SOCC paddlers present dinner for ducats

After recently proclaiming their intentions to challenge the best from California, Hawaii, New Zealand, Tahiti, and Australia by entering the Hamilton’s Cup in Queensland, Australia next month, members of the Saipan Outrigger Canoe Club are paddling full-speed ahead to prepare for the monster event.

Before Sonny Downer, Joe Przyuski, Eric O’Malley, Wayne Bramlett, Gil Birnbrich, and Richard Sikkel pack their bags and board a plane, the CNMI’s first representatives to the historic race needs to raise some green to compete on the blue.

In an effort to generate some of the much needed capital required to transport the paddlers the Hamilton’s Cup, the SOCC is hosting a fundraising dinner at Hamilton’s Restaurant on the evening of June 2 at 7pm.

The cost to help the team along to Australia is $15 and includes a fine meal from one of Saipan’s favorite restaurants, the chance to win any one of a number of door prizes, and to enjoy a night with the team.

Additional raffle prizes have been donated by Java Joe’s, Memphis Blues BBQ, and AJ’s Restaurant, and three friends of the club have agreed to donate several bottles of wine while others have agreed to donate hand made jewelry.

While Sikkel is an accomplished paddler, he is offering his services as a dive master to one of the lucky winners as well.

Tickets go on sale today and are available from any SOCC member or at Hamilton’s Restaurant. Additional raffle tickets will be available for $1 each, but organizers are also negotiating with entertainers to provide extra incentive for their supporters.

“We are discussing sponsorships with other businesses and expect to have a long list of great raffle prizes for the dinner. Bring lots of dollar bills,” said Bramlett.

Much like the line of local businesses that have gathered to sponsor the 6th Micronesian Games, the SOCC has enjoyed support from a growing number of community minded professionals. Despite the progress, the paddlers are still a long way from satisfying their financial goal.

“As of today, we have received travel and training sponsorships from Hamilton’s Restaurant, Island Apparel, and PowerAde. Hamilton’s Restaurant, Delta Management, and Marianas Coffee are have made donations toward the fundraiser. This amounts to about $900 toward our expected $12,000 of expenses for travel, housing, registration, equipment rental and fees,” said Bramlett.

Just a week and a half ago the paddlers braved 42-kilometer of waves to prepare for the best from California, Hawaii, New Zealand, Tahiti, and Australia that will be entering the Hamilton Cup in Queensland, Australia from June 28 through July1.

After consistently building up training distances since they committed to the races in February, the intrepid crew is looking to push its limits next month by circumnavigating Saipan.

While the details are still in the works, the SOCC is aiming to complete one of its last big training sessions on June 4 with the support of teammates who supported the trip across the channel.

The paddle around Saipan poses a whale of a challenge, but it’s nothing compared to staggering cost to send the team to compete down under. The SOCC is still looking to the community to help them compete with the world’s finest on one of the biggest stages and you or your business can add your name to the list of sponsors by contacting their secretary via email at sonny.downer@gmail.com.