating as a short course (25Kms) or choose the long course run at the same time Keanae - Kahului (38kms). Yep you get to paddle through the tow-in area of "Jaws" in the bargain and experience waterfalls into the ocean along the race route and then a week later the Starbucks 42km Maui-Molokai, with a ferry ride back to Maui for $22. All the top paddlers use this race as a lead-up to the Molo Relay two weeks later and the best news is, you don't need individual support boats, but there are safety craft on the course, so it's low cost.
Thor and i did these 2 races last year and had no trouble sourcing canoes to borrow or rent thanks to the fabulous Don Mehling and Rob Philips. We actually caused a bit of a stir as I won the 50+ Division and Thor placed 2nd 30-39 Division so they now know who we are. Rowdy (Matt Carter) and Longy (Greg Long) have also done these races.
Check out the cool medal Maui style with flashing lights. haha .. I luv it.
Mid week you can fly back to Oahu for some shopping and visit Outrigger Canoe Club etc.
To see what you're missing out on watch this video (at the bottom of this post) of the Maliko - Kahului run complete with tribal drums at the finish line and a top meal and presentation.
About half way through the video you will see some excellent oc1 surfing by Kai Bartlett in moderate conditions for Maui (look for the yellow oc1, no shirt, red hat )
What more could you want ... Two downwind races on consecutive weekends, low cost, great local people, easy to rent/borrow canoes, car hire $15 a day, heaps too do (volcano, scuba, drink, chill out.... etc.)
The Maui race schedule is here http://www.mauicanoeandkayak.org/2008schedule.html
and the race history and results here http://www.mauicanoeandkayak.org/Homepage.html
And the video .. it's a long one but worth the download.
Or watch full screen from here http://blip.tv/file/472034
You think your a gun OC1 surfer ..... think again .... try rudderless Va'a surfing on the big breaks in Tahiti.
Full screen here http://blip.tv/file/441317
Cheers Rambo
Well travelled Professional Aussie Photographer Harvie Allison has finally completed his book of stunning & unique images from Vaka Eiva and Rarotonga (Cook Islands)Harv, as he is affectionately known by Outrigger Paddlers and Surf Club members has been shooting 'riggers and clubbies for years and has a huge body of work behind him. This latest book (available from his web site http://www.harvpix.com) i believe, is his best work too date.
Vaka Eiva, is on again at the end of this month and to help support the event, Harv has also released a Calendar titled Vaka Eiva 2008 with all proceeds going towards developing Junior Outriggers in The Cook Islands. The Calendar is set to be a collectors item and is also available from the web site.
Rear Cover
Our German Outrigger friends have obviously figured out the selection criteria for seat 1 
... way to go guys, very futuristic. Girls feel free to comment on the rest of the crew.
or download wmv here http://blip.tv/file/get/Rambooc1-SomeCr ... t1s187.WMV
or play full screen here http://blip.tv/file/428819
Cheers Rambo
Fellow Pegasus new owners, you are gunna love this canoe.
The first thing you notice is you sit IN the canoe not ON it, so you are closer to the water. It's also very comfortable, and the seat shape hugs your butt both sides and at the rear, which gives good control and feedback in a bumpy ocean. Ama feels light and lifts easily out of the water with a quick hip throw and balances just above the water without bracing with your paddle on the right.
Upwind performance is as good as the Hurricane, but it does it in a different way. Instead of punching through the waves, it pops over the top (but doesn't launch) and lands without a slap on the other side.
Downwind, this is where this canoe shines ... it drops in easy and earlier with less effort, once it has momentum it just keeps going and really surprises you how easily it bridges numerous bumps without loosing speed. It tracks straight, even when sitting on the crest and doesn't want to broach. The downwind performance is the main reason i decided this canoe was right for me. With it's ability to drop earlier and easily, it gives more time for you to select the path to the next bump. (i lent the canoe to Johnno for 10 mins to do a run downwind and i won't say what he called me but i accept it was a term of endearment that men call each other when they approve of something only you have)
The Peggie doesn't respond all that well to quick short strokes (like the Hurricane does) so it lacks quick acceleration, it does however respond to long hard strokes and continues too run-on, negating its lack of acceleration. ( i would still use my Hurricane in sprint races on flat water)
Build quality and finish is excellent, you can hardly see the seams. Stiff as, but like all Divinycell foam core canoes, will dent easily. Iakos are easy to fit into the Ama and Canoe slots and were number matched at the factory, so don't exchange Iakos between canoes.
Steering response, the Pegasus will throw you off, if you chuck a full rudder at speed, extremely directional. Ama is very close to the main hull compared to a Hurricane, about 200mm closer. Occasionally i hit the ama with the paddle , but this is just an indication i need to tighten up my recovery stroke.
The Pegasus will reward a good surfing type paddler and improve an ordinary one. The Hurricane is still in my opinion the fastest canoe for young, strong, skilled paddlers, (which I'm not) but the Peggie for me, helps overcome the loss of explosive strength you experience after 50 and allows me more time to make skill type decisions like bump chasing.
Be very interested in hearing what the other new Peggie owners think when they get their canoe.
I wasn't able to take photos of the unloading etc .. but it was a pleasure to bust the security lock on the container and be the first to peak inside (no little China-men jumped out) .... Awesome seeing all those canoes in one place and having the opportunity to unload them all.
You can read my prep- purchase reasons for selecting the Pegasus here ...
Well here she is in all her Glory. .... Just blessed wearing her floral wreath as witnessed by a couple of pelicans prior to being put through her paces in good upwind/downwind conditions.
What do you think ... please leave a comment below
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