Join FreeWing Team Rider Zane and his brother Matty Schweitzer as they take you across the Pailolo Channel for the 2023 Maui to Molokai 27-mile Race, “M2M Molokai Molokai”. Zane recounts his race;
“The 2023 M2M this year had such an epic turnout of over 90 foilers and I can’t tell you how exciting it was to share my local training grounds on the Pailolo Channel with everyone for such an action-packed race course 27 miles from West Maui to Kaunakakai Molokai. As I am last year’s record holder with a crossing time of 1:22 I was super excited to push the limits of my new Starboard & FreeWing wingfoil race gear and improve on my top time.
I took a risk by choosing my fastest foil in my quiver, the Starboard Foils Team 560+ 96cm mast paired with my largest FreeWing PRO which is a 5m. To bring it all together, I used the new Starboard X-15 foil board (soon to be released).
Across the channel this setup was awesome, but as I approached the last two miles towards the finish the NE wind started to flatten out on the water and shortly after the wind was fickle and dropping considerably. With less than a mile from the finish and in the top 4 I lost wind in the wing and resorted to flagging the wing and pumping. I wasn’t able to keep an efficient flight with my High Speed 560 foil and tall mast, hitting the water for the first time since I started the race.
At this point I had no options, I got to my belly and continued to fight to the finish line but riders with bigger wings and larger foils slowly started to pass by me!
That’s the name of the game! It was an epic race but I could have benefitted from a larger wing and even a larger foil – especially the last 2 miles of the race. So exciting to learn from all the other rider’s gear choices and see the innovation of this sport soaring!”
~ Zane Schweitzer
Video by Matty Schweitzer (@mat5o)
About 2023 Maui 2 Molokai Challenge
Molokai, Hawaii – July 14 -15: The 2023 M2M Molokai Holokai event concluded in grand style, leaving an indelible mark on the global water sports community. This prestigious annual event, held in the breathtaking waters of Molokai, Hawaii, brought together both paddling & foiling enthusiasts, as well as elite athletes from all corners of the world for an extraordinary showcase of human determination and waterborne prowess. As the sun-kissed waves of the Pacific Ocean witnessed an epic display of skill and endurance, participants and spectators alike bore witness to the true spirit of camaraderie and the unyielding bond between humans and the mighty sea.
The M2M Molokai Holokai has earned its place as one of the most revered and challenging paddleboarding competitions on the planet. The event’s name, “M2M,” stands for “Molokai to Maui,” and it truly encapsulates the essence of this extraordinary endeavour. The participants embark on a gruelling journey, paddling their way through the treacherous waters that separate the islands of Molokai and Maui.