Prestigious Award presented to Susie Nemeth

Congratulations to our very own Susie Nemeth, 2008 recipient of the A.E. Toots Minvielle Memorial Paddle Award.  Cheance Adair, Race Committee Chair presented Susie with this beautiful koa wood paddle at the 2008 Catalina Channel Crossing US Championships outrigger canoe race.

The late Toots was the father of the Moloka'i race and brought Hawai'ian canoe racing to California in 1959. Toots also founded the International Hawai'ian Canoe Racing Association (IHCRA), an organization that brought nations of paddlers together.

The paddle was originally given to him when he was inducted into the Hawai'ian Sports Hall of Fame http://hawaiisportshalloffame.com/xminv.htm. It was later given to IHCRA who presented the paddle to the Southern California paddling community in the early ‘90s. A symbol of dedication and hard work, the A.E. Toots Minivielle Memorial Paddle Award recognizes and celebrates members of the paddling community who strive for the continued growth and development of the sport.

Recipients:
1992: Mindy Clark
1993: Bill Hamilton
1994: John Rader
1995: Sandy Kahanamoku
1996: Wendy DeWitt
1997: Bobby Woods
1998: Uncle Bud Hohl
1999: Greg Shaghoian
2000: Clint Matthews
2001: Cheance Adair
2002: Billy Whitford
2003: Rena & Egon Horcajo
2004: Mike Roberts
2005: Carol Shick
2006: Caren Thompson
2007: Casey and Charlie White
2008: Susie Nemeth