Ride ‘Round the Ridge Sunday at Saipan Radar Station

The 2nd Annual Ride ‘Round the Ridge will take place this Sunday with XTERRA World participants Mieko Carey and Butch Sublemente expected to lead local bikers in the MTB race.

Carey, who competed in the 2011 XTERRA World Championships in Hawaii late last month, topped the long course division of the inaugural Ride ‘Round the Ridge last year, clocking in at one hour, 14 minutes and 39 seconds. Sublemente, who debuted in XTERRA World this year, came in at third overall and second in the men’s division of last year’s Ride ‘Round the Ridge, submitting 1:15:27. Guam’s Jazy Garcia finished second overall and first in the men’s with a time of 1:15:21. Bob Ferrer posted 1:21:42 to complete the Top 3 in the men’s long course. In the women’s division, Heather Kennedy (1:40:17) and Kanae Quinn (1:46:13) joined Carey in the Top 3.

Sunday’s long course will still begin and end at the Saipan Radar Station. From the starting point, bikers will head downhill, take a left at the t-intersection, and pedal up through the s-curves down dirt road that leads past the firing range, Sirena, Kalabera Cave, and emerges at the Bird Island lookout. From there, bikers will head to the pavement leading to Kimikaze trail, turn left, and take the single track section that would separate long and short course participants. Once on top of the hill, bikers will turn left and race down the pavement to the dirt road that leads behind the Marianas Country Club. Once riders reach the one-million-gallon tank, they will turn left and climb up to the Radar Station. Long course participants will do two laps of the course, while short course riders are done after only one lap.

Short course’s defending champions are Gary Bandoja and Kimiko Hasegawa, who clocked in at 40:48 and 50:44, respectively, last year. Rounding out the Top 3 in the men’s division of the inaugural race were Arnel Cruz (43:30) and Ricky Melchor (48:00). In the women’s division, Jackie Van Dam (51:50) and Maricel Mahilum (53:36) came in at second and third.

This year, race organizer Brad Ruszala said prizes will be awarded to the Top 5 in the men, women, and youth divisions in both the short and long courses, but medals will only be given to the Top 3.

Entrance fee for the race is only $10 and registration will begin at 6:30am. The race starts at 7:30am.