surfresearch.com.au  duke kahanamoku : february 1915

George Cunha, the travelling companion of Kahanamoku. and one who, on his performance In the hundred yards championship or the State may be classed as the fastest white swimmer in Ihe world, is Iisted to make anotber appearance at the Domaln Baths, where he will meet Barry and other speedy local performers over the 100 metre course in a special handicap at the Ladies Association champlonshlp carnival.
Cunha holds the record for the dlstance, but Barry Is showing such fine form, that the dlfference between the two in their one contest was so Ilttle, that both are looking forward to another meeting.

The Surf bathing Association' officials visited Cronulla on Sunday last to put through a number of members for the Association's medallions.
The following were successful: J. Hallet, N. Deacon, F. Postle, E. Wilshire, L. Newman, S. Short, C. Ray, R. Whipp, W. Duff, R. Emanuel.
In addition to these it will be pleasing to know that Capt. Stroud and Vice-Captain Cutherbertson secured the Association's highest award - that of Instructor.

Notes
1. "acrobatic meats" is a printer's error and should be "acrobatic feats".

Notes
1. This is essentially a reprint of the previous day's report.
2.The previous printer's error, "acrobatic meats" , has been corrected in the next day's edition.

A few things the Club need not do the next time the Duke & Co. visit Cronulla.
Prince Henry Joe needn't bolt from Sutherland and take all the party down to Audley to start the run through Lady Carrington's Drive.
Jack needn't make up his mind the Duke's going with him in his car, "Nor walk" either.
The Captain needn't break his petrol pipe and try to borrow soap from every passing car.
Lance needn't try to shift the gate post with his dash board again, it hurts.
The "Waverley" nearly met its "Waterloo".
Jack needn't try to shift the same post with his rear wing, it also hurts.
The whole of the Club needn't take the invitation, when the Duke says "Pas a 'bernaner,' " one can have too much of a good thing.
Raining "bernaners" isn't raining manna.
The divers needn't kid they know every inch of the "Drive" when they start off by going to the wrong end.
Some members needn't give exhibition rescues in Port Hacking, the country has more use for them on the Suez Canal, if they want to take a risk.
The blubber needn't be so thick on the big beach.
The Duke needn't say "Gee, these stingarees are hot."
The captain needn't look for red marks on the Duke to rub ammonia on where the blubber stung.
The same chap needn't try to get twenty on his car when it will take only neneteen.

SYDNEY, Australia, Jan. l6.
The performances of Kahanamoku, the Hawaiian, in the New South Wales championship swimming carnival a few days ago, particularly the Olymplc record holder's lowering of the world's record for 100 yards of 54 3-5 seconds by four fiths of a second, has caused a decided stir in Australian swimming cirles.
Indeed, it is predicted by sporting authorities here that the Australlan "crawl" stroke wil have to give way to what is being called the "Kahanamoku Kick."

It had been contended ever since "Dick" Cavill first used the  "crawl" in championship races that the leg work did not materiaIly assist the pace of the swimmer except in keeplng the body well balanced on the water and thus minimizing the retarding effects due to the legs and feet sinking.
But this theory was quite upset by the methods or the "Duke" and his swimming mate, George Cunha, also of Hawaii, who use the rapid independent movement or the feet, as against the Australian fashion of smacking the leg from the knee down upon the water at every stroke of the arm. The slow, easy movements of Kahanamoku and Cunha from the hips to the tips of the fingers was markedly in contrast in the races with the style which the Australian cracks pitted against them.
The buried heads of Barry and Longworth of Sydney, who are among Australia's best, was also in contrast wIth that of the Hawaiian.
The "Duke" kept his head well clear of the water and had, what his competitors did not possess, a clear view of what every opponent was doing.

"Swim with the head low so that your legs will float nearer the surface" has been one of the first instructions given by the coaches in Australia to racing swimmers; and this has been followed by injunctIons to work the arms fast and the legs in unlson with them and to roll the body slightly from
side to side so that from the hips up it should assist the arms and make breathing easier.
But all these requirements, it is pointed out by experts here, are more than met by the "Kahanamoku" or independent "kick."

According to these same experts this kick originated in the fresh water baths of the Eastern United States, where the more rapid movement of the legs was not necessary to overcome the Iess buoyant fresh water as against the salt  water baths of Australia, where the "CrawI" was evolved.
But this opinion seems pretty far fetched when one bears in mind that Kahanamoku belongs to a race of Islanders who have no superiors in the world as swimmers and that his prowess is likely instinctive rather than the result of any artificial conditions.

However that may be, the Australian swimmers admit now that they have seen him race, that the "Duke's" kick serves all the purposes of the "crawl," and that it is much faster and needs less exertion than theIr own method of locomotion in the water.
Before Kahannmoku came here there was some skepticism about his achievements, but it vanished after his first performance.

It is only ten years since the then wonderful feat of swimming 100 yards In a minute was accomplished by the Australian and world's champion, F.C. Lane, in England.
He was followed by several other exponents of the "crawl," and at one stage the Commonwealth claimed the only four men who had covered that distance in that time - Lane, Cavill, Healy and Wickham.
But it was another American, Charles M. Daniels, who upset their calculations, and, altllough Australia is still the place par excellence of swimmers, generally speaking, and the Commonwealth possesses  many first-class performers in the water, it is more than likely that the Honoluluan's style will be have to be taken up if Australia hopes to keep up its record.

