May 29 - Guam's "Choose your weapon" race recap

Under clear blue skies and almost no wind, Guams best outriggers paddled offshore for a change in the ‘Choose Your Weapon’ Race. Sponsored by Outrigger Guam Canoe Club and the Guam Kayak and Canoe Federation, both OC1 and OC6 canoes paddled in hot and flat conditions that made fitness and mental toughness more important than course line or surfing ability.

In the OC1 divisions Toni Von Scheele won the Women’s 10K race in 1:24:40, while Joe Perez put his bright yellow Stingray in front of the men from the beginning on the men’s 15K course and edged Dick Soriano in 1:46:41 to 1:49:00. Senior Master Mike Gawel took his division in 2:00 flat. This race was the GKCF OC1 Distance Championship finale, and medals were awarded to the champions, who earned them today. Nothing was easy on this course, as it was just hot,flat and hard work all the way.

In the OC6 races, OGCC crew ‘Poksai Ladies’ started fast and furious and pulled ahead every mile; steered and captained by Guam SPG coach Michele Cerizo, Nikki Soriano, Melina Mantanona, Annie Gayle, Tori Cote, and Natalie Calvo dominated the womens division, finishing their 15K course in 1:42:35. A good effort by the Animun Tasi womens crew earned them the second spot in 1:50:09. The mens race was closer as the ‘Young Gun’ crew of Animun Tasi also started hot and held on at the end to win in a solid 1:28:42. Coached and steered by Joe Nowell, his crew of Harvey Camacho, Clark Lee, Kin Blas, Justin Benavente and R.J. Libby kept a determined effort up for the entire race. The Team Haggan crew closed from almost ½ mile behind to within a few boat lengths at the end, but Animun Tasi wouldn’t fold and took the race by 18 seconds over Haggan. Senior Master Crew ‘The Manta-Greys’ from OGCC rounded out the mens field.

A new wrinkle this year was a perpetual Trophy Paddle awarded to the ‘Champion Club’ .Points were awarded to each club based on division winners in the race and OGCC took possession of the paddle for 2004 with 73 points, followed by Animun Tasi with 35.

OGCC gets to keep the paddle for 1 year, then it will go to the Club Champion of the 2005 race.

Rick Appleton

Posted by keizo on Sat, 05/29/2004 - 3:23am