By KEVIN JAKAHI Tribune-Herald sports writer ADVERTISING Getting off to a good start takes on a whole new meaning at the state canoe paddling championships, something Kealakehe coach Mike Atwood knows well by heart. Two weeks ago at the Big
By KEVIN JAKAHI
Tribune-Herald sports writer
Getting off to a good start takes on a whole new meaning at the state canoe paddling championships, something Kealakehe coach Mike Atwood knows well by heart.
Two weeks ago at the Big Island Interscholastic Federation championships, the Waveriders had a slow start in the mixed race and finished second, missing a chance to be the first school to sweep all three titles in the high school sport’s 11-year history.
A place in the record books is on the line again for the half-mile state boys, girls and mixed races. Kealakehe has never won a state title and is stacked with seniors on all three crews. Its boys crew was third last year.
Other than a two-hour-plus drive from Kailua-Kona, there’s little inconvenience for the Waveriders, who will be on familiar water, knowing how to cut sharp angles, manage the Suisan river’s currents, and avoid burying the flag, all helpful inside intel.
Yet the blueprint to the easiest road to a state title is something all 16 participating schools know: It’s best to finish either first or second in the two preliminary heats, which leads to a spot in the finals.
The rest of the crews head to the semifinals and engage in a meat grinder for four remaining spots in the eight-lane final. Basically, it’s survival of the fastest, a 15-race process of elimination, discarding the slowpokes.
“It takes a combination of talent, which you’ve got to have to get to the championship level anyway, conditioning and depth,” Atwood said. “It’s definitely an advantage to do well in either of the first two preliminary races.”
He also cautioned that the state championships is not a social mingling session, at least when races are ongoing. With so many people on the beach, it’s easy to get lost in a crowd.
“The main thing is to stay around the school tent. Things happen really fast. It’s possible you have to race again,” Atwood said. “For the very first race, the starting six check in at the staging area. If someone is not there, you have to find somebody else that’s on the roster. Once you put the six in at the staging area you can’t make a change.”
Out of Atwood’s three factors, depth is probably the biggest wild card. There are six in a canoe with a backup of three each for the boys and girls, and four for the mixed. A paddler could conceivably be in six races, entering, for example, the boys preliminary, semifinal and final and the same thing for a mixed event.
“At the BIIF championships, we had eight guys eligible and used every one of them,” Atwood said. “I think that will be a common strategy. For us and HPA, we’ve got all three races going. We’ll mix people in. That’s more than likely.
“Winning a state title will be tough. Fortunately, we’ve had good competition all season. We want to try and be consistent as possible. We have to stay focused. Don’t let the fact it’s the state championships change our approach. Our consistency is what got us here.”
Canoe paddling
What: State championships
When: 10 a.m. Friday
Where: Hilo Bay
Defending champs: Kamehameha-Kapalama boys, girls, mixed
BIIF crews: Boys, Kealakehe, Hawaii Prep, Kamehameha, Ke Kula O Ehunuikaimalino; girls, Kealakehe, Honokaa, HPA, Pahoa; mixed, HPA, Kealakehe, Parker, Ke Kula O Ehunuikaimalino
