In a sport typically dominated by our island’s youth, Saturday’s Inaugural Aloha Kai open water swim event was no different as the Kona Aquatic age group swim team swept the top four spots — all ranging in ages 15 through 18.
In a sport typically dominated by our island’s youth, Saturday’s Inaugural Aloha Kai open water swim event was no different as the Kona Aquatic age group swim team swept the top four spots — all ranging in ages 15 through 18.
The fundraising event hosted by the Kealakehe Waverider Triathlon Club showcased a 1-Mile and ½ Mile Keiki open water swim race on what turned out to be an absolute gorgeous day with clear and calm ocean conditions coupled with a cloudless sky illuminating the waters of Kailua Bay.
Although it seemed to be all fun and games among the Kona Aquatic teammates as they laughed and joked around while hanging out on the Pier, once they entered the waters of Kaiakeakua Beach it became all business with fierce race faces in place, ready to battle it out.
West Hawaii Exploration Academy senior and prerace favorite, Danny Manzo, who swims for the Kealakehe Waveriders during High School swim season, said he had a strategic plan before the start of the 1-mile swim race.
“I thought I was going to cruise and stay behind Nolan (Grossman) and just try to draft off of him,” Manzo said. “But then right at the start I began sprinting and then I realized I was leading.”
Ironically, Kealakehe sophomore, Nolan Grossman had an identical plan of attack.
“My plan was to draft off of Danny from start and kind of keep behind him then maybe catch up to him at the end for a sprint,” Grossman said. “It was partially like that today, but in the end it got really tiring and my arms and legs felt really stiff.”
Meanwhile 16-year-old Waverider and Kona Aquatic swimming star, Madeline Foo, found herself in the mix with Manzo and Grossman.
“I was just playing it by ear to see how I was feeling this morning,” Foo said. “We started off as a clump which was really bad so I thought that maybe I shouldn’t swim with the pack and tried to swim on the side on my own, but that didn’t really work. By the time we hit the turn, me and two others got tangled around the buoy line and had to work hard to catch back up to Daniel.”
With arms thrashing and splashing, 59 participants zoomed out of Kaiakeakua Beach while keeping an eye on the distant yellow turn buoy. Manzo’s early sprint put him into the lead with Grossman, Foo and William H. Thomas following in his wake.
The race back to the Pier turned out to be an exciting display for cheering spectators as with 300 yards to go, both Grossman and Foo caught up to swim leader, Manzo, and all three began a hard sprint to the finish.
“Coming back in and right on the inside of the fifth buoy, Madeline and Nolan, both who were right on my tail, made their move,” Manzo said. “Madeline then passed me on my left side and I couldn’t see her as I breathe on my right.”
Although Foo executed her strategy perfectly and found herself in the lead, it may have come a little too soon.
“Well, that was the plan for us ocean swimmers as these are the kind of tactics we do — to pass on someone’s non-breathing side,” Foo said. “But I think I passed too early as I just couldn’t keep it up at the finish.”
Manzo said that he decided to bide his time behind Foo until the third buoy when he began a final surge to pass Foo with Grossman still hanging onto his feet.
As with all open water racing events, just popping out of the water first isn’t enough to claim bragging rights. It typically comes down to the sprint up the beach — and in this case — up the Pier’s cement stairs for victory.
In the end, Manzo had enough gas in the tank to hang onto his slim lead as he darted out of the water and topped the stairs, just barely ahead of Grossman and Foo, in a winning time of 23 minutes and 48 seconds.
“I guess strategy wise I really didn’t stick to my plan which was to draft behind them and sprint in at the end,” Manzo said. “Today I just did my own thing and swam the whole race mostly by myself, but it was really fun. Conditions were absolutely fabulous. It was nice and clear, and super calm.”
Manzo added that he’s been swimming with Steve Borowski’s Kealakehe High School swim team and Kona Aquatics age-group team since he was a freshman. And he’s already looking forward to defending his Triple Crown Open Water Swim Series crown starting with the Cinco de Mayo 1-Miler on May 2.
“I want to defend my title but I’ve got some fast youngsters to compete with and a couple other people who are pretty fast,” he said. “It will be interesting as Cinco de Mayo is on the same day as my senior prom so we’ll see how it goes.”
Grossman was able to out sprint Foo up the beach for second place in a time of 23:52, with Foo in third overall and first for the women’s division in a fabulous time of 23:55.
“I just couldn’t kick anymore nor could I breathe at the end, but Danny had it pretty much the whole way so I thought he totally deserved the win today,” Grossman said. “Madeline caught up at the end and we just barely passed her.”
Grossman recently turned heads at this year’s Lavaman Waikoloa Olympic Distance Triathlon, as he was the first swimmer to exit the waters of Anaehoomalu Bay and well in front of Hawaii professional triathlete, Tim Marr. Although Grossman was part of a three-person relay team, being the first out of the water felt pretty awesome for the 15-year old.
“I was trying to go for first as that was my goal but at the same time I was really surprised to find Tim Marr right next to me when we were going around the turn. But yes, it was great to be first.”
Like Manzo, Grossman is also set to compete in the upcoming Triple Crown Open Water Swim Series which will feature three events: Cinco de Mayo Splash on May 2, Hapuna Rough Water Swim on June 13, culminating with the King’s Swim on July 4. The swimmer with the best combined times from all three events will be crowned winner.
Foo however, plans to only compete in the Hapuna Rough Water Swim and King’s Swim because of SAT testing held on May 2, leaving her out of the Triple Crown.
“I’m going to try really hard at the King’s Swim and also Hapuna,” Foo said. “It’s pretty special as the King’s Swim was my very first ocean swim race at the age of five and I got a prize for being the youngest one.”
With the Inaugural Aloha Kai Open Water Swim race turning out to be a great fundraising event for the Waverider Tri Club, advisor Kristin Old hoped that members take home a lesson that it’s also about giving back to a community that has supported them from the beginning.
“This is a race that not only do we raise funds for ourselves, but also for a non-profit called the Malama Kai Foundation,” Old said. “They are ocean advocates that make sure we are all being responsible, safe, ocean enthusiasts. So I thought what a great way to put on a swim and advocate for those who allow us to use this beautiful ocean.”