At 7:30 a.m. HST the world’s top paddlers – standup, prone and hydrofoil – began their annual pilgrimage from the Hawaiian island of Molokai 32 miles across the Channel of Bones to Oahu for the 22nd annual Molokai 2 Oahu, aka M2O, aka the most prestigious downwind paddle race on Earth.

Kai Lenny flies across the Channel of Bones for a historic performance in the first-ever hydrofoil division at Molokai 2 Oahu. Photo: Courtesy of SUP Mag For the first time in M2O history the fastest paddler raced neither prone nor SUP, but hydrofoil. Surprise, surprise: that paddler was Kai Lenny, who also holds the course’s stock SUP record and in 2016 won the unlimited SUP division with record-setting time. On Sunday, Lenny set a new course record with a jaw-dropping time of 2:52:48.

Kai Lenny and the art of downwind foiling. Photo: Courtesy of Franck Berthout/SUP Mag Lenny’s result in M2O’s first-ever hydrofoil division marks the race’s fastest finishing time ever, besting the 2018 unlimited SUP champion Travis Grant’s new record of 3:59:18 by more an hour. “My goal was to do it in under three hours,” said Lenny at the finish. “I wouldn’t doubt if in the future we’re doing this race in two hours and thirty minutes or faster.”

Behind Lenny, the standup paddle division unfolded with a classic battle between last year’s M2O champ Travis Grant and perennial M2O favorite Connor Baxter, both of whom each held three Molokai 2 Oahu titles going into Sunday’s race. Grant broke the record he set last year in the unlimited SUP division by 34 seconds and Baxter crossed the finish line in 4:38:39 ahead of third-place finisher James Casey (4:48:42). Unfortunate upsets also occurred on the men’s side with pre-race favorites Lincoln Dews and Titouan Puyo both suffering injuries in the channel. We’ll bring you updates on them as we hear more.

On the women’s side, Australian Terrene Black reigned victorious with a time of 5:25:27 ahead of runner-up, three-time former M2O champ Sonni Hönschied (5:32:36) and third-place finisher Penelope Strickland (5:57:09). More Paddle Sports Content A Look Into the Rising Popularity of the Foil Board SUP Tour Explores Underground Caverns and Waterfalls In Kentucky This Miami Resident Sold His Car and Now Paddles to Work

The article was originally published on Standup Paddling

For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!

More News

					Famed Yosemite Climber Zach Milligan Dies After Ice Climbing Fall					



					Skiing in Japan Is Back Again—and the Powder Was Worth the Wait					



					10 Winter Hikes to Keep You Trailblazing All Year Round					



					The North Face Introduces Athlete Development Program					



					Ocean Rower Fiann Paul Completes Most Grueling Expedition					



					Snowmobile-accessed Ski Touring in Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana					


			All Stories			

More Videos

							The MJ5: Tony Hawk on His Favorite Gear, Why He Always Carries His Board, and More							





							Here's the Difference Between Bourbon and Whiskey							





							Young Guns and a Supercharged Catamaran: U.S. SailGP Team Takes on New York City							

At 7:30 a.m. HST the world’s top paddlers – standup, prone and hydrofoil – began their annual pilgrimage from the Hawaiian island of Molokai 32 miles across the Channel of Bones to Oahu for the 22nd annual Molokai 2 Oahu, aka M2O, aka the most prestigious downwind paddle race on Earth.

For the first time in M2O history the fastest paddler raced neither prone nor SUP, but hydrofoil. Surprise, surprise: that paddler was Kai Lenny, who also holds the course’s stock SUP record and in 2016 won the unlimited SUP division with record-setting time.

On Sunday, Lenny set a new course record with a jaw-dropping time of 2:52:48.

Lenny’s result in M2O’s first-ever hydrofoil division marks the race’s fastest finishing time ever, besting the 2018 unlimited SUP champion Travis Grant’s new record of 3:59:18 by more an hour.

