Joined OCC: August 24, 1978
Elected to Winged “O”: September 30, 2017
Mark Sandvold is a world-class waterman and champion who has represented the Outrigger Canoe Club in an exceptional manner on the local, national and international level as a flatwater kayak, surfski and canoe paddler.
Mark joined the OCC in 1978 at the age of 12 and won the first of many State Canoe Racing titles as a Boys 12A in 1979. He was a member of the outstanding boy’s crew that went undefeated for three years as Boys 16s and 18s. He paddled his first Molokai Hoe race in 1985 as a young 18-year-old and came back while in college in 1990 to paddle on the crew that won the Molokai Hoe in the Kaoloa, the last koa canoe to win the prestigious race. He was on the winning Molokai crew again in 1998. He also paddled on crews in 1992, 1996, and 1997 in the open division. Moving up to the Masters Division, he was on the Club’s winning Men 35 in 2002, second place Men 40 crew in 2007, and first place in Men 40 in 2009 and 2010.
Mark was one of the Club’s first kayakers and became a regular competitor in local races. Cline Mann realized his potential and set him up with training from Marshall Rosa to become the first Outrigger Junior kayaker to do the Molokai Channel solo at age 16. In 1984, while a senior in high school, he was selected to compete in the Junior Olympics in kayaking and won the Junior Division K-1 1000-meters.
In 1986 he was named to the U.S. Men’s Flatwater Kayak Team. The following year, he competed in the World University Games, and was fourth overall at the World Canoe and Kayak Championships in West Germany. In 1988 he trained for the Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea in 500-meter and 1,000-meter flatwater kayak, becoming a member of the 1988 USA Kayak B-team. He qualified for the Olympic canoe/kayak trials, but did not make the U.S. Olympic team.
Mark has competed in the Molokai World Championships for surfskis many times, winning the 20 and under division in 1988, and finishing in the top ten most years. He was the first Hawaii finisher three times. He won numerous local races. He has crossed the Molokai Channel 19 times in races.
Mark has also become one of the Club’s most devoted youth coaches, as he tried to give back for all the excellent coaching he received over the years. He’s coached multiple youth crews at the Club and served as head coach for the youth paddling program in 2013-2016.
He has also been an active paddleboarder, windsurfer, surfer and sailor.
Mark has led by example, and is one of the most inspirational athletes that the Club has produced. Mark passed away September 1, 2018.
Athletic Achievements
Molokai Hoe
1986 8th Place
1990 1st Place, 1st Place Koa
1991 5th Place, 1st Place Koa
1992, 4th Place
1996 25th Place
1997 9th Place
1998 1st Place
2002 1st Place, Masters 35
2007 2nd, Place, Masters 40
2009 1st Place, Masters 40
2010 1st Place, Masters 40
Molokai World Championship Surfski Race
1983 11th Place Overall
1988 1st, Place, 20 and Under Division
2002 1st Place, Men 30-39
2004 7th Place, 1st Hawaii finisher
2005 12th Place, 2nd Hawaii finisher
2006 6th Place, 1st Hawaii finisher
2008 22nd Place, 2nd Hawaii finisher
2010 15th Place, 1st Hawaii finisher
HCRA Championships
1979 Boys 12A
1983 Boys 16 (undefeated)
1984 Boys 18 (undefeated)
1990 Junior Men
1992 Open 4 Men
1997 Sophomore Men
2009 Masters Men 40
OHCRA Championships
1983 Boys 16
1984 Boys 18
1985 Boys 18
1996 Sophomore Men
1997 Senior Men
1999 Senior Men
1992 Mixed Open
Macfarlane Championships
1979 Boys 12A
1985 Boys 18
1991 Sophomore Men
1997 Junior Men
Surfski/Kayak Races
1984 1st Place, Surfsports Hawaii Kai Race
1989 1st, Shoreline Kayak Race
1990 1st Place, OCC Winter Ocean 12K Kayak Race
1991 2nd Place, OCC Kayak Race
1991 2nd Place, Makapuu to Kewalo Race
1991 2nd Place, 15K, Open Men Expert, Governor’s Cup
1992 3rd Place, OCC Winter Kayak Race
1992 Hawaii team, Hawaiki Nui Vaa International Race
1993 3rd Place, OCC Winter Kayak Race
1996 2nd Place, OCC Winter Kayak Race
1997 3rd Place, OCC Winter Kayak Race
1997 3rd Place, OCC Tri-Ocean Races, M30-39
2002 2nd Place, K1 State Championships
2004 1st Place, K1 Oahu Championships
2004 3rd Place, U.S. Surfski Championships, San Francisco
2005 1st Place, K1 Oahu Championships
2005 2nd Place, K1 State Championships
2006 2nd Place, K1 Oahu Championships
2006 3rd Place, K1 State Championships
2006 7th Place, Kaiwi World Challenge Relay
2007 2nd Place, K1 State Championships
2007 1st Place, Maui Challenge (Maui to Molokai)
OC-1 Races
2000 1st Place, Oahu Championships, OC1 long course
2000 6th Place, Kaiwi Challenge Relay
Flatwater Kayak Races
1984 1st Place, Junior Division K-1 1000m, Junior Olympics, New York
1986 Named to U.S. Men’s Flatwater Kayak Team
1986 1st Place, K-4 1000m, Olympic Festival, Houston
1986 4th Place, 500m K-1, Olympic Festival, Houston
1986 8th Place, 500m K-2, Olympic Festival, Houston
1987 1st Place, K4 500m, U.S. Olympic Sports Festival
1987 4th Place Overall, US team, World Canoe & Kayak Championships, West Germany
1988 Member USA Kayak B Team
1988 Qualified for Olympic Canoe/Kayak Trials in K1 and K2, Indianapolis, Ind.
Canoe Races
1985 1st Place, Skippy Kamakawiwoole Long Distance Race, Fiberglass Division
1991 Member OCC Hamilton Cup Team which won all its events
1991 1st Place, Queen Liliuokalani Long Distance Race
1996 1st Place, OCC team, Catalina to Newport Long Distance Race
Service to the Outrigger Canoe Club
Head Canoe Racing Coach
1997
Youth Paddling Coach
2010-2016
Canoe Racing Committee
1991 Member
1997 Member
Paddleboard Committee
1991 Chair
1992 Member