Day 1 of IVF World Sprint Championship canoe racing in the books, but event is much more than competition : Big Island Now [Video]

Hilo is pretty much synonymous with rain. The National Weather Service says the East Hawai‘i community gets an average of about 130 inches of rain a year.

So it’s pretty much a given that at some point during the day, the Hawai‘i County seat will get at least a little bit of rain.

For the nearly 3,000 paddlers here competing in the 2024 International Va‘a Federation World Sprint Championship, that’s pretty perfect weather though, and the past couple of days have not disappointed.

Especially on the first day of races Friday in Hilo Bay.

The normal showers and misty conditions provided overcast skies for much of the day, so sunburn was not a risk. Temperatures also stayed pleasant.

The breezy trade winds that have been blowing across the islands as of late also likely kept racers even more cool and fresh to paddle even harder.