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Manhattan Beach World Surf Ski Champion Tim Burdiak wins Lanakila Classic

Kevin Cody|February 27, 2022
Jostling for position at the start of the Lanakila Classic Short Course (five mile) race are Danny Ching (gray shirt, stand-up), Alan Loi (green OC 1), Brandi Basik (white OC 1), Bodie Van Allmen (green shirt, stand-up), Richard Cantin (red, yellow, green OC 1) and Grace Hardy (gray OC 1). Photo by Michael McKinney

Photos by Mike McKinney

by Kevin Cody

Two-time U.S. surf ski champion and 2016 World Surf Ski Champion Tim Burdiak, of Manhattan Beach, won the Lanakila Classic Long Course Race (nine miles) on Saturday. 

The warm, windless day drew 108 paddlers for the Long Course race, and 117 for the Short Course race (five miles).

The Long Course race was restricted to surf skis, and one and two-person outriggers. Paddlers started outside King Harbor, went north to the Manhattan pier, back to the “A” race pin, off of King Harbor, and into the harbor.

Surf Skier Nicholas, of Vancouver, the first person to paddle the West Coast of Vancouver, finished second, in 1:01:57

Lanakila coach Danny Ching finished third paddling an OC 1 (one-person outrigger canoe), in 1:04:17. Prior to the Long Course race, Ching won the stand-up paddleboard division in the Short Course (5 mile race). And before that, he paddled an OC 2 with daughter Kaimana in the Mini Course race (1,000 yards). Ching’s wife Leah also competed in the Long Course race, finishing third in the Open Womens’ division paddling and OC 1, and with her daughter Kealia in the Mini Course race. Ching’s dad Al, who founded Lanakila in 1970, and is 82, competed in the Short Course race. 

Lanakila founder Al Ching, 82, competes in the Lanakila Classic Short Course (5-mile) race. Photo by Michael McKinney

Hawiian Hunter Pflueger won the Short Course race, paddling an OC-1, in 33:56. He also placed third in the Long Course race OC 1 division. In 2018 and again in 2019, Pflueger won the ISA World Championships prone paddleboard distance race.

Matt Earls, of Ventura, finished just two seconds behind Pflueger, for second place overall, and first in the 50 and over division in 33:58.

The OC 2 team of Ash Seraphin and Judson Gray were third overall, in 34:01.

For complete results visit Lanakila.com. ER

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