This past Sunday, NAC hosted the 2nd Annual JVC Rodeo in honor of our founding board member, Jon Van Cleave. (slideshow)
Team Willie!
The JVC Rodeo hosts a unique race format: a 5k ERG, followed by a 5k run, and then a 5k paddle (OC1, V1, Surfski, Prone, SUP, or Kayak). Participants can either race as a team of three, with one person taking on one section, or race it iron and do all three sections by themselves. Winners are based on cumulative time.
The muggy, hot weather added an extra challenge to the day–even the race organizers worked up a sweat as they set up the ERGs in boat bay 1 and 2 and hooked up every fan NAC had! Racers trickled in, finished registration, got their race numbers, and picked up their custom JVC Rodeo race jerseys. Everyone double-checked the run and paddle maps to make sure they knew where they were going and grabbed last minute sips of water before hopping on their ERG. Music was pumping and with a “Ready, set, ERG!” the race began! Cow bells clanged out, leaning heavily into the rodeo spirit as friends, family, and teammates watched and cheered the racers on.
With plenty of return racers, especially in the iron category, it seemed like most had a different strategy this year: mainly keep their desired split on the ERG, a steady pace on the run and then go all out on the paddle. But, “Don’t puke” was also high up on this year’s strategy after some close calls last year!
The Winning Team!
As expected, rowing team members absolutely crushed the ERG, and hopping off minutes ahead of other racers was Maddox Russell, giving his teammate, Joobin Ataian, a great lead in the run. Joobin held the lead and allowed NAC Manager and NAC Canoe and Kayak member, Robbie Moralice, an easy paddle section on his K1 as he cruised along the course and came in first across the line!
Two more 3-person Junior Rowing teams joined the competition, taking to the water in Liteboat rowing singles. Kyla Winfield, Liz Renger, and Sophia Aminian came out ahead, with Nicole Nelson, Meira Golvelker, and Madison Benard close behind at the finish line. (We heard they did the competition solely for the Mac n Cheese!)
Many men from the NAC Outrigger team finished their ERG sections in quick succession and got off to running together. But beating them all off the ERG was collegiate rower turned paddler, Allen Reitz. Allen held off all his Outrigger teammates in the run and got off to a great start on the paddle section on his OC1. Outrigger Coach, Will Reichenstein, hopped on his surfski and sprinted off after Allen not too long after. Will ended up passing Allen halfway in the paddle, and came across the line first place iron and second overall.
“I had to race surfski! It was the only way I was going to beat Allen!” Will said, owning up to his slightly dubious win over his teammate due to his faster boat. “I wouldn’t have caught him if I went OC1, he’s too fast on the ERG!” Make note of this strategy for next year’s Rodeo racers!!
NAC’s Outrigger women also had a fierce battle on the ERGs. They all gathered next to each other, in the last rows at the back of the boat bays, seemingly matching stroke for stroke, and sending their runners off at similar times. Teammates Jennifer Stucky (ERG), Emma York (Run) gave Bobbie Reichenstein the lead, sending her off on the paddle section in first place. But karma came for the Reichenstein family after her husband’s slight “cheating” and Bobbie was passed by Stacy Mason one mile into the paddle. Stacy led her team of Krista Saito (ERG) and Emma Kubiak first across the line in the OC1 team division.
A shout out has to go to NAC Outrigger’s Dani Hamilton, who was one of three women to race the Rodeo iron! Dani hopped off her ERG at a similar time to the other ladies, crushed her desired splits, and hit the ground running like she wasn’t tired at all! She held steady in the paddle section on her OC1 and came across the line smiling, knowing she has bragging rights for her iron feat!
Another shout out has to go to the teams who made it a family affair: Long-time member Scott Granger raced with his children, daughter Blayke (who is also on the NAC Junior Rowing Team and hit a new PR on the 5k!) and son Smith. And Outrigger team member Claudio D’Amico handled the paddle portion while his wife, Priscila ERGed, and son, Luca, ran. The D’Amicos just edged out the Grangers, who were just six seconds behind and finished 5th and 6th across the line! After racers cleaned up and put away their water crafts, they hun
g out on the wash deck, cooled down with shaved ice from Maui Shaved Ice, and scarfed down BBQ from our local favorite, Blakes Place BBQ. It was a great day for a Rodeo in honor of Jon Van Cleave!
