2005 PRE-SEASON NEWS
May 21, 2005
"Open Women Crew Close Out Season at Haleiwa"
Ka Mamalahoe's Open Women Cross the finish line at Haleiwa
Ka Mamalahoe Canoe Club geared up for the start of the Regatta Season by concluding its final pre season race this past Saturday in Haleiwa. The open women crew was Ka Mamalahoe's only entry of the day, but competed well and represented the club proudly.
The powerhouse women of Waikiki Beach Boys Canoe Club took top honors in the 10 mile course, which ran from Haleiwa to Waimea and back to Haleiwa. They were followed by Lokahi and Hui Lanakila open crews respectively.
Ka Mamalahoe, which finished 8th out of 14 open women crews, were led by newcomers Ronnie Simmons, Kim Lee and Merly Vergonio. They were teamed up with veterans Po'o Auwae, Dara Hubin and Heather Kina in the steering seat.
Ka Mamalahoe will now turn its' attention to the highly anticipated start of the Regatta Season next weedend, May 29th at Ke'ehi Lagoon.
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May 14, 2005
"Crews Fight to the Finish At Keahiakahoe Race"
Novice B Women Display their 3rd Place Trophy at the Keahiakahoe Race
MHK Writer Frank Deniz was "on assignment" to the Big Island this past weekend. MHK Field Reporter Jake Kearney filled in to write on this weeks race details, but did not have the names of all the crews by press time. Please forgive him...
Ka Mamalahoe Canoe Club participated in the Keahiakahoe Pre Season race held this past Saturday in Kaneohe. The "Splintered Paddlers" fielded a Novice B Women, Mix Open and two Mixed Master Crews. The winding, and sometimes precarious course made for some competitive and often times heated battles amongst many competing crews from start to finish.
The Open Mixed Crew placed 12th in the Open Division. Both Mix Master Crews finished in 4th and 5th Place respectively.
However, it was the Novice B Women, who once again carried the day. The upstart crew of, Ronnie Simmons, Jackie Brown, Natasha Reed, Kim Lee, Lisa Bento and Michelle Chun pulled out a 3rd place finish which saw them engaged in a heated contest with open crews from Kailua and Molokai from start to finish. In a race which saw them fall behind and catch up several times, the B women turned it on in the last half mile to pass a veteran Kailua open crew at the tape.
The final pre season race of the season is slated for May 21 at Haleiwa. The official Hui Wa'a Regatta Season kicks off on May 29th at Ke'ehi Lagoon.
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May 7, 2005
"A Fine Day at the Beach for Ka Mamalahoe"
Mixed B's & Open Women Impress at Koa Kai Pre-Season Race
Ka Mamalahoe's Open Women Power In to a 6th Place finish in the Open Women Division
Bernie Cabreros, Dara Hubin, Kainoa, Po'o Auwae, Rosanna Auwae, Heather Kina
Despite entering their lowest number of crews this pre-season, Ka Mamalahoe put forth its' greatest performance of the season, nearly upsetting the established order of dominant racing clubs. The rough and tumble combination of Novice B women and men teamed up to challenge a veteran field of open mix paddlers while the powerful open women turned in another fine performance this past Saturday at Magic Island.
Ka Mamalahoe's Open Mix Crew
Jake Kearney, Ronnie Simmons, Mike Tosaki, Natasha Reed, Anthony Florentine, Kim Lee
The mixed Novice B crew of Ronnie Simmons, Kim Lee, Anthony Florentine, Jake Kearney, and Natasha Reed utilized the expert steering of veteran Mike Tosaki to step out of the B division and place 8th in the open mix division (11th out of 37 overall crews). Their efforts produced a time of 1:06:33...nearly 13 minutes ahead of the next crew with at least five Novice B paddlers.
The open women, led by steersperson Heather Kina, took advantage of some nice open ocean swells and bumps to post their best showing of the year in a time of 1:15:36. Kina and her veteran crew of Po'o Auwae, Bernie Cabreros, Kainoa, Dara Hubin, & Rosanna Auwae rolled to a 6th place finish out of 14, in the all open women division.
Tosaki and veteran Coach Scotty Thompson were pleased with the performance put forth by both crews, exclaiming the impressive showing today could be the forbearer of a successful Regatta Season which kicks off on May 29.
Ka Mamalahoe will take to the ocean for the Keahiakahoe sponsored pre-season race on May 14th, in Kaneohe.
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April 30, 2005
"Youth Propels Ka Mamalahoe at Alapa Hoe Race"
Ka Mamalahoe's Alapa Hoe Race Novice B's, 3rd Place
L-R: Char Meyer, Merly Vergonio, Ronnie Simmons, Lisa Bento, Keri Swaney
Ka Mamalahoe marked it's return to the water after a two-week lay off by fielding four crews for the Alapa Hoe Pre-Season Race held this past Saturday at Ke'ehi Lagoon. The Novice B women utilized the youthful, skilled steering of 18-year old pre-season newcomer Keri Swaney to propel them to a third place finish in the B Division. The B's, who went without starter Jackie Brown did not skip a beat with Swaney at the controls. Newcomer Char Meyer, filled in admirably for Brown, teaming with Ronnie Simmons, Merly Vergonio, Kim Lee and Lisa Bento to take the Bronze.
