This weekend Andrea Moller will attempt to become the first woman ever to claim back-to-back victories at the Molokai to Oahu Channel Race, on stand up paddleboard. Moller won the event last year, setting a women’s course record with an incredible six hour finish.

The “Molokai- 2- Oahu Race”, heralded as the World Championships of Paddleboard Racing, pits competitors against a most formidable challenge. Covering 32 miles of open-ocean, over 250 competitors will cross the Ka’iwi Channel (also known as the Molokai Channel) from the North Shore of Molokai to the South Shore of Oahu on prone paddleboards or stand-up paddleboards (SUP). The fastest athletes typically complete the crossing in just under five hours, facing treacherous currents, open-ocean swells of up to 30 feet and depths up to 2,300 feet. This year’s race, to be held on July 31st, sold out in record time with athletes representing 15 countries.

Andrea Moller knows the Ka’iwi (kah-EE-vee) Channel very well- and how to beat it. She has crossed the channel 13 times, earning 9 championship titles, and has the course record on stand up paddleboard. Andrea is also the only woman to win the event on both stand up paddleboard and Ocean Canoe (OC-1 relay and OC-6). One of the most respected waterwomen in the world, she has amassed an impressive collection of ocean sport titles and is known for her exploits in surfing “Jaws” on Maui. Andrea also recently won the Triple Crown of Stand Up Paddling, taking all three races in the series.

In this photo, Andrea just won the Nash paddle board race and runs to the finish with her 9 year old daughter Keala. Maui Photographer, Nicole Sanchez

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