Honolulu, HI (April 30, 2013) – Organizers of the 17^th annual Molokai-2-Oahu Paddleboard World Championships (M2O), presented by Kona Longboard Island Lager, today announce that the 2013 race sold out in record time – three months in advance of its  July 28^th race date. This is the sixth consecutive year M2O has sold out.

Paddlers wishing to be placed on the wait list are encouraged to sign up by visiting Molokai2Oahu.com. Open positions in the solo and team divisions will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.  The wait list is now closed.

Traditional (prone) and stand up paddleboarders (SUP) from 20 countries around the world will compete in a 32-mile race across the infamous Ka’iwi channel, also known as the Channel of Bones, between the islands of Molokai and Oahu. 

To experience the enormity of the M2O challenge, check out the new video titled Isolation on the race’s YouTube channel.

M2O’s returning corporate partners include presenting sponsor, Kona Longboard Island Lager, Dukes, Maui Jim, Garmin, GoPro, Teva, Patagonia, Rogue SUP, Waterman’s Applied Science and Sambazon. M2O is proud to welcome new partnerships with LifeProof, Futures Fins and Pflueger Honda.

Combined, these partnerships speak to the event’s growing local and international popularity and importance as one of the world’s ultimate challenges.

“The addition of this year’s new partners is a show of support for paddleboarding and the outstanding athletes who test themselves in the sport’s ultimate challenge,” said M2O Event Director Shannon Delaney. “This race is a lifetime achievement for all athletes who complete the crossing. Congratulations to all who have done it and thanks to our partners for making M2O a success.”

For complete race details visit Molokai2Oahu.com, and find M2O on Facebook and Twitter for event updates.

About the Molokai-2-Oahu Paddleboard World Championships

Founded in 1997, the Molokai-2-Oahu Paddleboard World Championships, presented by Kona Longboard Island Lager, is set to celebrate its 17th anniversary on Sunday, July 28, 2013.   M2O has grown from a grassroots challenge for the legendary lifeguards and watermen of Oahu to the premiere event for the sport of paddleboarding, annually crowning world champions in the two disciplines of traditional (prone) and stand-up paddleboarding (SUP). The fastest athletes complete the crossing in less than five hours, which begins on Kaluakoi Beach on the north shore of Molokai and finishes in Maunalua Bay on the south shore of Oahu.

Infused with the traditions and culture of Hawaii, the race annually crowns world champions in the two disciplines of traditional (prone) and stand-up (SUP) paddleboarding. The fastest athletes complete the crossing in less than five hours.

The new video series demonstrates that M2O is much more than a championship race. A host of paddleboarding’s most recognizable personalities, including pro surfers Rob Machado and Joel Parkinson, illustrate how M2O’s images and stories inspire and drive the passion that has propelled paddling to be the largest growth segment in action sports today. 

The race is a deeply personal experience.  Competitors commit to a 32-mile human-powered journey from Molokai to Oahu across one of the deepest, most treacherous channels in the world – the Ka’iwi (ka_EE_vee) Channel. The channel’s unpredictable conditions require both athletic ability and navigation skills.

Paddlers around the world view M2O as the iconic challenge – the gold standard for those seeking to define themselves in the sport. More than 250 courageous men and women from over 15 countries will face powerful currents as they surf for hundreds of yards atop swells that can reach heights of more than 12 feet in a true championship test for every competitor. 

The race starts on Kaluakoi Beach on the north shore of Molokai and finishes in Maunalua Bay on the south shore of Oahu.

The official race website hosts a calendar of events, course map, travel and accommodation information. Participants and race fans can also join the M2O social community on Facebook and Twitter.

About the Molokai-2-Oahu Paddleboard World Championships

Founded in 1997, the Molokai-2-Oahu Paddleboard World Championships, presented by Kona Longboard Island Lager, is set to celebrate its 17th anniversary on Sunday, July 28, 2013.   M2O has grown from a grassroots challenge for the legendary lifeguards and watermen of Oahu to the premiere event for the sport of paddleboarding, annually crowning world champions in the two disciplines of traditional (prone) and stand-up (SUP) paddleboarding. The fastest athletes complete the crossing in less than five hours, which begins on Kaluakoi Beach on the north shore of Molokai and finishes in Maunalua Bay on the south shore of Oahu.

