After successfully defending its Dad Center Race title amid humid, sweltering conditions on Sunday morning, the Waikiki Beach Boys marked the occasion by celebrating the birthdays of three crewmembers in style.
Once the familiar blue canoe crossed the finish line, in lieu of a candle-laden cake, Waikiki zigzagged into the rolling surf lineup and took a celebratory ride toward shore in honor of Lauren McDowell and Alexia Lopez, who celebrated birthdays Sunday. Steerswoman Chelsea Bizik also got in on the fun in anticipation of her birthday on Wednesday.
The "Beach Girls" aced their first test of the long-distance season by claiming the 41st edition of the Dad Center event, which stretched along Oahu’s east and south shores. The race marked the first full-field competition of the women’s long-distance paddling season and featured 48 crews that traversed a 25-mile course spanning from Kailua Beach, around Makapuu and Diamond Head and finished in the waters fronting Kaimana Beach and the Outrigger Canoe Club in Waikiki.
"Our team worked together really well today, the blend was there," Bizik said. "Our goal coming into the race was to finish in the top five, but everyone likes to win so this is great. We told Lauren and Alexia ‘We’re winning for your birthday!’"
Waikiki notched the win in three hours, 12 minutes and 38.76 seconds and fended off Team Bradley (3:14:32.17) and Outrigger Canoe Club (3:16:10.11). Kawaihae (3:16:10.11) and Hui Nalu 3 (3:18:31.86) rounded out the top five in the open division.
According to Bizik, who pulled "Ironman" duties by steering the entire race, Waikiki took advantage of a rising tide that peaked during the race and steady winds that lasted until the crew reached Maunalua Bay off Hawaii Kai. Weather reports attributed the humid, moist air mass hovering over Oahu to Tropical Depression Kilo, which has yet to directly affect the state.
"It wasn’t completely hot, and it was overcast most of the way, so it was a good race," Bizik said. "There were little bumps to catch along the way. It wasn’t howling but the tide was with us and that really helped."
