Practice sessions help inaugural Paddlefest’s success

The weekly practice sessions helped the successful staging of the inaugural Marianas Paddlefest Series. prompting organizers to hold a second event set on Nov. 7 also at the Hyatt Regency Saipan beachside.

Youth participants prepare to take on the water in the inaugural standup paddleboard race last June. The second edition of the event will take place on Nov. 7 also at the Hyatt Regency Saipan’s beach side. (Contributed Photo)

The practice sessions, which started yesterday, will take place every 2pm to 4pm of Sunday and will run until Nov. 1 also at the Hyatt beachside.

Organizers said the format worked well during the June event that’s why they decided to do the same for the second time.

The practice sessions were also effective to children who joined the June 28 race as it also became a family event with their parents also joining them out on the water. Some of the kids who also joined were first time to try paddleboarding and be out on the water.

One of the Paddlefest’s objectives is promoting an active and healthy lifestyle for the kids through stand up paddle boarding and other paddle sports.

Participants also increased every Sunday as the practice sessions helped them get used to the race course. Fifty-five individuals joined the inaugural event in June and this time race organizers will have exciting additions on Nov. 7.

The race was originally set in the last weekend of August but was cancelled due to Typhoon Soudelor.

“We appreciate everyone’s patience as we’ve worked to establish a new date and we’re looking forward to seeing everyone back in addition to those that weren’t able to make it to our first event,” said Dino Manning, one of the race organizers.

The race is divided into the men’s, women’s, and youth triangle courses, and the mixed three-person relay. The youth division will have Under-12, U14, and U16 age groups while the open 17-over, and masters 50-over are for the adults.

All events include a running beach finish of approximately 40 to 50 meters. One member of the mixed team relay must either be a female or a U14 racer.

All race events will take place inside the lagoon where spectators can watch all the action.

The Hyatt Regency Saipan, 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.

Registration fees are $10 for youth (8 to 16 years old) and $20 for adults (17 and over). Deadline for registration is on Nov. 4.

For more information and registration visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marianas-paddlefest-race-2-registration-18710063303 or register at Windsurfing Saipan located at Hyatt’s north side at the beachfront or email oceansoulunlimited@gmail.com or windspn@me.com. Updates will also be posted on the OceanSoul Society Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OceansoulUnlimited.