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Achievements
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Alumni News
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April 2011:
Source: http://distressedmullet.com/connor-baxter-on-radio-chum-tomorrow
November 2011:
Connor won the first event of the Namotu World Paddle Challenge.
November 2011: Connor won an all expense paid trip to the Namotu World Paddle Challenge in Figi.
September 2011: Congratulations to Connor at the 2011 SUP Awards. Click here for the article.
August 2011: 15th Annual Molokai-2-Oahu Paddleboard World Championship Sets Records On The Waves
Australian Jamie Mitchell claims 10th consecutive title over 32-mile open ocean crossing. Connor Baxter and Jordan Mercer stun the paddling world with strength and poise to become youngest solo champions in both prone and SUP divisions.
Here’s the article: 15th Annual Molokai-2-Oahu Paddleboard World Championship Sets Records On The Waves
Letter from Connor:
“Surprise” Weekend!! By Connor Baxter
The Molokai-2-Oahu World Championship Race as Jamie Mitchell states, “If you love paddling, this is the race of all races – it’s our Superbowl. I love the feeling of apprehension, the nerves and waiting to see what the ocean’s going to deliver. The depth of talent in this year’s race is unsurpassed.”
Well – the event for me started on Thursday. My dad, mom and I were to take our boat from Maui to Molokai on Friday, relax on Saturday, Race on Sunday. So preparations started on Thursday getting the boat provisioned and equipped.
Around 3:00pm my dad called me and asked me to pick up a guy named “Mike” at the airport. He was going to go on our boat for support. I asked what he looked like, what his cell number was – and my dad told me I did not know him – but he knew me. His cell phone was dead – but he would be holding a paddle.
I got to the airport – and what a “SURPRISE”!!! There was no “Mike” – My sister Ashley had flown in from California – to be with us for the weekend. She walked up to the car – and I was speechless. She and my dad had planned this Surprise – and WOW – what an OUTRAGEOUS Surprise!!
So – already the Weekend started out fantastic for me – with my sister coming to watch me race.
We all left on Friday morning from Kahului Harbor and headed over to the west side of Molokai. We stopped in Kaunakakai on the south side of Molokai to grab my race board that we left with our friend Greg Jenkins after the Triple Crown Event. Finally arriving at Kaluakoi Beach around 4:00pm, we swam in and walked to our condo settling in before dinner.
Saturday was a day to take it easy, focus on the upcoming race and what I had to do to win. That night the event had organized a dinner for us, then I went and had a second dinner at the Maui Jim get together and then it was straight to bed from there.
The next day we had to wake up at 5:00 in the morning to get down to the beach and get ready. Right before the race we had a Pule (Hawaiian Prayer) and then off to the water for the start of a long day. I was really stoked with the start – cause the Solo SUP’s got to start with all the Solo prone paddlers, which was cool because I got to paddle next to Jamie Mitchell for a bit.
When the horn blew I knew what I had to do and that is all I was focusing on. There was a little wind right from the start and I was catching some little bumps, which is always nice. I knew my biggest competition would be Dave Kalama, Scott Gamble and Livio Menelau. And, sure enough – the four of us were out in front quickly.
After about an hour Scott Gamble and I had taken the lead – and we were together right until the end. Pushing each other – never letting up. As we got more and more into the channel the swells got bigger and I started to get better and better glides. I had a steady pace going that was keeping me in the front of the pack. The farther I got into the channel it got harder and harder. I was getting more tired and the current was getting stronger going against me. But, I kept it going as hard as I could until the end.
One thing that really helped was having my family on the boat cheering for me to keep me going. Hearing them cheer was like drinking some energy drink – it just gave a huge boast to paddle harder.
When I was about 10 miles off of Oahu it felt like I wasn’t moving and it didn’t look like I was getting closer to the island at all. The current in the channel is swift – and runs north hampering the downwind headway. As Dave Kalama wrote “Most of this race really is fun…, but when you get close to Oahu the fun stops and the reality of how hard it really is starts to set in. For some reason Mother Nature decided to put one of her most wicked currents in front of Oahu acting like a night club bouncer protecting the door.”
Keeping an eye on Scott – I noticed we were dead even except he was more north than I was. This positioning made a big difference. And, I was exactly where I needed and wanted to be.
When we turned down to head to Coco Head, I was closer than him because he was more upwind (North) of me. This gave me a good gap on him, which would be really hard for him to make up.
Making it to the wall and hugging it, getting out of the washing machine, getting around Portlock – I knew what was in store for me. The “Next” hardest part of the race – the end – making it to the finish line.
Once I turned the corner it was $&!#. I had to paddle upwind for about 1½ miles – and the wind was blowing – gusting to about 20mph right in my face. I was already super tired from the 31 mile Crossing – but then to top it off I had this nice treat. I choked up on my paddle, crouched down with my body, put my head down and just kept paddling to the finish. As I got closer and closer I could hear all the people, which made me paddle faster.
Being the first person to the beach Overall was pretty cool because normally Jamie is the first guy to touch the beach. When I crossed the finish I was so dead and ready for a nice cool – you got it – a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup!!
