since the TransPac race is over, people from all over the world are partying very hard! beer, tequila, live music, and even a disco ball! glad to see everyone having a wonderful time!
i just love taking photos and seeing these kind of results. here is Mao-san riding a wave in the deep blue Molokai channel loaded with sharks.
when we got back yesterday, i was way to tired to wash Mayuki. so went down early this morning, started to wash, and thought, “wait, i should get a couple waves before i start?” so i pull up to Bowls, throw anchor, catch a perfect right, then a perfect left, then said thank you to the boys and left. my personal boat trip…
all that took only 20 minutes. free parking and free waves!
then i spent 2 hours washing my baby. take care of your important things in life, and it will take care of you…
came home to watch the US Open at Huntington Beach. so happy to see Seth Moniz advancing to the next round. Seth always brings the Magic to where ever he goes…
i was waiting patiently for the big tide to rise. and once it did, i grabbed my foil and headed out to Bowls again. different wave, different people, and different feeling. this has to be the best Summer in Hawaii if you’re a foiler and surfer. can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings…
coming from all over the world to compete in the prestigious Molokai to Oahu race is a very special thing. you have all of the worlds best watermen here competing to see who’s the best of the best.
as for me, i’m cheering for every single Japanese competitor. whether i know them or not, i’m still cheering for them. and i was so bummed out that i forgot to take a Japan flag for Mayuki!
as for me, my job is to show up and make sure Mao-san gets from Molokai to Oahu safely. my eyes are only on this girl the entire time.
and this year, it was Maki-san’s job to make sure Mao-san got her drinking water in the fastest time possible. Maki-san had to jump in the deep blue ocean 4x knowing about the big sharks that were around. one boat next to ours spotted a 15′ Great White shark, and another boat spotted a 12′ Tiger Shark. i was also proud of her for even jumping in when i yelled “jump in!” haha…
prone paddling is much easier than stand-up paddling because the wind isn’t as much a factor. but when the wind is blowing 30mph in your face and the current pulling you back, life is hard on a SUP. it seemed like it took Mao-san over an hour to get past this short distance towards the end. i seriously saw her paddling forward, but actually going backwards.
with the wind blowing one way, the current pulling another, and the waves breaking sideways, i don’t know how this girl got back up on the board after she fell. do you know how hard that is after paddling 6 hours??? where does Mao-san get all the energy from??? unbelievable!!!
this is the moment she crossed the finish line. last year i got the photo, and this year too. but this year was 10x harder so maybe that’s why it was 100x more emotional. i even had tears in my eyes…
what this girl endured was incredible. i was lost for words…
and to get greeted by friends must have been comforting.
and also getting greeted by new fans….
Hawaiian Pride is stronger and stronger! Save Hawaii!
