目次
The 2023 East Japan Championship race was held on Saturday, June 11th in Yuriage, Natori City, Miyagi Prefecture.
Kenny Kaneko and Natsumi Baba from Team KOKUA participated.
The course for this event is set to be 13km long, with a wide variety of conditions, from rivers to the open ocean and waterways, and from flat to quite rough sea surfaces.
The calm Natori River suddenly changes its appearance as it approaches the river mouth, becoming a surf point where the waves break, and once it reaches the open ocean, the swells become intense, both pushing the athletes off their feet and pushing them back. Once through the open sea leg, the racers raced to the finish line in flat conditions unaffected by the wind, a course with a variety rarely experienced in domestic races.
The planned distance was 13km, but due to a last-minute change in the course, the distance ended up being over 15km.
Many of the athletes had never rowed on rough waters before, but most of them managed to row through the difficult course conditions.
Below is the player report:
Kenny Kaneko
Result:
14ft Raceboard Class Men's 13km Winner (1:39:11)
●Board: FLY PRO 22.5
●Paddle: KK Mini
●Fin: FIA
"It was an exciting race, with a river leg and an ocean leg, covering a distance of 15km. I also enjoyed spending time with the people of Tohoku before and after the race. (Omitted) Rather than winning or losing, what I enjoy most right now is communicating and interacting with the other paddlers at the race venue. (Excerpt from Instagram)"
[Natsumi Baba]
Result:
14ft Raceboard Class Women's 13km Winner (1:53:03)
●Board: FLY PRO 24
●Paddle: KK PRO HA Skinny
●Fin: FIA
"We anticipated a course with many changes, and the width of the FLY PRO 24 helped us out on the rough waters. By securing a stable footing and paddling, I think I was able to paddle my own style even in the strong swells. The legs on flat rivers and canals were a bit tough, but by choosing the FIA, which has less resistance, I was able to paddle the entire way without succumbing to the weight of the board. I would like to improve my ability to handle rough waters, and my stamina and technique so that I can make a move when it matters, even in the latter half of the race. It was a very homey competition, and I was able to relax and enjoy myself."
As the temperature rises day by day, the racing scene is reaching its climax, with races being held almost every weekend across the country.
KOKUA boards and paddles are increasingly being seen at race venues, and we look forward to seeing them race through various races and liven up the excitement.
