50K Pika Bike Race set on Feb. 19

Participants in the 50K Pika Bike Race traverse Broadway on Feb. 13, 2021, at the 17th Annual Tinian Hot Pepper Festival in The Marianas. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

This year’s 18th Tinian Hot Pepper Festival on Feb. 18-20, 2022 will again feature the 50K Pika Bike Race on Saturday, Feb. 19.

The festival, affectionately knowns as “Pika Fest” among locals (pika means spicy), pays homage to Tinian’s small but famous “donne sali” hot pepper and includes a full weekend of activities including food sales, live entertainment, competitions, arts and crafts sales, and more.

The 50K Pika Bike Race will begin at 6am at the Fiesta Grounds in San Jose, Tinian.

Registration is $40. Registration forms and payment may be submitted at The Bike Shop in Courtney’s Plaza on Beach Road in Chalan Kanoa, Saipan.

The first 35 paid registrants will be given a free ferry ride from Saipan to Tinian on Feb. 18 at 5pm and a free return ferry trip from Tinian to Saipan on Feb. 19 at a time to be determined.

“We ’re excited to have the Pika Bike Race return as a part of this year’s Tinian Hot Pepper Festival, as it provides many bikers a much anticipated opportunity to enjoy the safe and scenic roads of Tinian,” said MVA Community Projects manager Martin Duenas. “We are finalizing the ferry schedule and will be announcing dates, times, and prices once confirmed. In the meantime, we encourage bikers to register for the race as soon as possible at The Bike Shop so they can avail of the free ferry ride for the first 35 paid race registrants.”

For a registration form or more information on the 50K Pika Bike Race, contact Alex Gozon at alexgozon@yahoo.comalexgozon@yahoo.com or 1.670.234.2665.or 1.670.234.2665.

The festival will have a soft opening at 6pm on Feb. 18 at the Fiesta Grounds in San Jose, Tinian, adjacent to Jones Beach. On Feb. 19 and 20, booths will open at 10am with live entertainment and competitions beginning in the afternoon and continuing into the evening.

Hotel accommodations are available at Tinian Ocean View Lorilynn’s Hotel, Tinian Street Motel, Fleming Hotel, Green Lion House Hotel, Marpo Valley Inn, and Western Lodge. Free camping is available at Kammer Beach, Taga Beach (toilets, barbecue pits, and outdoor showers available) and at the adjacent Tachogna Beach Beach (barbecue pits, indoor showers , and toilets are available).

For more information, contact Tinian Field Operations supervisor Vida Borja at 1.670.433.9365 or 1.670.433.9365 or e-mail at vborja@mymarianas.com or MVA Community Projects specialist Jack Aranda at 1.670.664.3200 or email at jarandajaranda@mymarianas.com.@mymarianas.com. (PR)