Paddling lays out selection process for Mini Games

Northern Marianas National Paddle Sports Federation president Justin Andrew said a number of factors will determine its selection process for members of the national team for next year’s Pacific Mini Games. (Contributed Photo)

The Northern Marianas National Paddle Sports Federation said the selection process for the national team for next year’s Pacific Mini Games in the CNMI will be determined by a number of factors.

NMNPSF president Justin Andrew said the team’s selection will be based on a number of criteria. The first criteria is aspirants should be a member of any of the umbrella paddling organization’s member clubs. Potential national paddlers will then be chosen by the level of their paddling skills and knowledge, personal conditioning level/fitness, and more importantly, commitment.

A little less than a year before next year’s quadrennial Games, Andrew said NMNPSF will be fielding 14 paddlers for the men’s team and the same number for the women’s team, adding that numbers are not set in stone. “The figures could change,” he said.

As for the coaches of both the men’s and women’s national outrigger canoe teams, the NMNPSF has good news. “[We] will soon select the coaches.”

On material needs, Andrew said NMNPSF is coordinating with the Northern Marianas Sports Association. “So far we are underway. [We are] working closely with the Games Organizing Committee and NMSA in the procurement of canoes and other event materials. We are also working with our international federation—the International Va’a Federation or IVF.”

The shortlist of equipment the vaa federation has requested include 12 V6 and 12 V1 outrigger canoes. “For this level of competition, 15 to 18 canoes would be ideal according to our international federation the IVF.”

Outrigger canoe was originally not included in the calendar of sports events for next year’s Mini Games. The CNMI was only expected to host six events—athletics, badminton, baseball, beach volleyball, golf, and triathlon—as a condition for pushing through with the quadrennial following the devastation brought about by Super Typhoon Yutu in 2018.

Later on, the administration of Gov. Ralph DLG Torres asked the Pacific Games Council to add another three sports events—vaa, tennis, and weightlifting—to increase the sports calendar of the 2022 NMI Pacific Mini Games to nine.

Andrew also gave an update on NMNPSF’s participation in the 2023 Micronesian Games in Honiara, Solomon Islands. He said the federation will compete in a total of five race categories for both men’s and women’s—V1 sprints, V6 sprints, V12 sprints, V1 distance, and V6 distance.

Saipan Paddling Club, Napu Outrigger Canoe Club, Marianas Outrigger Club, and Marianas Pacific Paddlers make up the clubs under the NMNPSF.