SAIPAN Surf Company, Local Bones, Salty Skin Pacific LLC and Marianas Surf Skate League Inc. will hold the island’s first bodyboard competition, “Boogie Down at Obyan,” on Dec. 10 and 11 at Obyan Beach.
An orientation was held at the beach on Saturday with competition director Ed Manibusan and beach marshal Dave Cabrera discussing the logistics of the event, the scoring system, the rules, among other related topics.
The surfers who attended the orientation were Michael Johnson, Joey Tudela, Austin Benavente, Masaki Kitokami, Jake Yamagishi, Abbas Shakir, Frank Ramon, Ian Fleming, Maverick Itibus, Anthony Atalig, Sidney Camacho, Herman Pan Guerrero, JR Villagomez, Suji Takanobu, Te Villagomez and Solomon Castro.
“This competition is really to feature all of you guys,” Manibusan told them during the orientation. “You guys are the surfers here. You have to keep the culture going and help push it forward.”
In the finals, four surfers will vie for the championship which includes a prize of $500. Second place will get $250 and third place will receive $100 along with gifts. The winner of Wave of the Day Award will go home with a new board.
A great experience
Frank Ramon, who has been surfing for years, said it is “beautiful and good for your soul whether you are young or old.”
Suji “Stacks” Takanobu has been bodyboarding for over 25 years. “It’s a great experience and a good exercise. It gives you energy, keeps you positive and clears your mind.”
Herman “Herm the Worm” Guerrero, who loves the “wormhole,” said, “Let’s put on a good show for everybody and let’s show Saipan what we are capable of doing.”
Masaki Kitokam, for his part, said: “I just love the passion, and being in the water.”
Marpac sales manager James Lee said they’re “definitely excited to sponsor this first annual bodyboard event. Knowing these guys, they really put a lot of heart into it…. Again we haven’t had any event like this before so with Eddie [Manibusan], Dave [Cabrera] and Joe [Villacrusis] putting…this together it really means a lot.”
The other event sponsors are Kona Brewing Co., Lotus Surf Shop, TurnKey Solutions, ONVOUS, Boarderline, Roil Soil Marketing, MINA, BluLily Craft & Design, DASH LLC, Office of Rep. Sheila J. Babauta, Office of Rep. Joel Camacho, Office of Rep. Roy Ada, Naked Fish Bar & Grill, Pualani Crown, Island Tide Records, Tanom Writing & Design Services, Marianas Surf Skate League, INK Harbor, MVA, Ginen i Tasi, DPS, DFEMS, MVA, DCRM and DLNR.
The participants and competition director Ed Manibusan pose for a photo during a meeting Saturday to discuss “Boogie Down at Obyan” which will be held on Dec. 10 and 11 at Obyan Beach.
