THE three-day 24th Micronesia Cup Canoe Race begins today, Friday, Oct. 18 at the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan beach.
The last time Saipan hosted the annual event was 12 years ago.
This year’s competitors will include the CNMI’s Marianas Outrigger Club, the Marianas Pacific Paddlers, and the Saipan Paddling Club, which will go up against the paddlers of Guam and the Marshall Islands.
The 2023 Micro Cup was hosted by Guam, which this year is represented by over 200 paddlers from 10 different clubs, including TaoTao Galaide.
Led by coaches Mel Treltes and Dave Palomo, TaoTao Galaide has 40 paddlers who are more than ready to see action.
“We’ve been preparing since the beginning of May,” said Treltes. “I’m really happy now that we’re here because two previous Micro Cups [that were supposed to be hosted [by] the CNMI were canceled due to the past two typhoons that affected Saipan. This year is Saipan’s turn again, and we are stoked to join because it’s been years since we competed here,” Treltes added.
The Micronesian Cup also serves as a qualifier for the next Summer Olympics Games, but the TaoTao Galaide paddlers are focused on the competition at hand.
“We’re here…to compete with our brothers and sisters from the neighboring islands,” said Treltes, who has been at the helm of the TaoTao Galaide since it was established in 2000. She believes that their biggest strength is their cohesion and family-oriented approach.
Coach Dave Palomo, she added, has also been a contributing factor to their training program.
Guam national team athlete Maribeth Benavente, for her part, said they “feel pretty confident,” but added that “Saipan will definitely be our toughest competition.”
“Saipan will definitely want to hold their lanes, and I know they have been training hard,” she said.
When it comes to preparing for the V6 category, she added, TaoTao Galaide focused on their turns. “Turns have been the biggest struggle — it’s critical and tough to turn that type of canoe, but we’ve been training and practicing, and so far, it’s been good.” Benavente said.
Depending on the current of the day, the waters will also play a factor in each team’s performance, she added.
Benavente, who first fell in love with the sport in 2005, said, “It’s a different world. When you’re out there looking at the land, it’s a different feeling — like all the problems are over there, and you get to have this clearance of you and the water.”
Treltes also has high hopes for their junior paddlers, who are 12 to 19 years old. “Honestly, I have a lot of confidence that the junior team will do well,” she said. “As far as the sport is concerned, we are seeing more of the younger generation being exposed to this type of sport and growing into bigger teams. It’s exciting to compete against our brothers and sisters from the neighboring islands.”
Overall, TaoTao Galaide has one goal in mind. “Straight up, we want to win, but overall, I just want our paddlers to have a great experience and put what they train into this event,” Treltes said.
On Thursday, a lunch reception was held for TaoTao Galaide at the Aqua Resort Club Saipan with CNMI Gov. Arnold I. Palacios personally welcoming the paddlers to Saipan.
The Micronesia Cup is a regional va’a outrigger race that is hosted alternately by Guam, Palau and Saipan.
For this year’s event, the categories are V1, V6 and V12 500-meter and 1,500-meter sprints in the men’s, women’s, juniors and masters divisions.