Molokai-2-Oahu Paddleboard World Championship’s Valued Partners

The organizers and athletes of the Molokai-2-Oahu Paddleboard World Championships, presented by Kona Longboard Island Lager, thank the event’s partners for making the annual race possible (alphabetically): Duke’s Waikiki, Futures Fins, Garmin, GoPro, Kona Longboard Island Lager, LifeProof, Maui Jim, Patagonia, Pflueger Honda, Rogue SUP, Sambazon, Stand Up Paddle Magazine, Teva, and Watermans Applied Science.

SUP Unlimited competitor Dave Kalama catches a fortunate bump on his way to his 2nd place finish.

Professional surfers Rob Machado, Joel Parkinson and Jamie Sterling test wave riding skills on the Channel of Bones. A record number of traditional and SUP paddlers participate in 2012 race.

Honolulu (July 29, 2012) – Any paddler at today’s 16th annual Molokai-2-Oahu Paddleboard World Championships (M2O), presented by Kona Longboard Island Lager would agree that there were nearly 300 personal victories for those who completed the grueling 32-mile crossing of the Ka’iwi Channel, also known as the Channel of Bones. When the final race results were in, new course records were set, two champions successfully defended their titles, two new champions were crowned and three professional surfers tested their wave riding skills on wind-whipped waves from the shores of Molokai to Oahu.

Fast conditions aided athletes in the SUP division, resulting in another record setting year for both the men and the women.

Connor Baxter, 17, from Maui defended his 2011 title in a time of 4 hours, 13 minutes, 26 seconds. This was a repeat vicory for Baxter who exchanged the lead many times with M2O veteran Dave Kalama who is 30 years his senior. Baxter’s finish time beats his former course record by more than 13 minutes set last year.

“This year I had Dave (Kalama) right next to me, so it felt like a sprint,” said Baxter. “It was back and forth the whole time.”

Less than eight minutes behind Baxter was Kai Lenny, 19, from Paia, Hawaii who powered his stock board to third place overall in the men’s SUP division. His time of 4:22:14 also won Lenny the top spot and the new course record in the stock SUP category.

In the women’s unlimited SUP division, Maui native Talia Gangini, 19, took down the 2011 champion Andrea Moller’s course record by more than 30 minutes, finishing in 4:55:02. In a reversal of fortune, this was Gangini’s first win at the famed race after finishing second to Moller, 32, in 2011. Today was Gangini’s second solo crossing over the Ka’iwi Channel.

“I love riding the swells,” said Gangini of the wave faces that periodically measured more than eight feet. “It was insane out there.”

Rachel Bruntsch, 28, from Honolulu, Hawaii won the stock SUP category in 5:49:10.

Using only the power of their arms to propel their boards across water, two Australians continued their country’s dominance in the unlimited traditional (prone) paddleboard division M2O.

Brad Gaul, 33, is now the first new champion in a decade at the world champsionships after ten-time champion Jamie Mitchell stepped away from men’s prone paddling at M2O. Gaul, who finished in 4:43:54, said he dreamed of this moment for a longtime and recognized M2O as the Super Bowl of paddling.

On the women’s side, 18-year-old Jordan Mercer defended her 2011 title in a time of 5:34:53, holding up two fingers as she glided across the finish. The rough conditions on the channel prevented record times for the prone paddlers this year, but with eight-time champion Kanesa Duncan-Seraphin bearing down on her, Mercer was more concerned with securing a win rather than bettering the current course record she set in 2011.

“It’s different every year out there and you can’t predict it, that’s what I love about the channel,” said Mercer. “It felt like I was meant to be out there today.”

Duncan-Seraphin, 36, from Kapaa, Hawaii finished second (5:45:00) in her 12^th M2O.

Jack Bark, 18, won the stock prone paddleboard category in 5:28:16. In his first solo crossing of the Ka’iwi Channel, Bark bested the Australian paddler Zeb Walsh, but only by a few board lengths. Bark’s father Joe also completed the race today in 6:41:45.

Joanna Bilancieri, 38, from Honolulu, Hawaii won the women’s stock paddleboard race in a time of 6:39:43.

Professional surfers Rob Machado, Joel Parkinson and Jamie Sterling who participated in two and three-man team relay got their first taste of riding waves in the middle of the churning channel.

After his three-man SUP team finished in 6:00:42, Machado admitted that the channel got the best of him at times, but also provided excitement and a unique experience.

“There was a lot of good water out there – a lot of good bumps out there,” said Machado. “I got taken out a few times, but it was fun.”

