Va’a to start tryouts after PSS classes resume

The Northern Marianas National Paddle Sports Federation has rescheduled the start of tryouts for the va’a national team for next year’s Pacific Mini Games to Nov. 27. (ROSELYN B. MONROYO)

The umbrella organization of outrigger canoe in the CNMI has rescheduled the start of tryouts for the national team for next year’s Pacific Mini Games.
Northern Marianas National Paddle Sports Federation president Justin Andrew said the tryouts will most probably start the weekend after the Public School System resumes face-to-face classes on Monday, Nov. 15.

“…very likely it will be the next weekend, Saturday, [after classes resume],” he said.

Andrew earlier told Saipan Tribune that they postponed the start of tryouts originally scheduled last Oct. 31 after three PSS students tested positive for COVID-19 last Oct. 28.

“Unfortunately, we have temporarily halted our team workout sessions, including the tryout/time trial session…we followed the issued PSS timeline of 10 days… we anticipate to return back next week…or when an all’s clear for PSS is issued,” he said.

PSS eventually extended their temporary shift to face-to-face learning another week to allow the Governor’s COVID-19 Task Force and the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. to conduct contact tracing following the local spread of the coronavirus.

Andrew also gave an update on their national team pool training in advance of the CNMI’s first hosting of the Pacific Mini Games.

“Every month since we began training/tryouts at the end of July we have slightly adjusted routines for cardio/strengthening and paddle techniques. So for the month of November, we increased intensity of cardio/strengthening and added one more day on the V12 during weekdays besides our usual Saturday morning. We will adjust this in December and so on,” he said.

Last Oct. 17, the Northern Marianas Pacific Mini Games 2022 Organizing Committee turned over two new V6 outrigger canoes to Andrew and NMNPSF.

The two canoes were part of the four they turned over to the NMNPSF. In all, the organizing committee for next year’s quadrennial event ordered 36 outrigger canoes—18 of the V6 type and 18 of the V1 type for single paddlers.

Wasting no time, members of the va’a national team training pool immediately rigged two of the V6 and transformed them into a V12. Andrew said they did so as the V12 configuration works better in building techniques and blending among paddlers.

Saipan Paddling Club, Napu Outrigger Canoe Club, Marianas Outrigger Club, and Marianas Pacific Paddlers make up the clubs under the NMNPSF.

At 294 athletes, va’a has so far the most athletes confirmed for next year’s Mini Games. It was originally not included in the calendar of sports events for next year’s Mini Games.

The CNMI was only expected to host six events—athletics, badminton, baseball, beach volleyball, golf, and triathlon—as a condition for pushing through with the quadrennial following the devastation brought about by Super Typhoon Yutu in 2018.

Later on, the Torres administration asked the Pacific Games Council to add another three sports events—vaa, tennis, and weightlifting—to increase the sports calendar of the Northern Marianas Pacific Mini Games 2022 to nine.