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Clear Skies for the 6th Annual BLUESMITHS Paddle Imua, A Benefit for Camp Imua

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Saturday, May 6, 2017

Media Contact:
Jim Therrian
jtherrian@imuafamily.org
808-214-4386
www.paddleimua.com

 

 

 

Kahului, MAUI Saturday, May 6, 2017 – Blue skies smiled on the Sixth Annual BLUESMITHS Paddle Imua (BPI), with 210 athletes showing up to support Maui’s kieki with special needs. BPI is the fastest growing multiple discipline ocean paddle “fun race,” open to men and women of all ages.   Categories include Stand-Up Paddleboard (SUP), Outrigger Canoe (OC1, OC2 & OC6), Prone Paddleboard (paddling on knees or lying down) and Surf Ski (narrow lightweight kayak). In addition, experimental Hydrofoil SUP and Laser Sailboats were added to this year’s race.  Conditions for laser sailboats were not favorable, so were canceled, but thirteen year-old Finn Spencer, the only registered athlete in the newly added Hydrofoil SUP category came in 5th Place overall in the SUP division with a race time of 1:10:48.

BLUESMITHS Paddle Imua follows the renowned Maliko Downwind Run and is a one-of-a-kind benefit race for Imua Family Services’ Camp Imua Program. Camp Imua is a week-long recreational camp experience for keiki with disabilities and special needs and allows them to experience fun camp activities such as horseback riding, swimming and even a ride in a helicopter.

After a blessing by Kahu Kekoa Yap and a mandatory safety briefing, the race began at 1pm from Maliko Gulch to raise funds for the cause.  The first racers began to cross the finish line at the Hawaiian Canoe Club around 2:30pm to a welcoming crowd and receiving a lei greeting from keiki who attend Camp Imua.

BLUESMITHS Paddle Imua Official Results

Full results are available HERE

SUP 12’6” No rudder – Men

  1. Robert Territettay – 1:16:19
  2. Alex Mawae – 1:33:26
  3. Searay Beltran – 1:45:48

SUP 12’6” No rudder – Women

  1. Allison Manditt – 2:05:41
  2. Kathy Powers – 2:17:41
  3. Heidi Sarkozy – 2:27:32

 SUP 14’ No Rudder – Men

  1. Josh Riccio – 1:08:14
  2. Travis Baptiste – 1:08:51
  3. Ethan Koopmans – 1:14:17

 SUP 14’ No Rudder – Women

  1. Alyssa Joy – 1:37:41
  2. Jaecey Suda – 1:43:59
  3. Natalie Fon – 1:44:48

 SUP Unlimited – Men

  1. Kody Kerbox – 1:07:13
  2. Jeremy Riggs – 1:08:00
  3. Bert Rodriger – 1:10:49

SUP Unlimited – Women

  1. Andrea Moller – 1:13:54
  2. Devin Blish – 1:16:53
  3. Sharon Baldwin – 1:37:27

Surf Ski

  1. Michael Owens – 1:01:30
  2. Eric Rohozinski – 1:07:09
  3. Richard Spork – 1:08:49

Prone Paddleboard

  1. Zadoc Brown III – 1:39:37

Hydrofoil SUP

  1. Finn Spencer – 1:10:48

OC-1 – Men

  1. Lopaka White – 1:04:40
  2. JB Guard – 1:06:41
  3. Quinn Whitford – 1:07:10

OC-1 – Women

  1. Kathy Shipman – 1:11:37
  2. Dane Ward – 1:12:25
  3. Fiona Van Ammers – 1:13:07

OC-2

  1. Kristina Dougherty & Lee Moyers – 1:04:17
  2. Michael Giblin & LittleMichael Giblin – 1:07:20
  3. Kevin Ledesma & Chuck Santiago – 1:11:10

OC-6

  1. Team Jurassic – 1:20:07
  2. Hawaiian Canoe Club – 1:25:53
  3. Goodfellow – 1:28:38

Fun Relay Race

  1. Team Mary
  2. Pineapple Express
  3. Minit Medical

 

The race was followed by the ‘Ohana Festival with entertainment provided by the Old Lahaina Luau, a Keiki Activity Zone and a SIC Maui Fun Relay Race.  Food for the athletes was provided by Aloha Mixed Plate and served by volunteers from 30 Acts of Aloha.  Massages were provided by Deep Relief//Peak Performance and cold beer provided by the Maui Brewing Company in the Beer Garden. Food trucks for the public featured the Outrigger Pizza Company and the VitaliTea Kombucha Company.

Event sponsors included Bluesmiths Crafted Waterwear, Zevenbergen Capital Investment, Nuestro Futuro Foundation, Maui Jim Sunglasses, Minit Medical, Aloha Mixed Plate, SIC Custom/Flow Sports, Quatro, Global Aquatics, Deep Relief//Peak Performance, Maui Brewing Company, Elite Physical Therapy, The Hawaiian Canoe Clue, Goodfellow Brothers, The Old Lahaina Luau, Ozolio, Paia Bowls, Scott Hawaii, Rock & Brews, Kaanapali Surf Club, Sustainable Island Products, Maui Gas and Oil, Ohana Fuels

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Photo Credit:   Johann Meya and Lyle Krannichfeld 

About Camp Imua: June 11-15, 2017

Camp Imua is a FREE week-long recreational summer camp that gives 60 school-age children with special abilities an opportunity to try new activities, connect with each other and their peers in their community. Over 180 high-school caregivers volunteer giving them valuable community service experience and make it possible for campers to experience camp.  Camp Imua also serves as a respite opportunity for families and caregivers of these children.

About Imua Family Services

Imua Family Services is the largest single provider of comprehensive early childhood development services in Maui County and the State of Hawaii. Imua Family Services serves Maui, Molokai and Lanai with a broad scope of child development programs including: Infant Child & Development Programs, Early Childhood Development Program, Imua Autism Services, Imua Inclusion Preschool, Camp Imua and Dream Imua. Imua Family Services celebrates 70 years of service this year and continues their mission to help island keiki and their families to achieve their full potential in life.  www.imuafamilyservices.org

Title Sponsor: BLUESMITHS Crafted Waterwear

Bluesmiths makes the hardest working, most versatile waterwear and accessories in the world. Based in Maui, a real-time research and development lab, everything made is the result of rigorous testing by a small but accomplished team of ocean athletes, pioneers and watermen. At Bluesmiths, the commitment is to real innovation & problem solving, best-in-class fabrics, timeless styling and uncompromising manufacturing standards. www.bluesmiths.com

Fun Facts:

Top Ocean athletes that have participated include: Dave Kalama, Devin Blish, Andrea Moller, Connor Baxter, Sonni Hönscheid, Livio Menelau, Julia Mancuso, Jeremy Riggs, Dane Ward, Kody Kerbox, Travis Baptist and Paige Alms.

BLUESMTIHS Paddle Imua follows the famed Maliko Run, a 10 mile downwind run off Maui’s North Shore.

BLUESMTIHS Paddle Imua is the ONLY paddle benefit race of its kind in the state of Hawaii, offering SUP, OC1, OC2, OC6, Prone Paddle, Hydrofoil SUP and Laser sailboats on a single day.

BLUESMTIHS Paddle Imua participants gather from near and far including: Hawaii, Australia, Canada, Brazil, New Caledonia, New Zealand, England and the U.S. mainland.

Camp Imua attendees welcome race finishers with fresh flower lei, a traditional Hawaiian offering.

BLUESMTIHS Paddle Imua has been Nominated “Top Philanthropic Effort” for 2014 and 2015 at Sup the Mag’s SUP Awards.