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| Oscar wins Te Toa Nui Day 2 (Tahiti) |
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| Tuesday, 20 January 2009 10:40 |
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Rob Mousely said: "Ok," I thought, "the big O can do it on one day on a shorter course. But the Tahitians are long distance specialists - especially in the flat and the heat. I just hope he doesn't take it hard when he loses tomorrow." But if there's one thing you should NEVER do, it's write off Oscar Chalupsky. Before he signed off on Skype on Saturday evening Tahiti-time, I said to him, "Don't flog yourself to death tomorrow." The reply? "I always do!" Here's the big man's story of Te Toa Nui, in his own words:  Oscar Chalupsky - 'Te Toa Nui'!
I am sitting with my Apple on the beach on the Island of Moorea, having just made the 33km crossing from Tahiti to Moorea in super hot conditions. I woke up this morning, looked out the window and just saw perfect glassy conditions so the Windguru site was 100% correct - no wind to speak of. Delayed Start The start was meant to be at 9.00am but was delayed till 9.30am hoping that the wind would kick in. I spoke to Lewis who informed me that there could be some swell out in the middle of the channel. After all the traditional blessings, it was into the water. Interesting to note that at one stage the organizers were going to delay the start till Tuesday (a public holiday), when the trade winds are meant to kick in again. It has been blowing every day since I arrived!!!!! My luck, to race in the flattest conditions in 5 weeks.  The start of the 33km second day's race
Feeling the Effects I was feeling the effects of pipping Lewis yesterday so my tactics were again to try and cover Lewis all the way. He knows these waters and also knows how to handle the heat. At the starter's gun, Ralph Teahiki took off as if the race was 1000 meters, he was too fast for me as I wanted to conserve. I stuck with Tepa Leopold and Lewis was just behind. After a while Lewis had ducked outside of us so I told Tepa to cover him. I couldn't catch Lewis or more like I didn't want to kill myself so early in the race.  Tepa Leopold and Oscar Chalupsky - flat & hot!
Tepa went his own route and Ralph followed Lewis so I stuck with Ralph, he wasn't going too badly and wasn't losing too much on Lewis who had set a blistering pace. At about 1 hour, I was still riding with Ralph and conserving as much as possible in the debilitating heat. So hot... even the Tahitians... It was so hot that even the Tahitians were stopping to splash water in their faces!!! Lewis seemed to be pulling away so I had to counter. There also seemed to be a few bumps then so I put my head down and it took me 15 minutes and I was up to Lewis. Lewis chirped "you back". The next hour I stayed with Lewis as I didn't know where to go. When I did lead Lewis would go another direction. Because both Lewis and I were so hot the 3rd and 4th guys caught us at about 1 hour 45 minutes. That was Ralph and Bill Baff. At 2 hours and 26km I decided to make my move. I was burning with heat and pain but there were a few bumps that I could make my break with, I went in a direction that I thought was correct but again it was wrong. I adjusted and entered the pass into Moorea about 50 meters ahead of Lewis but I wasn't looking back. I had a flat 3km paddle to the finish over the best looking coral reefs in the world.  Oscar, Ralph Teahiki (pulling), Lewis Laughlin
Managed to pull it off again I managed to pull it off again and my body was totally depleted and cramp was setting in. Bill Barf overtook Lewis at the end and this is Lewis's 1st time loss in Tahiti to another Tahitian.  Bill Barf beats Lewis Laughlin
The race was well organised and sponsored by the local Epic Agent Jerome Mainguet and Volvic mineral water. Tahiti is desperate to have their race as part of next year's World Series. Paddling is like a religion here and every 5th car has roof racks on it. The press cover the event like no other place in the world. I am off to China and then onto the Dragon run in Hong Kong. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Oscar's GPS track and Heart Rate can been viewed here: http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/episode/view.do?episodePk.pkValue=7126034  Te Toa Nui Day 2 Course (Oscar Chalupsky's GPS Track)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For lots more pictures of the race click here.... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Volvic Epic Kayaks Te Toa Nui - Results day 2 Oscar Chalupsky 2:35:47 Epic V10 Ultra Bill Barf 2:36:03 Epic V10 Ultra Lewis Laughlin 2:36:09 Fenn Elite Ralph Teahiki 2:36:31 Fenn Elite Tepa Leopold 2:38:10 Epic V10L Ultra Eric Deane 2:38:30 Yvon Mihimana Ahim 2:38:56 Wood boat Teva Nooria 2:41:41 Epic V10 Philip Tauraa 2: 42:33 Yvon Victor Gendron 2:42:36 Epic V10 Sport Overall the results were little different: Bill Barf came 4th overall; Rauhiri Varvahi came 9th. |
| Last Updated on Friday, 08 October 2010 09:36 |