Guam Outrigger Paddling

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.

Racing on the old SPG course at Matapang Beach, almost 40 paddlers turned out to compete in 500 and 1000 meter courses. Hosted by Outrigger Guam Canoe Club and sponsored under the auspices of the Guam Kayak and Canoe Federation, paddlers were seeded into heats by their previous racing records, and saw Guams oldest and newest paddlers grinding it out against one another in every division.

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.

[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.