Ourigger paddlers from Hawaii, Australia, and Hong Kong joined all the crews on Guam for last weekends racing on the inaugural Heineken International Outrigger Invitational on Guam. 500 and 1500 meter sprints were held in Tumon Bay Saturday and a 12 mile offshore race went off Sunday from Hagatna Boat Basin to Two Lovers Point and back.

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.

The open water OC1 season started off Saturday with the traditional relay race from Umatac Bay to Nimitz Beach, Agat and back. Flat seas and little wind kept the paddlers working hard both directions with the Northern and 1st leg a little easier with a small swell and slight wind chop pushing the first boats up the coast.

Tumon Bay was the perfect setting Saturday as the Sprint portion of the 1 Man Outrigger season finished up under clear blue skies, turquoise water and hardly any wind to blow the paddlers around.

The Marianas OC1 race season kicked off Saturday in beautiful Umatac bay with regatta style sprint races. The first heat started at the beach, sprinted to a buoy at the mouth of the bay; then turned North and went around another turn buoy just off shore about 200 yards upswell. The second heat featured a ‘LeMans’ start where the paddlers lay on their stomachs away from the beach facing the hills, then had to jump up, run through the spectators and tour busses, find their canoes and sprint to the harbor mouth and back. Junior racers had their courses set from 1 side of the bay to the other, and had some of the closest races and furious finishes of the day. The weather was perfect with mostly sunny skies and an off shore breeze that pushed the paddlers out, but they had to battle back against coming in .

2004 Race Schedule; All dates and races are subject to
weather and swell conditions. Race fees, etc will be announced later.

Hafa Adai!!!
Paddling Team "Haggan" (Guam) will be having a fund-raiser on:
Wednesday 10/22/2003 at the
"Fishbowl" -located in the Alcanta Mall, lower Tumon Guam
from 6:00 PM - ???
Tickets are only $10.00 at the door and it includes one free beer, pupus,
live entertainment, and a chance to win raffle prizes!!!
Proceeds will benefit us in the battle for the Micro Cup held at Saipan on the 24th, 25th, and the 26th of October 2003.
Please show your support!!!
Thank you!!!
Maurice Santos -a fellow paddler

[Results]
[Article] "Guam national men's paddling team smoked the competition"

***Justin Udovch wins mens open
***Annie Leon Guerrero wins womens
[Results]

The oc1 relay race started at Ypao Beach at Tumon Bay and finished 23 miles away at Nimitz Beach. Course had 4 legs with changes being done onshore.
[Results] of Mar 22 and Mar 8 Relay Races.