Molokai Magic is back as Jordan Mercer wins surfski event

Jordan Mercer brought her distinct brand of “Molokai Magic” back from Down Under to the Kaiwi Channel on Sunday and established milestones by claiming her first Maui Jim Molokai Challenge in record-breaking form.

Mercer, an elite waterwoman from Australia known in the watersports and ironwoman realms as “Magic,” is a six-time Molokai-2-Oahu Paddleboard World Champion as a prone paddleboarder, and she displayed her versatility on the water by finishing first in the women’s surfski event on Sunday in 3 hours, 47 minutes and 22 seconds to set a course record. She bested Georgia Laird (3:50:57) and defending champion Haley Nixon (3:54:57) from South Africa, who set the previous record of 3:52:32 last year.

“There’s no better feeling than knowing that you deserve to win,” said Mercer after taking a few moments to process the experience. “It’s been a dream of mine for the last four years, and obviously my passion is for the paddleboard, but I was ready for a new challenge. What better way than to prove to myself that I have the depth as a waterwoman to become the first woman to ever win on the ’board and the ’ski? I managed to do that, and held the record in both races, and have overcome multiple injuries and surgeries.”

With the win, Mercer became the first woman to win the “Molokai Double” as a prone paddleboarder and surfski kayaker, and in July, she will attempt to reclaim the Molokai-2-Oahu title for what would be the “natural” double. Mercer will also aim to reclaim her course record on the paddleboard as fellow Aussie Harriet Brown set a new mark in 2017 and has won that race two years in a row.

“This was the best field the race has ever seen in the women’s race, and it’s an absolute honor,” said Mercer. “I’m humbled, proud and thankful for the people who have supported me as I continue to love what I do. Having won the double, I have the fire to get back on the paddleboard again and win both in the same year. I’m back!”

More than 220 of the world’s top paddlers registered to compete on surfski kayaks and OC-1 (one-person outrigger) canoes in the 44th edition of the Maui Jim Molokai Challenge. Competitors braved the heat and humidity, as well as choppy ocean conditions throughout the race, but were aided by strong, steady tradewinds gusting throughout the channel.

The race was organized by the Kanaka Ikaika Racing Association (KIRA) and spanned 32 miles from Kaluakoi Beach on Molokai’s west side across the treacherous Kaiwi Channel, around Koko Head, through Maunalua Bay and finished adjacent to Kona Brewing Company in Koko Marina.

Veteran paddler and KIRA race director Jim Foti, who competed in the race in tandem with his sons in the OC-1 relay division, noted that, “after 44 years of running this race, this is the most competitors we’ve had, and a quarter of the participants are junior paddlers. It’s great to see the sport thriving this way, and paddling is in a good place.”

Four-time World Marathon Kayak champion Hank McGregor of South Africa claimed gold in the men’s surfski competition and became a four-time Molokai Challenge world champion in record-breaking fashion. Like Mercer, McGregor set a course standard (3:11:17), besting the mark of 3:15:09 set by last year’s champion and 2019 runner-up Cory Hill (3:11:51) of Australia.

“It was a great race, and Cory is a great competitor — he pushed me all the way,” said McGregor, who fell off his surfski midway through the channel and recovered and refocused in time to retake the lead.

“I managed to jump back on, gather my thoughts, and my forte is flat-water kayak racing, so all I needed to do was get to the calm water and do what I’m best at. The thrill of crossing the channel is what it’s all about, and the winning part is the cherry on top.”

Local competitor Pat Dolan was in a tight race for the lead down the stretch and ended up crossing the line third (3:13:00) to become the top finisher from Hawaii. It was the second consecutive year in which Dolan’s time would have established a record had he finished first. Kalai Handley was the last men’s champion from Hawaii, accomplishing the feat in 1978.

“For guys who don’t do too many international races, and choose one or two like me, it’s always a great experience,” said Dolan. “It makes me happy knowing that I continue to crack down on that record time, it’s awesome — I’ll keep going.”

Triston Kaho‘okele-Santos claimed gold in the men’s OC-1 race, finishing in 3:36:22, and held off veteran competitors Manutea Millon (3:37:18) and Manny Kulukulualani (3:37:23).

In the women’s OC-1 race, Hawaii’s Lauren Spalding (4:10:42) reclaimed her title after a brief hiatus, and did so by surpassing defending champion Andrea Moller (4:19:22) and Emili Janchevis (4:39:12).