Competitions heat up 2nd day of Pika Festival

KAMMER BEACH, Tinian—The final day of the 11th Annual Tinian Hot Pepper Festival on Sunday was no less intense, with several competitions and entertainment capping off the two-day festivities.

Activities on Feb. 15 included the beach volleyball championship round, the Estofao Pika cooking contest, a dragon boat race, tug of war, a chacha dance contest, and the hot pepper-eating contest for men.

According to Tinian Marianas Visitors Authority’s Vida Borja, the top three finishers of each competition were presented with prizes.

For the beach volleyball event, Team Umang won the championship purse of $200. Team Pikaru took second place, winning $150, while Team Tasi took third and pocketed $100.

Jayson Santos won first place in the Estofao Pika cooking contest, winning the judges’ hearts and taste buds with his version of chicken mixed with donni sali—the indigenous and potent hot pepper that the weekend festival was named after.

Santos won $150. Tina San Nicolas won second place and took home $100, while Carla Aldan took third place, winning $75.

On the waters off Kammer Beach, the dragon boat race was all brawn and strategy as participants paddled into the deep waters and back to shore. JC Café took first place, taking home $200, $150 went to Pika Punket, which took second place, and Taotao Marianas took third place and won $100.

In the tug of war tournament, the Taga Warriors took first place, winning $150, U.S. Marines took second place and earned $100, while Tachogna Boys won third place and got $75.

Borja said the U.S Marines donated their runner-up cash prize to Tinian Elementary School.

For the hot pepper-eating contest for the men, Corey San Nicolas won first place and was $150 richer for it. Scott Santos won second place and took home $100, while Jan Barcinas won third best and got $75.

In the chacha dance-off for adults, dancing their way to first place was the pair of Jose and Lorna Crus, who took home $100, while Prince Monkeya and Arsene Borja finished second and Chris King and Leonora Aldan took third.

In the booth competition, Neng’s Snack Mobile won with its ornamented pepper, lemons, leaves, and various local produce displayed in their booth. The win was worth $200 for Neng’s Snack Mobile.

JM Snack Mobile decorated their booth with a green hue and took second place, winning $150, while D&S Kitchen Bar won third with its bamboo-themed booth. They earned $100.