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Micro Cup kicks off today
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Posted on Oct 20 2006
Months of planning are about to pay off for organizers of the 8th Annual Micronesian Cup this morning as the top paddlers from the region will pull water in the Saipan lagoon in the first major competition since the summer’s Micronesian Games.
Last night the activities got started with the welcome banquet at Saipan World Resort’s “carbo-load” party, registration, and check-in for the races, but all of the boats get in the water this morning.
Today a total of 36 crews of paddlers will sprint their way around the lagoon during the 500m and 1,500m short-course races early in the morning. There are a total of 17 crews slated for the Men’s Open division and 11 crews in Women’s Open, with an additional eight crews lined up for the Mixed categories.
Spectators are used to watching the teams paddle from right to left on the lagoon but this weekend’s onlookers will be treated to a special display of paddling as the boats will travel out from the shore and witness all six lanes of crews execute racing turns around buoys a few feet from the beach.
According to Micronesian Cup Organizing Committee chairman Robert Jordan, the Canoe Federation will open the races with a traditional display of Micronesian Proas followed by a beachside blessing of the boats at 8:30am but the heats will get started just as soon as all of the teams from Hong Kong touchdown at the Saipan International Airport and race over the beach.
Speed makes way for endurance on Sunday as the crews tackle the long-course races that will take paddlers from the lagoon’s silent sentinels behind the World Resort around Managaha Island and back.
Spectators will have to set their alarm clocks to catch all of the action as organizers are looking to set the first heat off and paddling bright and early at 7am Sunday morning.
Those looking to take home a piece of the action can walk away with commemorative T-shirts as the official Micro Cup T-shirts will be on sale for $15 and Saipan Outrigger Canoe Club T-shirts for $12. Organizers also announced that local artist Greg Elliott will be there with artwork featuring outrigger canoe paddling as well as other sports.
