Honscheid and Grant Win 19th Annual Molokai To Oahu In Challenging Conditions

OAHU, Hawaii - The 19th edition of the Molokai to Oahu Paddle Board World Championships (M2O) once again provided another exciting year of the legendary Ka'iwi Channel crossing on Sunday July 26, 2015. The 32-mile M2O race was first founded in 1997 and has grown from a grassroots challenge for local athletes to a world class event in prone paddle boarding and standup paddle boarding.

This year was definitely one to remember as the overwhelming humidity and temperatures made it a grueling trek across the Ka'iwi Channel. The winds across the channel weren't as strong as the paddlers would have hoped, crushing the dreams of those who were looking to break records this year. Alongside the lack of wind, another obstacle awaited paddlers once they made their way to Oahu and were greeted with a pumping south swell, forcing the paddlers to navigate through the overhead surf and into the finish line. With surprise drop-outs and intense battles throughout the race, it was none other than Sonni Hoenscheid and Travis Grant (FCS SUP) who claimed the well-deserved victories in the harsh and challenging conditions.

A pumping south swell greeted paddlers as they made their way to the shores of Oahu. | Photo via: Molokai 2 Oahu

Jordan Mercer (left) and Matt Bevilacqua (right) are the 2015 Women's and Men's winners for the Prone Paddleboard category. | Photos via: Molokai to Oahu.

In the prone divisions, Aussies Jordan Mercer and Matt Bevilacqua were the victors. 21 year-old Mercer once again displayed a commanding performance and won the Women's Unlimited Prone division at M2O this year making it her fifth straight victory at the Molokai 2 Oahu Championships with a time of 6:09:19. As a surprise to the Men's Unlimited Prone contenders it was 23 year-old M2O rookie, Matt Bevilacqua, who won finishing with a time of 5:20:13.

In a shocking twist of events, 2014 champ and current record holder for Unlimited SUP, Connor Baxter (Starboard) pulled out of the race after battling cramps and stomach pains along the way. Connor is one who is known to push through the pain so for him to have to pull out mid-race, he must have been truly in a lot of pain. Fear not though, because you know he will be back at it again next year looking to break his own record.

With Baxter out of the race, it was none other that 2013 champ Travis Grant and Kai Lenny (Naish) battling it out for the win. With a time of 4:59:38 it was Travis Grant who came away with the win and another M2O championship under his belt.

Aussie Travis Grant wins the 2015 M2O. | Photo via: Molokai 2 Oahu

For the women, Sonni Hoenscheid (SIC Maui) who was in the Unlimited SUP division, battled with Annabel Anderson (SUP Think Tank) who was competing in the SUP stock division, which made for a very exciting race. Anderson took an outside line while Hoenscheid took the inside line which proved to be the better call as Hoenscheid crossed the finish line first with a time of 5:53:18, earning her second consecutive M2O championship title. Anderson came in second overall in the Women's SUP division with a time a 5:57:40 which also earned her the championship in the women's SUP Stock division.

18 year-old Travis Baptiste from Maui rounded out the men’s SUP division with his third championship in the stock category at M2O in a time of 5:26:47.

The 19th Annual Molokai 2 Oahu Paddleboard World Championships was another standout event in the world of paddle boarding. Athletes from around the world gathered together and triumphed one of the most treacherous channels in the world, the Ka'iwi Channel. It was a challenging year here at the M2O and we wouldn't have had it any other way. Congratulations to all of the athletes and participants, and a big thank you to all the supporters of the event. See a full list of the results from the 2015 Molokai 2 Oahu Paddleboard World Championships below.

To see more news and highlights surrounding the M2O click here.

2015 Molokai 2 Oahu Results