The boards are back on the rack, the boats are back in the harbour and the trophies are up on the mantelpiece. Molokai-2-Oahu is done for another season, however the memories from this year’s epic will live on forever.
The most prestigious race in the world certainly lived up to its hype this year, with the 20th annual crossing of the Ka’iwi Channel proving to be the fastest, most competitive and most exciting edition yet.
I could wax lyrical about this storied event, however nobody says it better than the paddlers themselves, the ones who were actually out there battling in the Channel of Bones for pride and glory.
So to give you a better insight into what M2O really means, here’s a selection of post-Molokai reflections from the world’s best paddlers…
Kai Lenny
Travis Grant
Sonni Hönscheid
Annabel Anderson
Terrene Black
James Casey
Toby Cracknell
Vinnicius Martins
Kenny Kaneko
Josh Riccio
Jonas Letieri
Travis Baptiste
Andrew Logreco
Lena Ribeiro
Chuck Patterson
Tomoyasu Murabayashi
Lara Claydon
Kali‘a Alexiou
Kaihe Chong
Noa Hopper
Ryland Hart
Annie Reickert
Jeffrey Spencer
Takuji Araki
Heath Meldrum
Kieran O’Riordan
Posted via Facebook: Well now the dust has settled on the 2016 M2O all of us are left with fond memories and the aches & pains earned from such a huge undertaking. In the lead up there were times where I questioned myself if I deserved to be there on the same start line as so many amazing athletes but the positive attitudes and encouragement that you get from everyone is unbelievable. You kind of feel like you are part of a family such is the atmosphere. I can honestly say it was the hardest and most rewarding thing I have ever done and I loved every minute of it. I have never been so physically and mentally drained as I was crossing that finish line. I can’t wait to start training harder for next year. :)
Huge thanks to everyone that helped me out along the way with training, advice and positive words, Scott Hardiman, Jimmy Casey, Brad Gaul, Dave Kissane, Sam Parker, and all the friends and family around the world with the positive words and messages in the day – I’ve read all of them and you guys rock!!!! My awesome support crew on the day, my girlfriend Suze, good mate Paul “shark bait” Matthews, excellent escort boat captain Colin Steinberger & Ariel, Sonni Hönscheid for kindly sorting out my board back on Maui. Lets do it all again in 2017. :) // photo: Mike Abbott
Ethan Koopmans
Harry Lee
Belar Diaz
Michi Schweiger
Marcus Tardrew
(Marcus, a highly talented downwind paddler himself, created the bold new board designs that Matt Nottage, Jimmy Casey and Toby Cracknell were riding)
And let’s not forget the prone paddleboarders, who not only pioneered this race back in the 90s but continue to push the limits and inspire everyone in the ocean paddling world…
Jordan Mercer
Women’s prone champion for a sixth year in a row
Matt Bevilacqua
Men’s prone champion and new course record holder
Stewart McLachlan
Men’s prone stock champion (new course record)
Lachie Lansdown
Jack Bark
Brad Gaul
Abby Brown
Women’s prone stock champion
Carter Graves
