bkfrogma:
Aloha kakahiaka from NYC! 7 am on June 21st and the women are launching for the first of the 3 races that comprise the Liberty Challenge.
bkfrogma:
Malmo Va'a women, from the Malmo Kanotklub in Sweden. Outrigger paddling began in the Pacific, but it's now a truly international sport!
bkfrogma:
Lining up for the 7:30 AM start . Erie Lackawanna terminal across the way in Jersey City, and a tug and barge unit (tug Southern Star) as a sample of the sort of traffic the paddlers will have to deal with.
bkfrogma:
The field heads south. And at this point, so did I - one pier down for an hour's nap on one of the lounge chairs on Pier 25 while the women paddled their 15-mile course.
bkfrogma:
Back at Pier 26, a member of New York Outrigger polishes Malolo Nui in preparation for application of an NYO decal.
bkfrogma:
If I followed the conversation correctly, this is a brand new addition to the NYO fleet and they're very excited. Guy in the tan shirt lives in San Diego and was talking about the construction of the boat.
bkfrogma:
And the winner is - a guy on a SUP! Oops, scratch that, it's Corey Bond from Manhattan Kayak leading a morning SUP tour. We got all excited when they hove into sight, then realized these were not the paddlers we were looking for.
bkfrogma:
Meanwhile, across the river, the women are fighting their way north against the current. Look so small, yeah? Later in the day things will switch around entirely -
bkfrogma:
And moments later, there's the first-place team coming into view around the Holland Tunnel ventilator shaft.
bkfrogma:
Let the celebration begin! These women just smoked the course in 2.16.57, and were almost 13 minutes ahead of the 2nd place boat.
bkfrogma:
3rd Place - False Creek Canoe Club from Vancouver, BC with a time of 2.32.28 - and here comes the Beast in 4th! No, once again, not really!
bkfrogma:
And it was a real fight for 4th and 5th overall, New Zealand in front, Australia hot on their ti-tufted tail - 2.34.26 and 2.34.52 respectively BUT OCC Australia is actually the first Masters team to cross the line!
