By R. Vincent Tupaz
For Variety

THEIR names says it all- they’re the Boss! And the 12 and Under folks from the Marianas Paddle Sports Racing Association “Team Magas” showed all who was indeed Boss, at least during the OC1 opening races.
According to Rick Appleton with the race, the 12 year old and under paddlers from MPRA’s Team Magas dominated both the Sprint and the Slalom heats of the OC1 season opening races Saturday at Matapang Beach, Tumon. In the heat, twelve-year old Brooke Estes and nine-year old Morgan Leon Guerrero won both of their heats; while Andrew Rios and Tobias Estes won their age division races handily as well.
Appleton stated, “The high winds and large swells rolling into Tumon from the high surf off shore made conditions difficult for all the paddlers, but the juniors held their own compared to the adults and seemed unfazed by the lumpy ocean.” He added, “ All the Juniors are members of Team Magas and are already veterans of both OC1 and OC6 races. Magas paddlers as young as 5 raced in the ‘family’ OC2 fun races at the end of the day.”
Appleton offered a recount of the older divisions. “The Open and Master Men’s Divisions traded winners with Open Man Collin Smith of Animun Tasi sneaking in first in the Sprint while Master Tom Strohmeyer of Imua won the Slalom,” stated Appleton. “Woman’s Team SPG paddler Annie Leon Guerrero dominated her 2 races, posting times better than most of the men. Other strong performances were turned in by Novice Master paddler Leilani Appleton, being second overall in the Sprint and the Slalom and Masters veteran Dick Soriano being the 2nd fastest male in the Sprints.”
Appleton said other SPG ladies at the front were Donna Cruz of Guahan Flyers and G’nette Datu from Imua.
In the OC2 events Smith and teammate R J Libby edged Strohmeyer and Appleton, but the best and closest race of the day was between Flyers Odi Bautista and Donna Cruz against Appleton and Datu of Imua, with the lead changing hands at every buoy, before the Imua ladies pulled ahead by only 2 feet at the finish.
The second race of the series will take place March 17 at Port Authority Beach. All OC1/OC2/kayak and paddleboard competitors are welcome, with Sprint, Slalom and Novelty races for everyone.