TAJIMA Wataru, a member of the Japanese Society of the NMI, has reached new heights after winning the special class of the 18th All Japan Amateur Super Slalom tournament sponsored by the Japan Windsurfing Association and held on Dec. 11 and 12 in Yokosuka, Japan.
Saipan-born Wataru bested the competition in the downwind slalom race and was named champion of the special class this year.
He has been invited again to the Windsurfing World Cup tournament in Japan where he represented the CNMI in 2018.
He intends to participate in more tournaments in Japan to gain more experience in competing with professional windsurfers.
For his recent tournament victory, he is now entitled to compete in 2022 as a Japan Windsurfing Association or JWA professional windsurfer.
On his list of challenges is the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Wataru, 21, has been windsurfing since he was 12, and he considers it a great honor to represent the CNMI in the 2018 Windsurfing World Cup tournament in Japan.
“It was the first time for me to enter such a big tournament and…to meet famous windsurfers from around the world,” Wataru said. “The experience gave me confidence. So I decided to move to Japan in spring 2020 to participate in various other races.”
Due to Covid-19, however, many events were canceled in 2020, but this year, he was able to join some races, including the recent All Japan Amateur Super Slalom tournament.
“I would like to express my great appreciation for the people who have supported me since I started windsurfing at the age of 12 years old,” he said. “I miss Saipan a lot — my windsurfing friends, the beautiful blue ocean and the tropical weather. I’m not yet used to the cold and rough water in the winter season in Japan. But I will never give up and I will continue to do my best!”
Tajima Wataru makes his way through the course of the 18th All Japan Amateur Super Slalom tournament which was held Dec. 11 and 12 in Yokosuka, Japan.
Tajima Wataru smiles as he holds the first place trophy in the special class of the 18th All Japan Amateur Super Slalom tournament held Dec. 11 and 12 in Yokosuka, Japan.
