Team Hawai'i placed second in the overall medal standings at the International Va'a Federation World Sprint Championships last week at Sacramento, Calif.

Around 1,400 paddlers representing 18 countries/regions participated in the eight-day event at Lake Natoma.

The event featured sprint racing in various age groups for one-person, six-person and 12-person canoes.

"We had a smaller group than we normally do, so a lot of paddlers from the different islands combined together to make crews," said Luana Froiseth, the Team Hawai'i coordinator. "I think it was a good showing for us."

Hawai'i paddlers combined to win nine gold medals, including five in the "adaptive" division for physically challenged competitors.

Team Hawai'i's adaptive paddlers won the 500-meter and 1,000-meter races for six-person canoes, and also the 500-meter race for 12-person canoes.

Also, Sharon Stanbro and Lea Kleepes each won a gold medal in the adaptive one-person races.

"Our adaptive team was really, really outstanding," Froiseth said. "They dominated all their races. It was awesome to watch."

Team Hawai'i also got a strong performance from the "Island Masters" in the golden masters (ages 55 and older) women division. They won the 500-meter and 1,000-meter races for six-person canoes, and combined with Kamehameha-Hilo paddlers to win the 500-meter race for 12-person canoes.

The Island Masters featured paddlers from around the state.

Tahiti dominated the one-person races, and was the runaway winner in the overall team standings.

"Tahiti, nobody can touch them in the V-1 (solo) events," Froiseth said.

The only Hawai'i paddler to win a medal in the age-group solo races was Patricia Eames of the Big Island. She placed second in the golden masters 500-meter race.

Froiseth said Team Hawai'i had 233 paddlers — around 200 fewer than in past years. Most of the team departed Hawai'i the day after the state championship regatta Aug. 2.

"It was a quick turnaround after states, and because of the expenses, a lot of people couldn't go this year," she said.

The IVF World Sprint Championships is held every two years at a different location around the world. The 2010 event is scheduled for New Caledonia.

"It's far, but it's also exciting because that's a place a lot of people haven't been to," Froiseth said. "So hopefully we get a good turnout for that one."