ASP World Champion, Joel “Parko” Parkinson teamed up with fellow Australian, friend and paddleboarding pro Wes Berg in the two-man stock traditional category. The two navigated to a 6:18:47 finish time and check a goal off Parko’s life list.

“I think surfing a contest is a lot easier,” joked Parkinson. “I always wanted to do it, it was a great experience.”

Big wave surfer Jamie Sterling and friend Tucker Ingalls paddled their two-man SUP team to a 5:45:17 finish.

Online race results are now available at Molokai2Oahu.com.

M2O thanks its partners: Kona Longboard Island Lager, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Maui Jim, GoPro, Dukes, Garmin, Teva, Patagonia, Rogue SUP, Waterman’s Applied Science,

Stand Up Paddle Magazine, Sambazon, Ocean Legends Dive Shop, Hobie Bags, Hotel Renew and Aqua Resorts.

Top Overall Solo SUP Men and Women

Men

Connor Baxter, 17, Makawao, HI, USA, 4:13:26

Dave Kalama,             47, Kula, HI, USA, 4:13:50

Kai Lenny (stock board), 19, Paia, HI, USA, 4:22:14

Women

Talia Gangini, 19, Haiku, HI, USA, 4:55:02

Andrea            Moller, 32, Haiku, HI, USA, 5:09:12

Terrene Black, 29, Long Jetty, NSW, Australia, 5:18:48

Top Solo Stock SUP Men and Women

Men

Kai Lenny, 19, Paia, HI, USA, 4:22:14

Andrew Logreco, 27, Honolulu, HI, USA, 4:42:09

Michael Murphy, 33, Redondo Beach, CA, USA, 5:12:45

Women

Rachel Bruntsch, 28, Honolulu, HI, USA, 5:49:10

Alison  Riddle, 26, Hermosa Beach, CA, USA, 6:28:17

Top Overall Solo Unlimited Traditional (prone) Paddleboard Men and Women

Men

Brad Gaul, 33, Warriewood, NSW, Australia, 4:43:54

Jackson English, 37, Avaco Beach, NSW, Australia (residing in Singapore), 4:59:57

Brian Rocheleau, 36, Kailua, HI, USA, 5:01:49

Women

Jordan Mercer, 18, Castaways Beach, QLD, Australia, 5:34:53

Kanesa            Duncan-Seraphin, 36 , Kapaa, HI, USA, 5:45:00

Leane Darling, 26, Haleiwa, HI, USA, 6:08:14

Top Solo Stock Traditional (prone) Paddleboard Men

Men

Jack Bark, 18, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, USA, 5:28:16

Zeb Walsh, 29, Jan Juc, Victoria, Australia, 5:29:15

Kai Hall, 36, Haleiwa, HI, USA, 5:38:04

Women

Joanna Bilancieri, 38, Honolulu, HI, USA, 6:39:43

About the Molokai-2-Oahu Paddleboard World Championships, presented by Kona Longboard Island Lager

Founded in 1997, the Molokai-2-Oahu Paddleboard World Championships, presented by Kona Longboard Island Lager, celebrated its 16th anniversary on Sunday, July 29, 2012. The annual race has grown from a grassroots challenge for the legendary lifeguards and watermen of Oahu to the premiere event for the sport of paddleboarding. Nearly 300 of the world’s most accomplished paddleboarders, both prone and SUP, from 15 countries crossed the challenging 32-mile open-ocean Ka’iwi (kah-EE-vee) Channel from Kaluakoi Beach on the north shore of Molokai to Maunalua Bay on the south shore of Oahu. The fastest athletes completed the crossing in less than five hours, facing powerful currents as they surfed for hundreds of yards atop swells that can reach heights of more than 21 feet. The race features two divisions, prone paddleboard and stand up paddleboard (SUP) with athletes competing as solo paddlers or in teams of two and three. Paddleboards are classified into unlimited (no size limit and with the movable rudder system) or stock categories (12 feet or under for prone paddlers and 14 foot or under for SUP with fixed fin).

The 16th annual Molokai-2-Oahu Paddleboard World Championships (M2O), presented by Kona Longboard Island Lager are set to host nearly 300 men and women, representing the world’s top traditional (prone) and stand up paddleboarders (SUP) who will cross the infamous Ka’iwi Channel in a test of endurance and wave riding skills. On Sunday, July 29, 2012, athletes will cover 32 miles of open ocean between the Hawaiian Islands of Molokai and Oahu. They will battle strong currents and surf for hundreds of yards atop waves that can reach more than 12 feet.

