Kai Lenny crossing the Moloka?i Channel in inaugural hydrofoil race at M2O. photo: Jianca Lazarus
World Champion Surfer John John Florence completes first M2O in team race. Kai Lenny wins inaugural hydrofoil race. Australians take top honors in SUP and prone divisions.
HONOLULU, HI (July 29, 2018) — At the start of the 22nd annual Moloka’i-2-O’ahu Paddleboard World Championships (M2O), presented by Kona Brewing, favorable winds appeared to be creating promising conditions for today’s racers, but the Ka?iwi Channel?s fickle personality created a puzzle board of mixed swell for athletes to navigate.
Australia’s Harriet Brown who claimed her second straight championship at M2O said, “At times it felt like we were going slower than if the channel was flat. You'[d catch a runner and hit another bump, which made you feel like you weren’t catching anything.”
The 28-year-old Brown finished in 5 hours, 51 minutes, 32 seconds, about 37 minutes behind her record-setting performance last year.
Despite the less than desirable waves, those competing in the foil board division sliced through the water in what seemed like effortless flight as their boards glided just above the ocean’s surface from bump to bump.
Kai Lenny, 25, who has won both the SUP stock and unlimited races at M2O, led a small group of foilers across the Moloka’i Channel, finishing in blistering time of 2:52:58. His time is now the standard for this new division at the storied race. Lenny was reportedly clocked traveling at 15 to 18 knots at points during the race.
Annie Reickert, 17, from Maui marked her crossing as the first and only woman to compete in the inaugural foil division, finishing in 5:20:06.
Pro surfer John John Florence paddles first M2O. photo: Jianca Lazarus
This year’s M2O also featured an icon from the professional surfing world. Two-time world champion John John Florence paddled in the two-person prone division with his teammate Kona Johnson. The two tackled the challenge in a time of 6:20:06
Florence, 25, said of his experience, “It was amazing, I had so much fun. I hope to come back and do it again next year.”
SOLO PRONE PADDLEBOARD RACE
It was an all out Australian assault in the prone division in both the men’s and women’s races.
Matt Bevilacqua enroute to fourth consecutive championship. photo: Jianca Lazarus
Matt Bevilacqua, 26, claimed his fourth straight championship at M2O in a time of 5:05:27. Given his skill and experience, “Bevi” now holds the course record and has the second most wins behind his countryman Jamie Mitchell’s impressive ten consecutive victories set between 2002 and 2011.
Alex Wright, 21, was second in 5:12:45.
Stewart McLachlan winning the stock prone race for second year in a row. photo: Jianca Lazarus
Stewart McLachlan finished third overall on a stock board against the faster unlimited racers to claim top honors in the stock race (5:33:26).
Lachie Lansdown, 22, could not catch the 30-year-old McLachlan in the closing miles and finished second in the stock race (5:37:56). Harrison Stone, 20, took the final podium spot among the stock paddlers in 5:49:17.
Harriet Brown mid-channel on her repeat victory tour of the Moloka?i Channel. photo: Jianca Lazarus
Finishing closely behind Brown in the women’s unlimited prone race was Australian Lizzie Welborn. The 19-year-old finished in 5:56:19. The two women were even