Ironically, the B's found themselves in a head to head battle a the finish against none other than their very own Open Women Crew. The Open Women Crew of Sam Smith, Allegra Thompson, Bernie Cabreros, Po'o Auwae and Rosanna Auwae managed to edge out the B's at the finish and place 6th in the Open Division.
The Mixed Master Crew ran a steady race and pulled out an impressive 4th place finish. The wily veteran crew consisted of Lisa Jones, Ted "The Divine Wind" Kunishige, David Wadsworth, Michelle Chun, Val Chun and Russ Swaney.
Ka Mamalahoe's Alapa Hoe Race Open Men Crew
L-R: Henry Chong, Frank Deniz, Roger Ponce, Scotty Thompson, Jimmy Jower, Jake Kearney
In the mens races, the combined mix of B and A paddlers Jimmy Jower, Roger Ponce, Henry Chong, Jake Kearney and Frank Deniz competed in the tough Open Men Division. Considered by many to be the toughest division to compete in, the men of the Splintered Paddle were socked with a 15th place finish (24th out of 34 overall). Coach and open men steersman Scotty Thompson remained upbeat and foretold that the valuable experience the men gain in this tough division will surely translate into their success when Regatta rolls around next month.
Ka Mamalahoe will take to the ocean for the Koa-Kai race scheduled for May 7, at Magic Island.
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April 16, 2005
“Mixed Bag for Ka Mamalahoe in Beach Boys Pre-Season Race”
“Adversity 101” was the topic of the day for fledgling Ka Mamalahoe Canoe Club during the Waikiki Beach Boys Race held today at Magic Island. Ka Mamalahoe took one Master Women crew and two youthful open crews into today’s race hoping to build on the successes of the previous week. The results were a mixed bag of success and perseverance.
The Master Women crew of Wanda Sherriff, Lisa Jones, Nancy Picklez, Marilyn Luipold, Kelly C. and Pam Glatt got things started as they ran a steady race and paddled home to a third place finish in the Master Division.
The Open Women, who were lead by the veteran tandem of Ttbang Ball and Val Chun, teamed up with promising newcomers, Ronnie Simmons, Jackie Brown, Kimberly Lee, and Lisa Bento. The mix batch crew turned in a gutsy performance which saw them overcome two major setbacks.
The first occurred at the outset of the race as dozens of boats jockeyed for position, causing the Open Women to huli (overturn). They quickly caught up with the pack only to later suffer an officials enforced backtrack of the course which took precious minutes off their time. Once again, the crew persevered to finish strong and outlast several crews.
The Open Men welcomed back Head Coach and veteran waterman Mike Normand, as he steered the open crew of Jimmy Jower, Roger Ponce, Guy Dashnea, Frank Deniz and Jake Kearney. Once again, Ka Mamalahoe endured as Kearney sustained a pulled muscle early in the race. Refusing to forfeit the race, Kearney gutted it out as the men finished up in 22nd place out of 30 crews.
The crews take the next week off from racing and will return to the waterways on April 30 for the Alapa Hoe Race at Ke’ehi Lagoon.
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April 9, 2005 2005 Hui Waa Pre-Season Opener
"Novice B Women Make A Splash In Race Debut"
Ka Mamalahoe's Novice B women made their inaugural debut by sending a strong message to all crews looking to contend for the Hui Wa'a Novice B championship. Ronnie Simmons, Merlinda Vergonio, Kimberly Lee, Jackie Brown, Lisa Bento and Lehua Miller carried the Ka Mamalahoe banner to a strong second place finish in the Novice B Division held this past Saturday at Magic Island.
Their stellar performance in windy and often times, rough open water conditions, eased the pain of an otherwise hard luck day of racing for Ka Mamalahoe crews. Two of Ka Mamalahoe's crews, Master Women and Open Mix, were unable to complete the 8 mile course. The Master Women were the first to fall due to their outrigger rigging coming undone. The Mixed crew was the next to fall after their canoe overturned and injured one its crew members.
The Open Men crew of Jimmy Jower, Roger Ponce, Mark AhSing, Guy Dashnea, Frank Deniz and Scotty "Up in Smoke" Thompson closed out the day during the men's 10 mile race by placing 11th in their division and 19th out of 35 crews entered overall.
Congratulations to all on a tough day of racing that saw many crews fall victim to the tricky ocean conditions. The next Hui Wa'a pre-season race is the Black Point Challenge scheduled for Saturday, April 16 at Magic Island.
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March 26, 2005 2005 Yellowbird Race
"Ka Mamalahoe Kicks Off 2005 Pre-Season"
The 2005 preseason got underway with Ka Mamalahoe fielding three crews; open women, mixed masters and open men.
Leading the way for the open women were first year paddlers Ronnie Simmons, Kimberly Lee and Jackie Brown. They were backed up by veteran women, Allegra Thompson, Christine Tate-Nishi and Val Chun in the steering seat.
The mixed masters crew consisted of Ted “The Divine Wind” Kunishige, Marilyn Luipold, Wanda Sherriff Halbert, Tom Moyer, Brooke Hernandez, and David Wadsworth in steer.
The open men were steered by Randy Chun and powered by Frank Deniz, Roger Ponce, Mark Ah Sing, Guy “Dash” Dashnea and Justin Fujimoto.
Although none of our crews took home any hardware, Ka Mamlahoe surprised many with all three crews finishing well amongst the perennial powerhouse clubs. With the many new and talented additions to the club, a winning blend may be just around the corner.