I ended up with a time of 4:26:10. This time beat last years record be almost 30 minutes and beat Jamie’s new record by about 15 minutes. I was really happy with my result and can’t wait for the next challenge.
I want to thank my sponsors for all their support – Starboard, Rainbow Sandals, Maui Jim Sunglasses, EFX Technology, Dakine, Nike 6.0, GoPro Cameras, On It Pro, Waterman’s Sunscreen, Sunrite Maui, SIC Maui and Hi-Tech Sports.
A Special Thanks to Scott Sanchez from MPG for his wisdom as a trainer.
And, to a wonderful, thoughtful, special Sister – Ashley – Thanks for this special “surprise” weekend!!!
Also a big Mahalo to all the event organizers and volunteers.
Aloha -
Connor Baxter
Photos courtesy of Connor’s mom, Karen Baxter.
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The Start: Connor, Tomoe, Scott, Livio, Dave
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Leaving Molokai – Connor & Scott in lead
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Connor & Scott
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Connor with Dave
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Connor with Scott
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Nice Glides
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Approaching Portlock
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On the Rocks – Connor’s Uncle Greg Cheering him on!!!!!
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Heading Upwind to the finish
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The Finish Line!!!!!!
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Livio, Scott and Connor at the Awards!!
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June 2011: Connor is on the Cover Shot on the most prestigious SUP Magazine – and was named “JUNIOR OF THE YEAR!”
Below is the email from the SUP Magazine describing the Indonesian trip , and focuses on the legends and up-and-comers. Connor is one of the two youth picked for this trip.
Subject: Indo trip
Hi guys, here is some more info on the boat trip.
This boat trip to the Mentawaii Islands will offer a never before done opportunity in the Stand Up Paddle community. We will be spending 2 weeks onboard the Pelagic, one of the top boats in the Mentawaiis, and will have an opportunity to not only surf the best waves in the world, but also paddle some of the most pristine and picturesque coastlines and reef passes on earth. The islands offer up opportunities to surf anything from large barreling waves to easier, ripable surf. the islands crystal clear water, white sand beaches, and palm tree filled backgrounds also provide the optimal backdrops for flat water and touring shots. SUP Standup Paddler Magazine has committed to a full article on the trip with possibilities for a cover. Photographer Jason Kenworthy will be the primary photographer on the trip and has been spending an average of two months a year exploring these islands for more than a decade and obtains a knowledge of the waves that is second to none; he also is an ace surf photographer with over 40 covers world wide and a reputation as one of the masters. The photos from the trip will also be available for future use in interviews, profiles, and photo issues. Jason also works closely with ESPN.com and is actively pushing for more Standup Paddle coverage from them. The cost for the boat is $4000 for two weeks; this includes not only fuel and boat costs, but three incredible meals a day, all drinks, and a crew that is working from sun up to sun down to make sure everything runs smoothly.
Indonesia Generations
For our upcoming boat trip to Indonesia, SUP magazine plans on running an eight page feature on this paddling and surfing adventure, profiling the legends of the sport and the young guns who are ready to take the game to the next level. Thanks to a 30,000 print run, our magazine is seen in 300 specialty paddle and surf shops throughout the United States, every REI and Eastern Mountain Store, Barnes and Noble, Borders, Hastings and other specialty book stores as well as in retailers in Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Japan.
In addition to our print publication, we’ll be blogging live on SUPthemag.com, a website that boasts 100,000 page views a month, as well on our partner action sports website, Grindtv.com, which features 2.5 million unique visitors per month and is the sole action sports content provider for Yahoo.com. Any story that comes out of this trip with broader appeal has a chance to make it to the Yahoo homepage.
Along with a notepad and recorder, I’ll personally be packing video equipment to capture interviews and action sequences that will be cut into an online movie by our in-house editors that will run simultaneously to our print feature which is slated for the Fall issue (for release in late August).
Featuring legends like Dave Kalama, Chuck Patterson, Jamie Mitchell, and up-and-comers Slater Trout and Connor Baxter, this print and online package promises to provide the best exposure in the standup industry. Nobody can boast the incredibly large audience we can and nobody covers standup paddling like SUP magazine.
Joe Carberry
Editor
SUP magazine
Connor Baxter ’12 will be participating in a Stand Up Paddle Competition in Africa in November 2010. This adventure will take place over the course of 10 days and nights, covering around 100-160 km of the Lower Zambezi River and Victoria Falls. Connor (16-yrs-old) and his paddling partner Bart de Zwart (40-yrs-old), both well-known racers who have earned their respect in long distance racing in the past years, will be exploring the river. Since this adventure is not totally without risk they will be accompanied by an armed guide and as well as a photographer / videographer in an accompanying canoe.
Connor’s sponsors include: Nike 6.0, Starboard International, North Sails, DaKine, Watermans Sunscreen, Sunrite Maui, Kaenon Sunglasses, EFX Technology, On it Pro, GoPro Camera, Hi-Tech Sports. His previous competition results for 2010 include: 1st in the Mormaii Maui-Molokai, 1st in the Naish International 12’6″, 1st in the Molokai-Oahu 29 & under category and 1st in Duke’s Paddleboard Championships.
Please join us in supporting Connor in this exciting adventure!
The map of Lower Zambezi River
