18 May 2004

Durban paddler Herman Chalupsky triumphed over a classy field at the weekend to win the 28th Kona Brewing Molokai Challenge, which is recognised as the unofficial ocean kayaking world championships. It was his first win in nine attempts at the race.

He raced away to win the 55-kilometre crossing from the island of Molokai to Oahu by more than seven minutes from Australian star paddler Dave Kissane, in tough racing conditions.

The race was not without its fair share of drama, as defending champion Oscar Chalupsky was caught off the start line; He was warming up some way off when the start gun sounded six minutes early.

Setting the pace
Herman Chalupsky, who finished second in the recent Men's Health Mazda Ski World Cup singles race in Cape Town in Easter, set the early pace in difficult sidewind conditions, with very little swell to surf, as his older brother made a strong charge from the back of the pack.

Nine times Molokai champion Dean Gardiner dropped out with a shoulder injury after roughly two hours, shortly after he had been caught by Oscar Chalupsky. But the chase proved too much for the older Chalupsky, who was crippled by cramps.

Australian Dave Kissane moved into second, after a gamble to paddle a more southerly line towards Oahu. It was then that Herman Chalupsky realized he had to finish off Kissane's challenge before the final turn to the finish at Oahu.

'I risked blowing'
“I didn't want to have it come down to the end. I risked blowing and paddled as hard as I could”, said Herman Chalupsky, after arriving exhausted, but well clear of Kissane, at the finish.

The crossing is renowned for its unpredictable and large swells, as paddlers have to choose their own routes around a number of dangerous reefs and headlands.

The victory was Chalupsky's second in the tough event. In 1995, he and his brother Oscar crossed the finish line together to record the event's only tied first place.

South African dominance
The win by Chalupsky underscores the dominance of South African ski paddlers in major internationals. Capetonian Dawid Mocke won the King of the Harbour event in New Zealand in late March, two weeks before the South African team won the inaugural Ski World Cup in a cliffhanger two-stage tussle with the Australian team.

The Chalupsky brothers also won the second annual Steinlager Kauai World Challenge, a 55-kilometre relay race on the scenic island of Kauai, two weeks before the Molokai Challenge.

Summary of Results

10. Robert Dorrough 4:15:27

	Herman Chalupsky

	Theron takes Berg River 2003 Jenkins, Lombard win Fish 2003 Stott, Dreyer rule Dusi 2004 Chalupskys blitz Kauai relay SA Kings of the Harbour 2004 10 years: a canoeing success Stott, Bruss take Umkomaas 2004

	Canoeing South Africa