Ching wins solo canoe world championship

On Sunday, a Californian, Danny Ching, became the first non-Hawaiian to win the world championship of solo canoe paddling.

Competitors in the Steinlager Kaiwi Channel Solo OC1 World Championship enjoyed favorable conditions after leaving Kaluakoi in the morning. With good winds and swells of six to 10 feet, Ching, 26, was able to finish the 32-mile race in 3 hours, 38 minutes, 51 seconds. Finishing less than a minute behind in one of the closest finishes in memory was Jimmy Austin in 3:39.23.

Kai Bartlett of Maui, who won the solo canoe world championship last year, was not expected to race. However, with the nice conditions he entered at the last minute and was still able to capture fourth place.

His wife, Lauren Bartlett, was able to repeat as a champion in the women’s division, finishing in four hours, 13 minutes, 43 seconds.

Category: Sports