CHRIS OWENS CONNECTS THE ISLANDS BY PADDLEBOARD
Sunday, July 30, 2006
CHRIS OWENS CONNECTS THE ISLANDS BY PADDLEBOARD
Epic journey ends with a father-son paddle across the Kaiwi Channel
Maunalua Bay, Oahu, July 30, 2006—O‘ahu paddleboarder Chris Owens successfully completed his mission to cross all the channels between the major Hawaiian islands today as he and his 13-year-old son C.J. paddled as a team in the 10th annual Quiksilveredition Molokai to Oahu Paddleboard Race. With 10- to 15-mile per hour winds out of the east-northeast, Chris and CJ finished the prestigious 32-mile paddleboard race in 2- to 4- foot seas in 6 hours and 47 minutes, placing fourth in their division.
“I had a super hard time because I’m used to knee paddling,” said Chris, who switched to a stockboard for the race. “On that board I could not get up on my knees at all so I had to prone paddle the whole way, and my neck isn’t really used to it anymore… CJ did awesome. He saved me.”
“It was super-tough,” said CJ, who said the hardest part was maintaining energy. “I was thinking about the finish line.”
CJ said his father kept encouraging him all the way. “He just told me, ‘Keep on going Look at the island it’s so close.’ He gave me a lot of support and everything.”
Chris was happy to do his 8th Molokai race with his son. “It was a really proud thing for me. We got going and my son’s right behind me, and we’re heading across the channel.”
The other stages of Owens’ epic journey included:
July 16 Upolu Point, Big Island to La Perouse, Maui
50 miles, 9 hr, 45 min
July 19 Honolua Bay, Maui to Shipwrecks, Lanai
18.5 miles, 3 hr, 2 min
July 25 Honolua Bay, Maui to Wailua, Molokai
8.5 miles, 2 hr, 30 min
July 30 Kaluakoi Resort to Maunalua Bay, Oahu
32 miles, 6 hr, 47 min
While on Maui, Chris and CJ both paddled in the 9-mile race from Maliko Gulch to Kahului on July 23, a warm-up for their run across the Pailolo Channel to get to Moloka‘i on July 25. CJ had never visited Maui or Molokai before, and he was stoked to spend some quality time surfing and fishing with his dad. The journey culminated in the 32 mile trip home. Chris was one of two 13-year-olds—the youngest competitors—to participate in this year’s contest.
Chris Owens is the first person on record to successfully solo paddleboard across the channels that link the major Hawaiian islands. His paddle adventure raised funds for Malama Na Pua Traditional Hawaiian Healing Center. For more information and interviews, contact Brian Emery at (808) 429-2255.