The popular view of the Hawaiian's  victory - although he has been beaten by an Australian in one of the three races he has participated in - is perhaps best expressed by the comment by a Sydney newspaper:
"Kahanamoku has justified all that was said of him.
It was not mere physique that did it, for although his physique is fine, it is not unsurpassable.
No doubt the fact that he is practically a waterman, and has lived in the water ever since soon after he was born, has made a difference, though some Australians have been watermen in that sense too.
But his American training must certainly be counted in.
The Americans got hold of him early.
They found the man with the possibilities, and they turned him out a specialized swimming machine."

As for the "Duke", his sportsman-like actions and good nature have made him very popular here.

At the time the Hawaiian put out to sea with his surf-board, which he seems to worship almost as much as a child its doll, the waves, unfortunately, were not particualy good for shooting purposes, merely an occasional one having any length of run.
The rapidity with which he took the weighty plank out through the breakers was not the least amazing feature of the display.
He lay outstretched upon it, and, usedhis hands as paddles, one on either side.

It struck me as I watched him propel himself along in this fashion infinitely faster than any of our expert surfers could move unencumbered, that he must be able to exert tremendous power with those arms of his, and, therein probably is to be found the explanation of his extrodinary capabilities as a sprint swimmer, rather than his particular method of kicking.

On sighting a likely-looking wave, he commenced to paddle vigorously, still lying prone as before.
After a few ineffectual attempts he succeeded in catching one properly.
Instantly the board seemed to leap forward like a fiery steed when the spurs are driven into the rowels.
Immediately afterward the Duke rose upright, and assumed the attitude of ancient chariot drivers.
And no sooner had he done so than he appeared to exercise some subtle influence over the madly careering craft : in fact just as if he had taken reins in hand.
He altered its direction so as to steer a course diagonal to the beach.
Although the prow pranced and bounded over the crest of the onrushing billow, the Duke stood like an ebony statue, immovable save for the deft movements of his feet, and remained so until a few of the shore, when he leisurely dropped off.
It was a thrilling sight to watch, and such balancing skill and dexterity entitles him to the designation of a surfing Blondin.

A young lady acquaintance then emerged and accompanied the Duke seawards.
It occured to me at once if the Duke found it difficult to to get going by himself with the not-by-any-means good waves at his disposal, obviously his chances of doing so would be greatly minimised when hindered by a novice.
Such proved to be the case.
A considerable time elapsed before he managed to get a move on with his partner.
It must be admitted, however, that the duel (sic, dual) shoot, when it did come off, was the the more sensational spectacle of the two while it lasted.
It served to show more conspicuously the Duke's wonderful facility for maintaining his equilibrium under these exacting conditions, as although his passenger was toppling backwards over the lattter part of their journey, the extra burden failed to dislodge him until they had negotiated about three-parts of the distance he covered when alone.
But the question arises whether the onlookersmany who had come from distant suburbs, would not have been better pleased to have been treated to a greater number of performances like the first, rather than have to submit to the wearying wait that occurred before the Duke found it possible to bring off the more difficult stunt.

George Cunha gave a 66yds exhibition swim, which arosed much cheering, as did an exhibition by Miss Fanny Durack over 100yds.
Their times were respectively 35 9-10sec, and 1min 11sec.
Leslie Boardman's back-stroke "crawl" was a feature of the 300yds Harris Cup Medly (sic, Medley) Teams' Race in which teams of three members competed, one representative swimmi9ng freestyle, one brest, and the third back stroke.
Boardman was timed at to negotiate his 100yds relay in a fraction less than 1min 19sec, which is some 10 sec faster than the record.

NOTES
1. Blondin, also known as Chevalier Blondin, was born as Jean Francois Gravelet in France in 1824, and gained a world-wide reputation as a tightrope walker when he successfully crossed Niagara Falls in June 1859.
In 1874 he made highly profitable and much acclaimed tour of Australia, performing in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.
http://www.hat-archive.com/blondin.htm

Nevertheless the Duke did not look as if he had wasted away, but frankly admitted that in the matter of weight he was all there.

"To judge by the programme I have seen, the task will be harder in New Zealand, where so much travelling have to done," continued the Hawaiian.
"I hope they will be able to make it a little less severe upon us over there."
Yes, I know the chmate In New Zealand is not. so hot; but I do not. mind the climate."

The Duke looked very fit as he left for Melbourne.
He had just returned from the surf at Bondi, after some hard battles with the rough breakers, which he explianed, were vastly different from those of his beloved Honolulu, which roll in with a long, steady, sweeping roll.
The Duke likes the surf play here; though it is different to carvorting on the waves at Honolulu.

The Duke and his companions will take away with them souveniers of their visit in the shape of albums, containing photographs of scenes and races in which they have figured.
These will include the principal photographs which have appeared in "The Referee."
He also takes all copIes of this paper dealing wlth his visit to Australia, a fact which shows that the visit will rank as no mere passing hour in the life of the sprinter.
The Hawaiians will return to Sydney to-morrow, and leave for new Zealand on Friday.

Autographed Postcard, Feb 11, 1915.  E. S. Marks was  prominant in Sydney sports. Sydney's premier athletic track is named The E.S. Marks Field. Postcard reproduced from private collection.

---

surfresearch.com.au

---