Sunday’s legendary Kaloko Hill Climb lived up to its name as 22 participants made it to the top of the brutal 6.5-mile climb more popularly known as Pedal Till Ya Puke.
It is the oldest cycling hill climb event on the Big Island that began in 1991 by Sean “Peaman” Pagett, and continues to be the race on everyone’s bucket list. Sunday’s climb featured a punishing elevation gain of 2,800 feet with several sections of 20% inclines. To put it into perspective, oftentimes it would be faster to walk those sections than pedal a bike.
Hawaii Cycling Club race director, Tom Solis, said it turned out to be a perfect day for a hill climb.
“It was a beautiful day, clear, with no clouds or wind,” Solis said. “We ended up moving the start of race back about 0.2 miles on Old Mamalahoa Highway. The finishing times were very fast overall and it was a time trial format.”
Bragging rights for the King of the Mountain title easily went to Waikoloa’s Sam Anderson-Moxley who conquered the climb in a stellar time of 39 minutes and 44 seconds. The race for second place turned out to be a closer match between Mason Tuckenhagen, who posted a time of 44:59, and Daniel Hill’s time of 45:08 which placed him in third.
The first woman to reach the top was Kailua-Kona’s Laura Yamasaki who won in a fabulous time of 1:11:33. The only other female to attempt the climb was Lori Montgomery who finished in 1:33:25.
With the slightly shortened race course, Solis thought that perhaps Anderson-Moxley broke Penn Henderson’s 2012 course record of 38:08. Henderson’s course record is still intact as well as Susan Dell’s 2007 course record of 45:15.
Solis shared a few fun facts after compiling Sunday’s race results. Four of the first eight finishers were under 30-years old, and three of the four were under 24. In the competitive 70-74 age-group, Harry “Da Hammer” Yoshida (1:16:29) beat Jon Luft (1:16:33) by four seconds. While seventy-eight year old Gerald Gruber (1:13:48) continued his domination of everyone over 70.
John Barnett (81-years old) had a fantastic race finishing in a time of 1:44:11. There was a 62-year difference between the two 19-year olds, the youngest riders, and Barnett. Marie Diaz (2:08:46) and John Kaihewalu (2:09:04) rode single-speed track bikes.
Congratulations to all who conquered the Kaloko Hill Climb!
Peaman’s Pedal Til Ya Puke
August 6, 2022
Place Name Category Time MPH
1 Sam Anderson-Moxley M 25-29 39:44.3 9.9
2 Mason Tuckenhagen M 18-24 44:59.6 8.7
3 Daniel Hill M 50-54 45:08.9 8.7
4 Todd Marohnic M 60-64 51:16.0 7.7
5 Peaman Peaman M 55-59 52:52.4 7.4
6 Carson Smith M 18-24 54:43.4 7.2
7 Jeff Lassle M 60-64 55:48.1 7.0
8 Price Beane M 18-24 1:00:42.5 6.5
9 Rob Maheu M 60-64 1:01:46.9 6.4
10 Carlos Oncina M 60-64 1:04:10.1 6.1
11 Laura Yamasaki W 35-39 1:11:33.6 5.5
12 Gerald Gruber M 75-79 1:13:48.7 5.3
13 Jonathan Hayes M 45-49 1:15:33.8 5.2
14 Harry Yoshida M 70-74 1:16:29.3 5.1
15 Jon Luft M 70-74 1:16:33.8 5.1
16 Bruce Wacker M 75-79 1:22:00.9 4.8
17 Joe Schneckenburger M 60-64 1:25:04.3 4.6
18 Kevin Dickson M 60-64 1:29:36.0 4.4
19 Lorraine Montgomery W 60-64 1:33:25.9 4.2
20 John Barnett Men 80 + 1:44:11.1 3.8
21 Marie Diaz Track 2:08:46.7 3.0
22 Johnnie Kaihewalu Track 2:09:04.4 3.0