HONOLULU (KHON2) — On Sunday, July 27, a new group of athletes conquered the Kaiwi channel in the 26th Edition of the Molokai 2 Oahu Paddleboard World Championships.
Emily Bark, 26, from Palos Verdes, CA made a big splash this weekend, placing second in the Women’s Prone Stock Division.
She crossed the finish line at Maunalua Bay Beach Park after 6 hours and 58 minutes of non-stop paddling across the channel.
Following along in the escort boat every stroke of the way was lifelong friend, Anneliese Solberg.
“Oh, she killed it. Seriously, it was unreal watching her across those 32 miles, every stroke just powering through,” Anneliese Solberg said. “It was really cool to see her never, ever, give up.”
The two friends share a common love for the sport and next month will both compete in the Catalina Classic.
The Catalina Classic is a prestigious 32-mile paddleboard race from Catalina Island to Manhattan Beach, also the race that inspired the Molokai 2 Oahu.
The first athletes who successfully complete the M2O course was 1977; and ever since then, athletes from all over the world attempt it every year.
Emily Bark and her brother, Jack Bark, both competed in this year’s race. Jack Bark also took second place in his division. This course is a rite of passage in the Bark family, beginning with her father, Joe Bark.
“He’s [my dad] done the race now five or six times, so it will be a cool full circle moment,” Emily Bark said before the race.
Joe Bark is an accomplished paddler and founder of Bark Boards, world-renowned for shaping elite prone and SUP paddle boards.
A number of athletes were seen crossing the finish line on a Bark Board, including Emily.
Her father was also on the escort boat, upholding a long-standing family tradition.
“It’s so special to have him there,” Bark said. “The first channel crossing I ever did was on Father’s Day, and he was in my boat that year, it was the most emotional moment for me, and I was 12. He’s still on my boat and it’s still the most emotional thing.”
The escort boat ensures the safety, support and good spirits for the athlete on their journey.
“What’s pretty cool is that the guy who is going to be the captain of the boat escorting me used to escort him [my dad] across the Molokai channel,” Bark said before the race.
The Captain sets the course, which is especially important when navigating the intense and unpredictable terrain of the Kaiwi channel.
“Honestly, I give so many props to her captain, Sean. He kept her on a beautiful line,” said Solberg.
The Kaiwi Channel, also known as the channel of bones, has a reputation for being one of the world’s most dangerous bodies of water. Between the foul weather and open ocean swells, it’s the perfect storm.
Solberg added, “It was just so fun watching Emily cross the most grueling, gruesome and gnarliest channel of bones. I mean it’s called that for a reason. She made it look easy.”
Races like the M2O show how navigating life’s waters can be difficult, but when you have a great team with you, it makes for smooth sailing.