Va’a season kicks off with V6, V1 Slalom Race series

MOC I men’s team comes in first place ahead of SPC A during the first V6 team preliminary race of the NMNPSF V6/V1 Slalom Race series last May 20 at the Kilili Beach in Susupe.(LEIGH GASES)

The Northern Marianas National Paddling Sports Federation began their 2023 season last May 20 as V1 and V6 paddlers took to Kilili Beach in Susupe for a three-part Va’a Slalom Race series.

NMNPSF president Justin Andrew said that they wanted to kick off their 2023 season with this race series since the first part of their season is distance racing and also because they wanted to get the local races started as part of the overall preparations for the Pacific Games in November. They are also slated to take part in the 23rd Micronesia Cup paddling competition this October in Guam.

Marianas Outrigger Club men and women churned the water the fastest in the V6 2-mile race, which was the first race of the day. 

MOC I in the open men’s division clocked in at 19:30:88; second was Saipan Paddling Club A at 19:37:74; third was SPC B at 20:27:07; and fourth was MOC II with 20:34:28.

In the open women’s division, MOC Black clocked in first with a time of 22:46:69; second was SPC Women at 23:31:09; third was MOC Orange at 24:35:49; fourth was Marianas Pacific Paddlers Orange with 25:04:31; and fifth was MPP Blue with 25:41:17.

In the second V6 race after, MOC Black retained first place in the women’s division, while SPC A claimed first in the men’s division. 

MOC Black came in first with a time of 24:02:68l second was MOC Orange with 24:41:01; third was 24:59:87; fourth was MPP Orange with 26:22:04; and MPP Blue did not race.

SPC A men’s team came in first with a time of 21:18.24; second was MOC I with 21:33:48; third was SPC B with 22:26:50; and fourth was MOC II with 22:43:04.

For the V1 open women race, MOC’s Pipit Ball claimed first with a time of 26:13:47; second was MPP’s Marianas Ornes at 29:03:15; and SPC’s Erryne Dasalla did not finish.

The open men’s V1 was dominated by SPC’s Carter Calma with a time of 22:44:63; not far behind was MOC’s Maverick Itibus at 22:56:98; third was MOC’s Jason Tarkong at 24:15:69; fourth was SPC’s Joe Weaver at 24:21:57; fifth was MOC’s Richard Sikkel at 24:48:33; and sixth was SPC’s Justin Andrew at 26:06:83.

In the junior 19 girls V1 race, SPC’s Vinalyn Oronigo was the lone paddler and finished at 28:27:01. SPC’s Grace Mendiola did not race. The junior 19 boys V1’s lone participant was SPC’s Tyler Andrew who finished at 24:11:83.

Justin Andrew said of this series, “This slalom series is a way to allow everyone an opportunity to get in the canoe and paddle as a team and to feel and gauge what other teams have—fine-tuning even more from past months of training together as a team.”

The turnout of the first race of the series was great, according to Andrew, even though some paddlers had prior family commitments as it was around the same time as graduations and other events.

About the race, Andrew said it was “just what we needed after a long dry season for us here—we have not had a local race done since the pandemic and that race was just what we all needed to get started. The race format was short, about 2 miles, with a triangular course that was still within sight and allowed all to see and cheer our paddlers on from shore.”

As for the next race, Andrew said he is looking forward to having more paddlers come out in the V1 team category and the V1 category. 

“We decided to include the single person and by age groups of open women, open men, junior 19 boys, junior 19 girls, junior 16 boys, junior 16 girls. The junior age group is to give opportunity to our youth paddlers to showcase their skills on the single-man rudderless canoes—this craft is gaining popularity among paddlers outside of the Polynesian region and we wanted to allow the junior to race against their junior peers and not the adults. We hope to see more single man canoe paddlers come out.”

As thanks, he said “special thanks to all clubs and teams that came out to race, and also special thanks to Napu Outrigger Canoe Club and Saipan Outrigger Canoe Club for their help with canoes to use. Lastly, special thanks to Rica Concepcion and Teresa Borja for manning the official station.

The second preliminary race day is scheduled for this Saturday, June 3, with the finals set for June 17 both from 8am to 12pm.