Manning aims increase in paddlesports participants

Dino Manning is hoping that participation in paddle sports would further increase when they host the second race of the Marianas PaddleFest Series on Nov. 7 at the Hyatt Regency Saipan beachside.

Manning, one of the organizers of the event, said their promotion of stand up paddling is also two-fold as they also want kids to have a fun and healthy lifestyle.

“We want to see participation in paddle sports increase overall whether that is on a paddle board or outrigger canoe. We feel that we can promote a fun healthy lifestyle through this approach,” said Manning.

Manning added that they also teamed up with the Northern Marianas College-Cooperative Research Extension and Education Service in their program of battling childhood obesity in the CNMI.

“I believe that if we can get a child to have fun on a paddleboard or an outrigger canoe, this opens up other options to stay active, have fun and we have the perfect lagoon for these sport,” Manning said.

“We have an active outrigger paddling community on island and there is a natural crossover between the two sports.”

Manning said, for the moment, they are focused in promoting stand up paddling but plans of adding outrigger canoe racing in the Marianas PaddleFest Series is in the pipeline.

“We hope to include outrigger canoe racing in some of our future events but we are focused on stand up paddling right now because of access to equipment, flexibility, and the learning opportunity that comes with a single-person paddle craft.”

Like in the first event last June, which attracted 55 participants, race organizers again scheduled weekly practice sessions that started last Sunday also at the Hyatt beachside. The practice sessions will be every Sunday and run up to Nov. 1.

“We provide an environment at our practice sessions and races that is safe, comfortable and open to all skill levels. The only requirement we have is that participants are comfortable in the water and know how to swim,” said Manning.

For more information and registration visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marianas-paddlefest-race-2-registration-18710063303 or register at Windsurfing Saipan located at Hyatt’s north side at the beachfront or email oceansoulunlimited@gmail.com or windspn@me.com. Updates will also be posted on the OceanSoul Society Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OceansoulUnlimited.