Dolan's historic Molokai win: a tribute to mental fortitude and a mentor's fight

Pat Dolan's Historic Molokai Victory

Pat Dolan's recent triumph at the Molokai Challenge deeply resonated within the Hawaiian paddling community. The 37-year-old made history as the first Hawaiian to win the iconic surfski crossing since 1978, setting a new course record. He uniquely holds both the surfski and OC1 Molokai titles. Dolan expressed hope his victory would inspire younger generations, crediting his community for his success.

Dolan's paddling journey began with his grandfather, inspired at age 11 by the Lanikai Canoe Club's Molokai Hoe win. His first OC1 crossing was at 15. While he loved surfski, his 2013 Molokai surfski debut ended dramatically when his ski snapped. Undeterred, he steadily climbed the ranks, achieving a third-place podium in 2019, just behind legends Hank McGregor and Cory Hill.

After claiming his first OC1 crown last year, Dolan faced Cory Hill again in a surfski race, where Hill pulled ahead significantly. Realizing a change was needed to win the surfski Molokai, Dolan made the difficult decision to forgo defending his OC1 title in 2025, dedicating his focus entirely to the surfski event.

A Mentor's Inspiration and Mental Edge

A profound source of motivation for Dolan was Kai Bartlett, founder of Kai Wa’a and a five-time Molokai OC1 champion, currently battling cancer. Dolan considers Bartlett family and his lifelong mentor, stating, "He has been my motivation over these last few years."

The 2025 Molokai Challenge featured a competitive field, including five-time hopeful Cory Hill. Ideal conditions promised a fast race. Defending champion Hill was surprised to find Dolan leading an hour in, setting the stage for a familiar two-man duel. This time, however, Dolan had a new weapon: mental preparation, developed with his wife Angie, a sports psychology student. He consciously shifted his mindset from being "starstruck" to believing he deserved to challenge them. Dolan described it as...

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