Paddleboarder Jamie Mitchell eyes 10th Molokai to Oahu world title

Special to The Hawaii Independent

HONOLULU—Paddleboarder Jamie Mitchell will shoot for a record 10th consecutive Molokai to Oahu Paddleboard World Championship title this Sunday, July 31 when he embarks upon the marathon 32-mile crossing of the Ka Iwi (Molokai) Channel. If he is successful, he will become Quiksilver’s second 10-time world champion, alongside surfer Kelly Slater.

Mitchell, 34, out of Queensland, Australia, has dominated the international paddleboard scene for a decade, bagging prestigious race titles across several continents. Like his surfing counterpart Slater, Mitchell’s world domination of his sport has seen him post records that may never be touched.

Mitchell has been in Hawaii acclimatizing and racing for the past two weeks. During that time he has logged victories in the 17-mile Cline Mann race off the shores of Oahu, and the 9-mile Maliko Gulch race off Maui. His final challenge is the Molokai Channel.

As defending champion and course record holder (4h:48m:23s), Mitchell knows that the ocean has the final say. The Molokai Channel is infamous for its tempestuous seas, raging rip-currents, and humid heat, any of which can bring a paddler’s best intentions undone.

“I want to leave it all out on the channel this year,” says Mitchell. “The Molokai Channel is my Everest. I’ve given it 10 years of my life. I’ve done the preparation, and I’m looking forward to putting it all to work. The Molokai is one of those races where you can’t afford to slack off on anything—hydration, nutrition, the course, your fitness, your equipment. You’ve got to piece it all together and they need to be right on key on the day.”

If all goes according to plan, Mitchell will paddle to shore at Maunalua Bay, Hawaii Kai, Oahu, at around 12 noon on Sunday, July 31.

A leading member of the Quiksilver Waterman Collection team, Mitchell is a multi-discipline ocean athlete who also excels in the arenas of big-wave riding, stand-up paddling and surfing, and water safety and life-guarding.

Jamie’s accomplishments include: United States Paddleboard Champion; XXL Big Wave Paddle-In Nominee; Battle of the Paddle standup paddle champion, California; Hennessey’s International Paddleboard Champion; 32-mile Catalina Classic Champion; Alternate invitee to the Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau Big-Wave Invitational, Waimea Bay, Hawaii; Head of water safety for the world’s top-ranked surfers, Quiksilver Pro New York this September.