After establishing a seemingly insurmountable record of ten consecutive victories at M2O in 2011, Australian Jamie Mitchell will not race this year. His departure guarantees a new champion in the men’s traditional paddleboard division. To finish, let alone win this division is considered the crowning achievement by both men and women in this prestigious race who rely solely on the power of their arms to propel their boards across the Channel of Bones.

The top men in the traditional division will not only be jockeying for the title, they also will chase a course record of 4 hours, 40 minutes, 31 seconds, Mitchell’s final stamp of dominance applied to his tenth win in this famed race. However, accomplishing this feat will be made more difficult as all athletes in the channel will need to race against an invisible competitor that will pull at their boards beginning at approximately 12:30 p.m. A northerly drifting “dropping tide” is expected to work against the athletes as they navigate to Maunalua Bay on Oahu’s south side. 

“Last year, conditions were ideal and many paddlers set event and personal records,” said M2O Race Director Mike Takahashi. “This year, the dropping tide will add a considerable amount of navigational uncertainty.”

Paddlers will enjoy moderate trade winds with favorable direction on race day.

Australia’s long string of success in the traditional paddleboard division is still in good standing with 33-year-old Brad Gaul. This will be his third solo M2O race, having finished a close second to Mitchell in 2011. Gaul, a lifeguard in Warriewood, New South Wales will be challenged by fellow Aussie Jackson English and Oahu’s Brian Rocheleau. 

English, 37, slipped across the finish line in 2011 less than six minutes behind Gaul to claim third place on an all-Aussie podium. Rocheleau, 36, has the talent to finally break the Australian tenure, but Tim Foran, 34, from Dudley, New South Wales will not make it easy. 

Yet another Australian board paddling specialist, Daniel Shade, 29, from Picketts Valley, New South Wales also could be a contender in his first solo attempt.

Among the male dominated top-20 prone finishers in 2011, there is one name that stands out – Ms. Jordan Mercer. At 17, Mercer became the youngest overall athlete, male or female, to win the M2O. In her first attempt at crossing the Ka’iwi Channel, the young Australian from Castaways Beach, Queensland left a handful of men in her wake as she set a new course record of 5:22:31 to finish 16th overall. She returns this year to defend her title.

Kanesa Duncan-Seraphin, 36, from the island of Kauai is back for her 12th consecutive race. The eight-time champion is credited for establishing the foundation for women’s participation in the sport. This year, M2O will realize the largest women’s field in event history.

Although the humble race ambassador did not win in 2011 and lost her course record, it should be noted Duncan-Seraphin set the previous record of 5:53:49 in 2004 on a typically slower stock board compared to the sleek unlimited boards the fastest paddlers use today.

A pair of 26-year-old Americans will push the women’s field. Hawaii transplant Leane Darling, who now lives on Oahu, recently finished second to Duncan-Seraphin at the 17-mile Cline Mann race on Oahu. Both women share competitive swimming backgrounds. Duncan-Seraphin swam for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Darling qualified for the 2008 Olympic trials.
 
Another teenage Australian, Bronte Hartland, 18, will give chase in her first attempt at paddling the channel.

The top male SUP paddlers are back this year led by 17-year-old Connor Baxter. Last year, the Maui native set a course record en route to his first M2O championship (4:26:10). Since then, Baxter has been consistently claiming top finishes, most notably in the Maui Triple Crown of Paddling.

Scott Gamble’s second-place finish (4:30:10) to Baxter last year was the result of several missteps during water bottle exchanges with his team boat in the closing miles. Should the 36-year-old Oahu resident improve this year, the 2011 result could likely be reversed.

Race fans will want to keep their eyes on 19-year-old Kai Lenny from Maui. After dominating the world SUP surfing championship for the past two years, Lenny will compete this year on a stock SUP board. Even racing on a stock board, he is likely to finish top five overall and has a good chance of beating his counterparts who will all ride unlimited boards. Lenny first completed the M2O at the age of 13 with his father. 

Andrew Logeco, the two-time men’s SUP stock champion (2010-11), won’t make Lenny’s crossing easy. The 27-year-old from Oahu has experience on his side and the top stock SUP finish times – 5:13:45 set in 2011 is his fastest.

Also from Maui, Brazilian born Livio Menalau is back after finishing third just three minutes behind Gamble (4:33:13) in 2011. 

