The Kahanamoku Klassic is one of those races that always leaves a mark—not just because of the course or the conditions, but because of what it represents. Named in honor of Sandy Kahanamoku, a pillar of Sout
hern California outrigger, this event carries more than just miles. Sandy, cousin of the legendary Duke Kahanamoku, spent his life on and around the water. He was a fierce competitor, a dedicated coach, and an unwavering advocate for the paddling community. His influence helped shape the foundation of outrigger paddling in SoCal, and this race is a fitting tribute to the legacy he left behind—both in competition and camaraderie.
The day started bright and early. And by early, we mean still dark out. And by bright, we mean our NAC tents couldn’t be missed and looked especially good in Erick’s drone footage (mahalo!). Shout out to Linden for grilling the post-race tacos after the races too!
This year, NAC entered 13 crews across 10 different divisions. The conditions were tough and choppy. With a strong sidewind racing through the harbor. The long course featured two major segments: a nearly 4-mile straightaway from the jetty out into open ocean with a right-hand turn, with a quick leg to the second, sharper right-hand turn with a leg surfing back to the finish line.
As always, NAC made moves in the surf. Each of the women’s crews managed to catch and pass at least two to three boa
ts during their downwind segment—the surf is huge advantage when you can line up just right. The men’s teams didn’t hold back either, powering through both surf and harbor and picking off crews one by one along the way—showing NAC grit from start to finish.
The NAC Men’s Open crew exploded off the line, after a rowdy false start across the line, but they pushed to the front early, and held position through every corner and every bump to bring home a first-place win.
Shoutout to our Novice crew, who once again proved they’re a force to be reckoned with—earning first place in their division with a strong, confident race. NAC entered two adaptive crews in the short course, highlighting our commitment to building a program that creates access, representation, and stoke for all athletes.
Our Masters Coed team also delivered a big result with a 3rd place finish, grinding through the conditions and holding their own against a competitive field.
We’re proud of every single paddler who showed up, dug deep, and put in the work out there.
Next stop: Ventura.