Jason, Pip end paddling efforts in Hilo

Marianas Outrigger Club veteran athletes Jason Tarkong and Pipit Ball ended their efforts in the IVF Va’a World Elite and Club Sprint Championship 2024 last Monday.

The championships started on Aug. 13 and will end on Aug. 24.

Tarkong took on the master 50 men V1 500m sprints last Sunday, and the open men V1 500m sprints last Monday. Ball, on the other hand, competed in the open women V1 500m sprints last Monday.

The 59-year-old Tarkong paddled alongside younger competitors in the master’s sprints last Sunday and finished sixth place with a time of 2:57.94. First place was New Zealand’s Ross Gilray at 2:30.25, second was Wallis & Futuna’s Sylvain Kikanoi with a time of 2:32.85, and third was Australia’s John Goller at 2:35.75.

In the much more elite open category, he paddled against the best of the best from New Zealand, the U.S., Australia, Rapa Nui, Chile, and Guam. He finished sixth as well with a time of 3:10.90. First place was New Zealand’s Jake Suitauloa at 2:25.60, second was Qua’sil Sulkanum of the U.S. at 2:36.89, and third was Australia’s Mitchell Olds at 2:37.09.

For Ball, she shared the waters with the best paddlers from France, Tahiti, Brazil, the U.S., Australia, Wallis & Futuna, and Canada. She clocked in seventh place out of eight with a time of 3:44.01. First place was France’s Isabelle Genest at 3:02.24, second place went to Tahiti’s Mahia Berdichevski Poroi at 3:10.24, and third was Brazil’s Daniela Dillan at 3:12.85.

Tarkong said that he did his best in the master’s event—despite being one of the oldest competitors. He said that the paddlers were over 6 feet tall and with many more years of experience in the sport and in the championships.

“I don’t want to say I was out of my league, but it was definitely a challenge—a little bit intimidating, but I didn’t care. I did my best. The water was rough,” he said about the race.

For the open category, he said in an interview before competing that he will do his best in the race against the top paddlers in the world. Even with that in mind, he said, “I didn’t come this far not to participate, so I’m going to do my best. I’m going to be racing the top sprinters, so that’s kind of like the professional heat. I qualify simply because I’m the only one from the NMI, so I’ll do my best. But like I said, there’s other paddlers in the NMI who are stronger and faster than me in this category, so it was an opportunity.”

He then said that competing in the championships was an honor. “I’ve been able to network and learn from other paddlers from Tahiti and Hawaii, and I’ve also met some makers of canoes.”

As for Ball, she said that the competition was great. She said she learned to keep calm, stay focused, compete with herself, and celebrate her moment at the finish line.

Competing alongside the best women paddlers in the world was “exciting and nervous at the same time. Proud to be one of them!”

The conditions, she said, were challenging. “The water and wind were challenging, but it could be anywhere—we just had to learn to adjust. I just wish we had more time to practice the course before the race days though. I had a great start with everyone, which I am really proud of. People cheered and supported each other, no matter the result. We were all happy to be present and celebrate the sport.”

Her main takeaway from the competition, she said, was to never stop learning. “We will take the va’a clinic with the best paddler from New Zealand, Tupuria King, before we leave Hilo, so we get more knowledge and to practice more in the water, although I have to balance between work, being a mother, and training.”

As for the upcoming Northern Marianas Micronesia Cup, she said, “hopefully we will get more support from the community to help each other and accommodate the visitor paddlers.” In that competition, she said she will compete with confidence, pride, and have fun in between.

She then thanked her daughter, friends, and family who supported them. “Thank you and we appreciate you. Until next time, World Sprint 2026 in Singapore!”