The SUP champion in 2010 and famous big wave surfer Dave Kalama returns. He was one of seven men to post top-ten record setting times last year on his way to a fourth place finish (4:46:52). 

The women’s SUP race will be focused on three names: Andrea Moller, Talia Gangini and Jenny Kalambach.

Moller, 32, who was born in Brazil and now lives on Maui is again the odds-on favorite as she returns to defend her 2011 title. With her win, she also set the current course record of 5:26:51. In addition to her talents on an SUP board, the full-time mom and emergency medical technician is credited as being the first woman to surf the big wave break known as Jaws. 

At the age of 19, Gangini holds the second fastest time on record (5:30:57) set in 2011 when she finished second to Moller by four minutes. Given her focus on training this year, the Maui native will be a formidable competitor. 

Kalambach, 29, the women’s 2009 champion from the Big Island, will push the pace on Moller and Gangini. Last year, she finished fourth in a time of 5:46:11.

The toughest way to cross the channel is on a stock board, measuring up to 12 feet for prone paddlers or 12 feet, 6 inches for SUP. The following are a collection of outstanding solo athletes who will compete in the stock traditional paddleboard category:

Jack Bark, 18, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, 1st place stock team category, M2O 2011
Zeb Walsh, 29, Victoria, AUS, 4th place stock, M2O 2011, Patagonia athlete
Fletcher Davies, 17, Newport Beach, AUS, 3rd place stock team category, M2O 2011
Kaniela Lyman-Mersereau, 26, Honolulu, HI, 2nd place stock, Cline Mann race 2011
Kai Hall, 36, Haleiwa, HI, 3rd place stock, Cline Mann race 2011
 
The popularity of paddleboarding and the challenge of the channel are also attracting world-class athletes from outside the paddling elite. One of surfing’s most respected athletes Rob Machado will take his wave riding skills to the start line on Molokai in the team SUP category with M2O veteran and long-time friend Brian Szymanski.

Top ranked professional surfer and current ASP world tour world title contender Joel “Parko” Parkinson is partnering with his trainer and fellow Australian Wes Berg in the two-man stock paddleboard category.

Follow live race updates on Facebook and Twitter, #M2O. Molokai2Oahu.com is the official race website. 

Duke’s Waikiki continues its long-time support of the event by hosting athlete packet pick-up on Thursday, July 26. The awards ceremony is held at the famous Outrigger Canoe Club. The race starts on Sunday, July 29 at 7:30 a.m. from the west shores of Molokai, finishing on the beaches of Oahu at Muanalua Bay.

M2O thanks its partners: Kona Longboard Island Lager, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Maui Jim, GoPro, Dukes, Garmin, Teva, Patagonia, Rogue SUP, Waterman’s Applied Science,StandUp Paddle Magazine, Sambazon, Ocean Legends Dive Shop, Hobie Bags, Hotel Renew and Aqua Resorts.

About the Molokai-2-Oahu Paddleboard World Championships, presented by Kona Longboard Island Lager

Founded in 1997, the Molokai-2-Oahu Paddleboard World Championships, presented by Kona Longboard Island Lager, are set to celebrate the 16th anniversary on Sunday, July 29, 2012. The annual race has grown from a grassroots challenge for the legendary lifeguards and watermen of Oahu to the premiere event for the sport of paddleboarding. More than 250 of the world’s most accomplished watermen (men and women) from 15 countries will attempt the challenging 32-mile open-ocean crossing of the Ka’iwi (kah-EE-vee) Channel from Kaluakoi Beach on the north shore of Molokai to Maunalua Bay on the south shore of Oahu. The fastest athletes complete the crossing in just less than five hours, facing powerful currents as they surf atop swells that can reach heights of more than 12 feet and carry athletes for hundreds of meters. The race features two divisions, prone paddleboard and stand up paddleboard (SUP) with athletes competing as solo paddlers or in teams of two and three. Paddleboards are classified into unlimited (no size limit and with the movable rudder system) or stock categories (12 feet or under for prone paddlers and 14 foot or under for SUP with fixed fin).

Please review and confirm all information is correct.  If you are not on the list and think you should be please contact us immediately at info@molokai2oahu.com. This list does not insure that you are officially entered.  ALL athlete and boat waivers need to be in by July 15th in order to be officially entered.  Please get this info in as soon as possible. 

Any immediate questions please contact info@molokai2oahu.com

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