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Kabiriel, Kitami win big in PaddleFest
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Posted on Nov 10 2015
Ketson “Jack” Kabiriel and Masaki Kitami were the big winners of the second series of last Saturday’s Marianas PaddleFest held at the Hyatt Regency Saipan’s beach side.
Ketson “Jack” Kabiriel sprints toward the finish line after steering his way through the race course of last Saturday’s stand up paddle race in the Marianas PaddleFest at the Hyatt Regency Saipan’s beachside.
(Jon Perez)
Kabiriel ruled the men’s open event, while Kitami was the top youth U16 paddler in the event co-organized by the Hyatt, OceanSoul Society, and Windsurfing Saipan.
Josh Andrew and Carter Calma came in second and third behind Kabiriel in the men’s open, while John Mario was the runner-up to Kitami with James Rosario settling for third.
The runner-turned-paddler Kabiriel, who was a member of the CNMI national men’s outrigger canoe team that competed in the Papua New Guinea Pacific Games in Port Moresby last July, also led the Team 670 Warriors in the three-person relay.
Kitami and Calma joined Kabiriel in the squad where they beat eight other teams in the division.
Harumi Suzuki won the women’s open division beating five other female paddlers including Hiromi Matagolai and Fish.
Matagolai built an early lead with Suzuki trailing her. She was still ahead after the second buoy, but lost her balance and fell in the water while making a turn on the last marker.
Suzuki capitalized on Matagolai’s miscue and paddled her way to victory.
Deanna Kapileo was the top youth U14 paddler with Vincent Tudela settling for second place honors. Steven Goodwin came in third.
Kaya Rasa, Tyler Andrew, and Miku Torres were the Top 3 finishers in the youth U12 division.
Kai Manning, Alonzo Acosta, C.J. Sablan, and Daniel were the U8 participants, which was held as an unofficial fun race.
“We didn’t have any placing for the U8 division. It was just to give the younger kids a chance to get involved in the action,” said OceanSoul Society’s Dino Manning.
Guam Olympian Sean Pangelinan also graced the event, the second stand up paddle race this year, where he gave tips and other techniques in a mini clinic before the start of the event.
The Hyatt Regency, Windsurfing Saipan, and The OceanSoul Society joined hands in organizing the event. Triple J Enterprises, Tan Siu Lin Foundation, and KKMP RADIO 92.1 are the event partners.
