The Hanohano Ocean Challenge is held at Bonita Cove, on Mission Bay, in San Diego. It is one of the longest running paddle sport races in California. January 27, 2024, will be the 29th Annual event presented by the Hanohano Outrigger Canoe Club. The club was founded in 1981 and formed to ” unite men and women who share an interest in perpetuating and participating in Hawaiian outrigger canoe racing at its highest competitive level. The club encourages and promotes goodwill and sportsmanship among members” . The Hano Outrigger canoe club also promotes the Crystal Pier Outrigger Race, held on May 11 in 2024 at Crown Point Shores Park in Mission Beach, San Diego, California.
The HanoHano Ocean Challenge event offers several racecourse options, which include a 4.5 mile short course and a 9 mile long course, a 1000 meter junior race and also a virtual race. Craft for the race are Oc1, Oc2, Surfski, V1, traditional, paddleboard, stand-up paddleboard, and Kayak. Age divisions and awards are Ages 7-80.
Every year, this event has over 600 competitors from around the globe. Attracting beginners through top level pro athletes. Recently, names like Danny Ching , Jim Terrell, Jimmy Austin, Brent Campbell, Will Reichenstein, Leanne Stanley, Brandi Baksic, April Zilg and Leah Ching have dominated the OC1 field. In the Surfski results , Austin Kieffer, Jonas Ecker, Nicholas Cryder, Deon Lourens, Ana Swetish ,Krisztina Zur and Kai Wilding are at the top . For V1 , Ryan Cameron and Andrea Souther stand out. For Stand Up Paddle, Ryland Hart, Nicholas Ha, Chuck Glenn, and Soren Preston are always performing.
Up and coming paddler, and Silverback team paddler, Judson Grey took 1st in 2022 for OC1 long course, under 19 and was working his way to the top in 2023, with a 33rd overall in a field of 229 paddlers. We look forward to seeing what this young gun will do in 2024! Silverback, Hawaii had the pleasure of hosting Justin here in Hawaii, on Maui last year. We had some great Kihei downwind runs, and Maliko Downwind runs too.
In 2023 , Silverback Hawaii’s team paddler Leanne Stanley placed 1st in the long course, paddling OC1 in the Masters 40+ division. Leanne is Canada’s top OC1 And V1 female competitor. She will be conducting coaching seminars at Hanohano this year. We hope to have Leanne to Maui soon. Her website is thestanleyedge.com
2024 will be the 3rd year that Silverback, has been a major sponsor for this event. Our colorful tents can always be spotted on the beach along with many other vendors. We provide Better Buzz coffee and hot chocolate and the Hawaii famous, CookKwees Maui Cookies to all attendees. These offerings are always a big hit to the morning of the race, as last year, the temperature the morning of the race was in the 40s.
Besides the Gorge Downwind Championship race at the Colombia River in Stevenson, Washington, that has 800+ paddlers registered for 2024 event. This is the biggest and most anticipated event of the year for Silverback Hawaii. We look forward to premiering our completely redesigned for best performance and optional sun protection, Hawaiian Hydro Hoodie, in our original Tribal Tattoo and Palm Tree prints. Also, we will be offering our limited edition Keiki Sunwear designed to keep your children , cool, dry and protected from the sun.
Please stop by our tent to enter in our hourly drawing for swag and to receive a 20% discount on all Hawaiian Hydro Hoodies
Aloha,
Matt