SOCC breaks record in Tinian Crossing

Paddlers from the Saipan Outrigger Canoe Club overcame fatigue and the rough channel in last Sunday’s 3rd Annual Tinian Crossing, which coincided with the San Jose Fiesta in Saipan’s island neighbor.

Steersman Richard Sikkel, in an interview yesterday, said the hardest part of the annual challenge is going back to Saipan. “The winds are troublesome for the canoes. The canoes can take smaller waves since they just roll past it but it is hard to paddle against the swells.”

Despite the wind conditions Team SOCC bested their last year’s record of three hours and 33 minutes by reaching Kilili Beach Park in 3:14, which was nine minutes longer than their crossing going to Tinian at 3:09.

“Paddling to Tinian is always different every single year but it is always easy on the first day. The first day is usually relatively easy going with the wind and swells in the back. The hardest part is going back to Saipan since you are going against the wind. It was calm at first but once you enter the channel that is when things got rough,” said Sikkel.

Sikkel was also impressed with the Guam team that joined them this year since they paddled to and from Tinian with seven women as part of their nine-man crew.

The Guam women is composed of Atshun Amori, Natalie Calvo, Julie Shane, Nancy Greider, Michelle Calvo, and Melissa Langford. They have another female crew that joined two male paddlers.

“Guam has really strong paddlers. They have a strong women’s program. Last year they also joined us,” Sikkel said.

The SOCC paddlers that joined Sikkel in the crossing were Jim Sirok, Gil Birnbrich, Cooper Schraudenbach, Rita Bonici, Sonny Downer, Leon Leonard, Dave Palacios, and Brian Eckert.

Tinian senator Jude Hofschneider also joined SOCC in their paddle going to Tinian to join his constituents in time for the celebration.

Rob Jordan, Eric Lister, and Joe Przyuski were on the chase boats captained by Dan Westphal and Morito Asai.

Sikkel said the canoes were able to fit a six-man crew while the three alternates stayed on the chase boat. They changed paddlers every 15 minutes in the middle of the sea where one crew gets off the canoe and will be picked up by the chase boat.

The 40-mile, two-day challenge took place during the San Jose Fiesta in Tinian where they paddled from Saipan to Tinian and back. The trip back on the second day was slightly tougher due to the fatigue of the previous day.

The channel is between Saipan and Tinian with its illusive and dreaded whirlpool, which is the most challenging part of the crossing. Paddlers went against the wind and swells in the second day of the crossing.