Russian students take part in 2008 PTI Aqua Walk

Students from the former Soviet Union took part in the last Saturday’s 2008 PTI Aqua Walk held in the waters off the Aquarius Beach Tower Hotel in Chalan Kanoa.

Saipan Walking Association, Inc. secretary and Aqua Walk coordinator Mario Espeleta said while the annual event kicked off at around 7:30am, the local walking group waited for 10 Russian students and two of their teachers to join the Aqua Walk a couple of hours later.

SAIWAI regulars—among them Hafadai Beach Hotel employees Susan Gaspar and Marlon Estigoy and Saipan Oceanview Hotel’s Efren Garcia—as well as Aqua Walk enthusiasts like Dr. Jack Hardy and Dr. John Joyner took part in the unique event.

Michelle K. Duty from the United States Coast Guard also took part in the event. The 2008 PTI Aqua Walk’s youngest participant was four-year-old Maxine Rabago.

The walk involved two courses—one was in the water and one along the beach shoreline prepared for participants who do not want to get wet.

After two to three loops around the buoys diligently setup by organizers, participants partook of snacks that include tuna and egg sandwiches, onigire, oranges—all washed down by bottled water and energy drinks.

Event sponsor PTI also made available giveaways made up of frisbees, keychains, and beach balls to all participants of the Aqua Walk.

Before the 2008 edition of the Aqua Walk began, SAIWAI director Gordon Marciano explained that the event was borne out of the Japan market’s demand for a unique activity on Saipan.

And while no Japanese tourists took part Saturday, it is Marciano’s and SAIWAI’s hope that the tourists from the Land of the Rising Sun will return and grace their event next year.

Like all SAIWAI activities, IVV members received credit for joining the 2008 PTI Aqua Walk.

IVV has member walking clubs in the U.S., Canada, Brazil, Japan, South Korea, Turkey, Nepal, Australia, New Zealand, the CNMI, and 29 other European countries, including Germany.

For more information about the 2008 PTI Aqua Walk and SAIWAI’s future events, contact Mario Espeleta at 322-8876, Hiroko Tenorio at 322-8781, or Bea Quitugua at 285-1694.

SAIWAI was incorporated as a non-profit corporation on July 27, 2001, and was established to promote public health through non-competitive walking.