MOC, SPC dominate ‘23 va’a season

The Northern Marianas National Paddling Sports Federation’s 2023 season came to a close last Oct. 1, with participating paddling clubs boasting podium finishes in their respective categories.

Marianas Outrigger Club, Saipan Paddling Club, and Marianas Pacific Paddlers put it all out in the waters off Kilili Beach in the almost three-month long season—with MOC racking up wins in team categories, while SPC topping individual categories.

MOC dominated the women’s division as they won first place overall in the V6 long distance, V6 500m sprints, V6 1,000m sprints, and V12 500m sprints.

In the men’s division, MOC came in first in the V6 long distance, V6 500m sprints, V6 1,000m sprints, and V6 long distance races. SPC won first place in the V12 500m sprints.

In the two V1 distance races held last Aug. 26 and Sept. 26, SPC bagged first place overall finishes.

Gracie Mendiola topped the junior girls distance race as the lone paddler, while in the women’s distance race, Erryne Dasalla was first, followed by MOC’s Pipit Ball, and MOC’s Momoka Halstead.

Philip Aldan came in first in the junior boy’s, followed by second place Tyler Andrew, also of SPC.

Carter Calma placed first in the men’s distance race, second went to SPC’s Joe Weaver, and third was MOC’s Richard Salas.

In the V1 500m sprints held last Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, in the junior girls division, Mendiola claimed first overall again with 40 points after winning both heats; and SPC’s Eva Weaver came in second with 30 points.

Andrew paddled to first in the junior boys 500m sprints with 40 points, while Aldan took second with 30 points.

In the women’s 500m sprints, Ball rushed to first place overall after winning both heats for 40 points, followed by SPC’s Jenisha Dubrall in second with 30 points, and Halstead in third with 20 points.

MOC’s Jose Quan paddled to a close first place in the men’s 500m sprints with 30 points; MOC’s Jason Tarkong was second with 28 points; and third was Calma with 25 points.

Justin Andrew, president of the NMNPSF, said that “overall, the season went very well—we are blessed with good weather and great athletes who trained hard and brought out the best paddling skills in them.”

He said that many of the paddlers are new, but that there are a good number of veteran paddlers, and with that, “I’d say we have a good pool of very skilled and talented athletes who will help contribute to the overall improvement and the development of the sports in the coming years.

As for the top paddlers of the season, Andrew said they are “continuously challenged by our new and very energetic batch of young adult paddlers—these young adult paddlers are willing to learn everything there is to learn about the sports so they can be the best—I see this as a great way to improve each paddler’s skills and, overall, it contributes to the development of the va’a program.”