Paddlers to compete in 25th Micro Cup Canoe Race

CNMI paddlers of all ages are gearing up for the 25th Annual Micro Cup Canoe Race in Palau, set for Oct. 24–26. A series of races off Kilili shores, held since the national team’s return from the Palau Pacific Mini Games, has been preparing the batch of paddlers who will go up against teams from Guam, Palau, and the Marshall Islands.

Northern Marianas Paddle Sports Federation president Justin Andrew, who was at Kilili Beach for one of their races on Saturday gave the run down of their preparations with about a month left until the event.

He said, “Since the Mini Games, we’ve continued on with our local races. We’ve had I think two long distance V6 races, V1 single man canoe races, sprints, as well as relay. All these races that we scheduled to do locally are sort of geared toward getting better and as well as part of our training to go race the big races regionally.”

He pointed to the Marianas Outrigger Club’s participation in the inaugural Va’a Japan National Championships in Enoshima on Sept. 14 as an example. He said it shows that CNMI paddlers are improving by gaining more experience on the regional stage. Looking ahead to the next big event in Palau, he added that the local races serve as important training for competing there.

The results of Saturday’s race were as follows:

-V1 men slalom first place: Tyler Andrew and Michael Tan with a time of 22:35.20.

-V1 women slalom first place: Jenisha Dubrall and Vinalynn Oronigo at 25:36.80.

-V1 slalom mix first place: Tyler Andrew and Jenisha Dubrall with 23:43.90.

-V6 women slalom first place: SPC Women B

-V6 men slalom first place: SPC Men

-V6 slalom mix first place: MOC Mix

The CNMI team is competing in all categories—V1 and V6 sprints, long distance, open, and masters division. The team will be a mix of paddlers from the Marianas Outrigger Club, Marianas Pacific Paddlers, and Saipan Paddling Club—which will include two youth paddlers—Emma Chong and Tyler Andrew.

Chong, in an interview said that this Micro Cup is very significant for the both of them because it’s their last time to compete in the junior category. “Afer this, we have to race in the open [division] and it kind of ends a big chapter in our lives. We can’t really paddle with our friends anymore so for me and him, it’s a really big deal, and we really, really want to win,” she said.

On how she’s feeling heading into it with just about a month left, she said, “I feel more comfortable given we just raced in Palau in the Mini Games so I’m not feeling too out of my depth.”

Last year, the CNMI hosted the 24th Micro Cup Canoe Race after a 12-year hiatus from hosting.

The Marshall Islands competed in the annual event for the first time, while Palau could not make their way down to compete.

The Micro Cup is a regional va’a outrigger race that is hosted alternately by Guam, Palau, and the CNMI.

By Leigh Gases