Bigger turnout for Timmy Would Go

Napu Outrigger Canoe Club paddlers and officials pose with the staff and officers of the Tan Siu Lin Foundation during a donation turnover ceremony at the JP Centre Building in Garapan last week. (Contributed Photo)

Organizers of the 2nd Annual Timmy Would Go Memorial Paddle Classic are expecting that turnout in this weekend’s competition will surpass last year’s.

“We will have a bigger number of participants both in the outrigger canoe and standup paddling races this year,” said Ponce Rasa of the organizing Napu Outrigger Canoe Club.

“In the inaugural event, we had 145. This year, we already have three confirmed teams from Guam, plus two teams from our Fire department and then a group of Matua riders. Those who have never tried competing in standup paddling before will be in the shore to try their best to finish their races,” Rasa added.

The outrigger canoe and standup paddling races will be held this Saturday, beginning at 8am in the waters of Kilili Beach. Saturday’s races will be for short courses with the outrigger canoe holding 500m and 1,500m events in the men’s and women’s, and juniors. For standup paddling, participants in the 7 and over age group will cover a 50m course, 100m for 11 and up, and 100m and 300m for adults.

For Sunday’s races (long course), adult teams will head out of Kilili Beach and navigate around Managaha to complete the estimated 15-mile course. The junior teams will cover a shorter distance—about six miles and from Kilili Beach to the Garapan Fishing Base and back.

“We will have exciting races as clubs, especially those here on Saipan, have been preparing their paddlers for this annual event. We are inviting the public to come and support our paddlers and the visiting teams from Guam,” Rasa said.

Saipan Paddling Club, Marianas Outrigger Canoe, Marianas Pacific Paddlers, and Hoe Lokahi are the local groups expected to join this weekend’s races.

“We would like to thank all our generous sponsors and volunteers for without their help, holding this event will not be possible,” the Napu official added.

The Tan Siu Lin Foundation and Best Sunshine International are among the returning supporters of the competition as they recently turned in their respective donations for the event. The TSL Foundation gave $2,500 worth of in-kind donation, while BSI presented a check worth $1,000 to Napu for the group’s hosting of the tournament.

The Timmy Would Go Memorial Paddle Classic is held in memory of Timothy Lee Salas Wesley Jr., who was also called “Timmy Boy”. He died on Jan. 3, 2015 as he tried to rescue two young girls from drowning in the waters at Forbidden Island.