Honolulu,Hawaii-
July 6, 2010

The inaugural $10,000.00 Mormaii Moloka'i Pai'lolo Express Race presented by Standup Paddle Magazine, a 27 mile endurance crossing between the island of Maui and Molokai, commences this Sunday from the Kapalua end of Maui at the world renown surf break Honolua Bay ending at Kaunakakai Harbor on Molokai.


As this is an "Elite" race, expect to see some of the world's great water men and women displaying their skills in technique, endurance and navigation.

As for the channel, Pai'lolo, it has been known for it's "clean wind" which funnels between the two islands creating a perfect run over the decades by one-man outrigger canoe racers, kayakers and wind-surfers.

One such waterman who has done the run on both sail and stand-up boards is 15 year-old Connor Baxter. Says Baxter;  "Windsurfing is a lot easier because you can head straight out into the wind and find your course but on a stand-up, you need to set your line."

"On my last run several months ago, I basically went way up north before heading toward Kaunakakai Harbor and thought I made a huge mistake as I saw everyone way out in front of me. That's when my mind started playing tricks on me and I thought I was done with it. At the half-way point I realized because I was closer to Molokai, I was actually riding along the coastline and had a better line than the leaders and my confidence level shot straight up."

"Eight miles outside the finish where two years ago in another run, I was actually heading into the 5 hour mark dealing with the doldrums and absolutely no wind I felt fatigued, but this year, we had 10 knot winds for the last third of the same run and I shaved almost 2 hours off my time. Of course having a better board (14' Starboard/Sandwich Isle Composite) really helped."


As for this first annual Mormaii Molokai Pai'lolo Express, expect to see a wiser Baxter on a 16' Starboard/SIC with winds forecasted out of the east-northeast at 12-15 knots and expect Maui's finest on the run including this years Olukai Premium winner Livio Menelau and board maker Mark Raaphorst. Also expect to see Molokai's distance champion Ekolu Kalama in this race as he readies for another 32 Molokai to Oahu Championship.

$10,000.00 in prize money will be given away and as for bragging rights, the overall winner receives $4000.00 and the top female gets $1000.00.

There will be a mandatory race day competitors meeting at 9:00 A.M. at the Honolua Bay, Maui boat launch ramp and the race is schedule to start at 10 A.M. from the middle of the bay.

For Logistics;
Contact:
Rodney Kilborn, race director, Handsome Bugga Productions
Telephone: 808.575.2842
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Or go to:
Handsomebuggaproductions.com


For image or video request contact:
Fox Lach, media coordinator, Standup Paddle Magazine
Telephone: 808.723.9192
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