Wataru wins 3rd place overall in pro debut

Saipan son Wataru Tajima is seen making his way through waters of the Tsukasa Japan Cup course last June 24.(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

Saipan-born and -raised Wataru Tajima, a 22-year-old Marianas High School alumnus, won third place overall in his professional windsurfing debut last June 24-26 at the Tsukasa Japan Cup 2022 in Amami Oshima, Kagoshima in Japan.

In Tajima’s Facebook post after the tournament, he said he “won third place in the Foil Slalom Men’s Class, Slalom was 10th place! We didn’t have a very good run this time in the slalom, but it was nice for the first time in the foil race to finish the tournament! Thank you very much to all the sponsor companies, including the JSC Co., Ltd. who held the event and to all the staff who managed the event. And to everyone for all the messages of encouragement, I’m glad to have a good report! Great race thanks to RRD, 85CLUB, Starboardfoil, and Amino Balta for the support. Thank you very much!”

He told Saipan Tribune that he and 40 other windsurfers joined the tournament for a total of four races in which he won fourth place, sixth place, and third place. In the last race, he finished first place and placed third overall.

“I was happy because it was my first race being a pro and it really gave me good [confidence] that I am able to do a good race against Japanese pros,” said the clearly excited Tajima.
Tajima said he arrived at the venue four days prior to the race to prepare and get used to the wind condition.

During the race, he said that he “kept the good speed, so I focused to keep up with the start of the race and jive well around the mark.”

“I really [made a] lot of mistakes on my gear choices and the start [was] bad but at last, I could control as I imagined. I am very glad that I could win one time from the Japanese champion who won a total of 25 times in the past races,” added Tajima.

When asked if he thought he could have won first place in the competition, he said “I think I could have done better if I chose the right equipment and… [did] well in the start. I learned a lot from this tournament so I feel I can do better for the next races.”

Tajima’s next professional windsurfing competition is on July 16 and 17 at Tsukuihama Miura, Japan.

To the younger generation who wish to take up windsurfing, he said, “Enjoy windsurfing! If you wish to get strong, practice hard, and never give up!”

Last Dec. 11 and 12, he won the downwind slalom championship of the 18th All Japan Amateur Super Slalom tournament which made him eligible to compete as a professional windsurfer this year.

After debuting as a professional windsurfer, Tajima is still competing in the Olympic campaign to represent Japan in windsurfing for the 2024 Olympics.

Tajima is the son of Hiroshi and Hiroko Tajima of Saipan. He was taught windsurfing by his dad at the age of 12 at the Seawind Marine Sports in Micro Beach behind Hyatt Regency Saipan.

He relocated to Japan in March 2020 to hone and practice his skills as a windsurfer.