On Saturday January 31, 2009 over 120 paddlers geared up for a day filled with excitement and intense competition. The 40 Fathoms race event was produced by Kai and Lauren Bartlett. The path is one of Kai's favorite downwind training runs. He named the race event after the '40 fathom water line' that Hawaiian fisherman use when setting their lines for catching the islands' famous ahi and ono fish.
The twelve mile race began at Kailua Beach on a beautiful day in Oahu. The weather and race conditions were forgiving to the contestants after a long dreary week on the islands. Arlene Holzman, third place winner in the women's overall long course race, described the ocean and wind conditions to be "relatively mellow for the windward side of the island."
Holzman has been through the same passage a few times before and explained that the conditions can get "pretty gnarly, especially through 'the gap' between the two islands," she said. "Once we got through that, it was nice surfing conditions with the wind at your back all the way to the finish."
The race ended at the famous windward landmark"Chinaman's Hat," just in front of Kualoa Beach Park with the majestic Koaloa Mountain as the backdrop. OluKai's own Michele St. John, Sara Christine Dallain and Matthew Murasko were at the finish line to greet the top three winners and award them each with a pair of slippers. Lauren Bartlett swiftly claimed the first place title in the women's overall long course race with a time of 1:43:54, nearly five minutes ahead of the trailing Jessica Eames. Mael Carey was awarded the title for the men's overall long course race with a time of 1:31:25 after going head to head with Luke Evslin in close pursuit.The community was also able to participate in the festivities and experience the brand first hand through OluKai's tent display. The Olukai 'Ohana showcased product and passed out promotional items to spectators and contestants. The event was a wonderful success and OluKai congratulates all of the winners and contestants who participated in the race.
The paddling community thanks Kai and Lauren Bartlett for putting on the 40 Fathoms Racing event. They have earned a renowned reputation in the OC-1 paddling community as world class athletes and work to continue their success through their new non-profit organization Hoe Wa'a O Hawaii. Through the program, Kai and Lauren mentor youth to become world class paddlers and reach out to the less fortunate in the Hawaiian community through OC paddling.