“My goal was to do it in under three hours,” said Lenny at the finish. “I wouldn’t doubt if in the future we’re doing this race in two hours and thirty minutes or faster.”

Behind Lenny, the standup paddle division unfolded with a classic battle between last year’s M2O champ Travis Grant and perennial M2O favorite Connor Baxter, both of whom each held three Molokai 2 Oahu titles going into Sunday’s race. Grant broke the record he set last year in the unlimited SUP division by 34 seconds and Baxter crossed the finish line in 4:38:39 ahead of third-place finisher James Casey (4:48:42).

Unfortunate upsets also occurred on the men’s side with pre-race favorites Lincoln Dews and Titouan Puyo both suffering injuries in the channel. We’ll bring you updates on them as we hear more.

On the women’s side, Australian Terrene Black reigned victorious with a time of 5:25:27 ahead of runner-up, three-time former M2O champ Sonni Hönschied (5:32:36) and third-place finisher Penelope Strickland (5:57:09).

More Paddle Sports Content

A Look Into the Rising Popularity of the Foil Board

SUP Tour Explores Underground Caverns and Waterfalls In Kentucky

This Miami Resident Sold His Car and Now Paddles to Work

The article was originally published on Standup Paddling

For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!

More News

					Famed Yosemite Climber Zach Milligan Dies After Ice Climbing Fall					



					Skiing in Japan Is Back Again—and the Powder Was Worth the Wait					



					10 Winter Hikes to Keep You Trailblazing All Year Round					



					The North Face Introduces Athlete Development Program					



					Ocean Rower Fiann Paul Completes Most Grueling Expedition					



					Snowmobile-accessed Ski Touring in Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana					


			All Stories			

More Videos

							The MJ5: Tony Hawk on His Favorite Gear, Why He Always Carries His Board, and More							





							Here's the Difference Between Bourbon and Whiskey							





							Young Guns and a Supercharged Catamaran: U.S. SailGP Team Takes on New York City							

More News

					Famed Yosemite Climber Zach Milligan Dies After Ice Climbing Fall					



					Skiing in Japan Is Back Again—and the Powder Was Worth the Wait					



					10 Winter Hikes to Keep You Trailblazing All Year Round					



					The North Face Introduces Athlete Development Program					



					Ocean Rower Fiann Paul Completes Most Grueling Expedition					



					Snowmobile-accessed Ski Touring in Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana					


			All Stories			

More Videos

							The MJ5: Tony Hawk on His Favorite Gear, Why He Always Carries His Board, and More							





							Here's the Difference Between Bourbon and Whiskey							





							Young Guns and a Supercharged Catamaran: U.S. SailGP Team Takes on New York City							

More News

					Famed Yosemite Climber Zach Milligan Dies After Ice Climbing Fall					



					Skiing in Japan Is Back Again—and the Powder Was Worth the Wait					



					10 Winter Hikes to Keep You Trailblazing All Year Round					



					The North Face Introduces Athlete Development Program					



					Ocean Rower Fiann Paul Completes Most Grueling Expedition					



					Snowmobile-accessed Ski Touring in Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana					


			All Stories			

More Videos

							The MJ5: Tony Hawk on His Favorite Gear, Why He Always Carries His Board, and More							





							Here's the Difference Between Bourbon and Whiskey							





							Young Guns and a Supercharged Catamaran: U.S. SailGP Team Takes on New York City							

More Videos

							The MJ5: Tony Hawk on His Favorite Gear, Why He Always Carries His Board, and More							





							Here's the Difference Between Bourbon and Whiskey							





							Young Guns and a Supercharged Catamaran: U.S. SailGP Team Takes on New York City							

More Videos

							The MJ5: Tony Hawk on His Favorite Gear, Why He Always Carries His Board, and More							





							Here's the Difference Between Bourbon and Whiskey							





							Young Guns and a Supercharged Catamaran: U.S. SailGP Team Takes on New York City