WAIKOLOA — The inaugural Waikoloa Hill Climb, held on Sunday, November 17, marked an exciting addition to the Hawaii Cycling Club’s (HCC) calendar of events. Hosted in partnership with Lavaman, the event tested riders of all abilities with an 11.8-mile climb up Waikoloa Road, ascending a total of 2,442 feet.
WAIKOLOA — The inaugural Waikoloa Hill Climb, held on Sunday, November 17, marked an exciting addition to the Hawaii Cycling Club’s (HCC) calendar of events. Hosted in partnership with Lavaman, the event tested riders of all abilities with an 11.8-mile climb up Waikoloa Road, ascending a total of 2,442 feet.
The climb offered stunning views of Hualalai and to the north, the Kohala Mountains, with panoramic ocean vistas that stretched across the Waikoloa coastline. Surprisingly, riders who began the race on 30-second intervals, received reprieve from the typically fierce winds in the area, particularly in the latter half of the course when the climb became more cumbersome.
Waikoloa’s Sam Anderson-Moxley led the pack with a blazing time of 49 minutes and 7 seconds to secure first place with a commanding performance. Taos Ono, a newcomer to local cycling events, impressed all with a strong second-place finish with his time of 53:33. Meanwhile, 25-year-old Max Piper demonstrated consistency and grit to claim third, crossing the line in great time of 59:57.
In the women’s category, Kailua-Kona’s Tina Eakin, a former champion of the prestigious 112-mile Dick Evans Memorial Race, was in a class of her own as she finished as the top female and third overall in a time of 57:14. Eakin was the only woman to complete the course in under an hour, which highlighted the talent among the female competitors. Finishing in second and third place were Britini Bakk and Laura Birse with their times of 1:01:17 and 1:01:21 respectively.
One of the most inspiring moments of the morning came from Kailua-Kona’s Gerald Gruber, the oldest participant at 80 years old. Despite facing mechanical issues with his bike’s shifting system, Gruber powered through much of the hill climb in single-speed mode, a reflection of his determination to finish and spirit for competition, cementing his status as our local cycling legend.
The Waikoloa Hill Climb proved to be an exciting addition to the HCC schedule and with its inaugural success, this event promises to become a staple for years to come. Mark your calendar for the final event of the year — The Big Island Time Trial Championships on Saturday, December 21st. The 16-mile ride will begin at the bottom of Kaiminani Drive and finish at the Puuanahulu Landfill Road. The event is open to all age divisions. For more information visit www.hawaiicyclingclub.com.
