KAILUA-KONA — Before the sun peaks over Hualalai and most of the population gets going for the day, a pack of paddlers are just getting ready to dip into their morning routine.
KAILUA-KONA — Before the sun peaks over Hualalai and most of the population gets going for the day, a pack of paddlers are just getting ready to dip into their morning routine.
The Red Bull Wa’a crew has become acclimated to the early morning hours, using the time to train and prepare with the lofty long-term goal of shifting the culture of long-distance paddling locally and becoming a world-recognized name in the sport serving as motivation.
“People don’t realize there are these nutcases running up Kaloko training, then paddling from Kona to Kukio and back,” said manager Mike Nakachi, who prefers the title of Team Uncle. “Things like that are just out of the normal realm.”
But training out of the normal realm also produces results that are out of the norm. The most recent success from the Kona crew surfaced in February across the Pacific Ocean at the Sydney Harbour Challenge in Australia. The Red Bull boys zipped past the loaded field, winning the Open division at what is touted as the largest six-person canoe race in the Southern Hemisphere.
“We didn’t realize how big a deal it was until we went there,” Nakachi said. “It was our first time at that race and for a lot of the boys it was their first time in Australia. It was a great learning experience for us all.”
The scheduled 14-mile course was shortened due to some time and weather constraints, but the crew crossed in 1 hour, 3 minutes and 52 seconds, becoming the first Hawaii-based Open division champs in the history of the event.
Daniel Chun, Kainoa Tanoai, Trey Cox, Keakua Nolan, Ikaika Hauanio and Tuarongo Cowan represented the team on the podium in Australia, with Puni Freitas, Chevise Conte and Kekoa Kau also on the roster.
The win is another line on the rapidly growing resume for the crew, which also won their hometown Queen Liliuokalani long-distance race in September.
However, the boldest mark and the one they are most proud of might be a top 10 finish in Hawaiki Nui Va’a, known as the Super Bowl of Tahiti and as one of the most prestigious races in the world. It takes place over three consecutive days and paddlers cover nearly 100 miles.
Cowan, a Tahitian native on the Red Bull squad who now resides in Kona, grew up watching the event and being engulfed in the culture of paddling. He said grueling doesn’t even begin to describe the trek.
“Men cry,” Cowan said, mentioning paddlers can pass out or sometimes even fall out of the canoes.
The crew has already garnered a fair amount of respect in the paddling community. Nakachi jokes that they feel more famous in other countries than they do at home. That comes with going head-to-head with the big-name crews from Tahiti and around the globe, an expeirence the Red Bullers have embraced.
“They say it’s the closest thing to going to war without actually fighting,” Tanoai said. “They are all real fast, but you can never feel intimidated. You can’t feel that way.”
Many on the Red Bull crew have lengthy individual resumes of their own, racing on former iterations of the squad that went under the names Mellow Johnny’s and Livestrong. But putting together a crew that can compete in the ranks among the world’s elite is about more than just experience and talent. It’s a much harder equation to solve than that.
“You need the guys that are skilled. You need the guys that are tough and athletic. But then you also need all six guys in the canoe to be as one. That is the hardest part,” Nakachi said. “When you talk about the term band of brothers, I mean, these guys know each other probably better than they know their girlfirends or wives.”
Nakachi acknowledges there is a wealth of local talent, but keeping people around is key. Right now, paddling doesn’t pay the bills — like it might for professional crews in other countries — so it takes a huge level of commitment.
“There are guys who might jump into it one week, but then tap out the next. They have groceries to buy, mouths to feed and bills to pay. It’s understandable,” Nakachi said. “It’s about numbers, and it starts with the youth. We would like the young kids to believe that one day they could become a professional paddler.”
Tanoai, 22, represents the youth on the crew. He comes from a paddling family, but admitted that being a professional paddler was never really a thought coming up.
“I’ve always loved paddling. But when I was younger, it really wasn’t big enough to have that dream,” he said. ” I think maybe four years ago I saw that it could possibly be something I pursue.”
Eventually, they want to get there, and getting Red Bull on board as the crew’s primary sponsor was a huge step in the right direction.
“We didn’t realize that power,” Nakachi said of the sponsorship.
Look no further than social media for evidence of that. Their videos get tens-of-thousands of shares and even more views. Foremost among the viral videos is one of the crew paddling in the waters just outside of where the 61g lava flow hit the water. Yes — it’s as cool as it sounds and is something that seems synonymous with the Red Bull name.
That exposure, coupled with improving results and building a professional environment is making the pipe dream closer to being a reality. One stroke at a time.
“We know what the holy grail is,” Nakachi said. “These guys have gained some respect, but we need to do a whole lot more to get there.”
Next up for Red Bull Wa’a is Tahiti Nui Va’a in May. For more information on the crew, visit redbull.com/us-en/red-bull-waa-outrigger-canoe-super-crew.