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Andrew, Matagolai top SUP Challenge
Joshua Andrew, left, paddles his way to a first place finish in the first sprint race in last Saturday’s Inaugural Micro Beach SUP Challenge held in the waters off the Hyatt Regency Saipan. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)
Veterans Justin Andrew and Hiromi Matagolai ruled the Inaugural Micro Beach SUP Challenge held over the weekend in the waters off the Hyatt Regency Saipan.
Andrew, who represented the CNMI in the canoe competition of the 9th Micronesian Games in Yap last July, lorded it over in last Saturday’s sprints race and also conquered yesterday’s 4-mile course to prevail against 11 other paddlers in the men’s division. Each paddler received points based on how they finished the race and the lowest led the rankings. Andrew collected 3.5 in the sprints and 7.5 in the long distance.
Japan’s Watary Tajima and Saipan Ketson “Jack” Kabiriel joined Andrew in the Top 3. Tajima got the runner-up honors after placing second in the sprints (10.7 points) and third in the long distance (18.7). Kabiriel was second in the long distance (13.4) and third in the series of sprints (12 points) to complete the podium finish in the weekend event organized by Windsurfing Saipan’s Shigeru Tomita with the help of Docomo Pacific, Hyatt Regency Saipan, and the DPS Boating Safety.
Other finishers in the two-day competitions were (in order of overall rankings, from fourth to 13th) were Carter Calma, Maverick Itibus, Steven Goodwin, Bill Grow, Koen Kabiriel, Robin Sapong, Noke Rogopes, Rich Salas, Jose Quan, and Jun Shimada. Strong winds, intermittent rains, and some waves greeted the paddlers in last Saturday’s five sprints races, causing some to fall to the water while making their turn on their way back to the start/finish line.
In the women’s division, Matagolai won three out of the five sprints races and was the first to complete the long distance event to edge Soledad Quan, who topped the second and third sprints and was runner-up in the 4-mile competition. Fish Wang finished third in the long distance course and did only three of the sprints to settle for third place.
