SANTA CRUZ, CA -- Westside paddling team Kaijin MMA's timing was spot-on with a spectacular and speedy win in the annual Aloha Outrigger Races at the Santa Cruz Wharf on Sunday, August 21. 35 teams vied for top paddling honors in glassy conditions. Here are the winners:
1st -- Kaijin MMA -- Team Captain Garth Taylor, Ken "Skindog" Collins, Ryan Reber, Ryan Buell -- Santa Cruz
2nd -- Surf City Posers -- Team Captain Jessie Hardy -- Santa Cruz
3rd -- Team Beefcake -- Team Captain Joe Jensen -- Santa Cruz
4th -- Tinytanic -- Team Captain Bobby Evtimor -- Campbell
A special feature of this year's event were Keiki races for kids who participated in the City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation and Santa Cruz Outrigger Club summer outrigger camps -- 5 canoes entered. Here are the results:
1st -- Santa Cruz Outrigger Camp #2
2nd -- Motu'aina Vahine Papaya
3rd -- Motu'aina Vahine Mango
Next year's date for the Santa Cruz Aloha Races is Sunday, August 26, 2012 one week later than usual due to our local clubs' participation in the International Va'a Federation (IVF) World Sprints next year in Calgary, Canada August 11-15, 2012. Best of luck in the World Sprints!