By Jay Leon Guerrero

The Xterra Island Series successfully hosted the SUP Fest Paddleboarding Competition and Beach Party Saturday at the Matapang Beach in Tumon. The event attracted the competitive and leisure Paddleboarders in the inaugural event which featured strictly stand-up paddleboard races.

Kelli Wedd, marketing director at Pivot, said the event was a huge success. “This is part of the Xterra Island series which is a year long series of events. The goal is to get people up and active to celebrate the great outdoors on Guam which is the ultimate playground,” said Wedd.

The SUP Fest is taking the water for this leg of the Xterra series with participants and friends flooding Matapang Beach to show their support. Eric Tydingco and the Xterra team worked diligently with sponsors and supporters to help promote the event. According to the Xterra Website, the first 50 registrants will receive a free limited edition shirt from local apparel designer Hafaloha, and those who enter two or more races will be automatically entered to win a Boardworks B-RAY paddleboard worth $900.

Pat Balencha and Yeole Hanohano wait for the start of the Long Board 1000m race. (photo by Daniel Paran)

Stand Up Paddleboarding is drawing an increased participation with Guam residents. The event yesterday showcased some of the competitive skills with those who enjoy paddleboarding.

“We had a little over 50 competitors which is really amazing. Paddleboarding is growing here on the island, but competitive paddleboarding is something new to the island,” said Wedd. The all-day event featured three different individual distance races (-500, -1000 and -2000 meter) and a three-person relay race. There were two categories with a short board division which featured those with 11-foot boards and under and a long board division with boards 11-foot, 2-inches and above.

Sean Perez, who has been paddle boarding for 2 years, won the long board 2000 meter race with a time of 16:47. Perez said he really enjoyed the experience and he was happy to see the increased participation in stand up paddleboarding.

“It was a really fun race, we had so much support out there today. This event is really special because it’s strictly stand up paddleboarding,” said Perez.

Perez said that when he first started paddle boarding, there were no events available. “Just in the last year, I’ve seen three events involving paddle boarding so there is a rapid increase in the sport,” said Perez.

Lad De Leon lines up alongside other paddlers to begin the Long Board 1000m race. (photo by Daniel Paran)

SUP Shack Guam supports

“We partnered with SUP Shack Guam who is really big in promoting the sport throughout the island. We were excited to have their energy and expertise in the organization of this event,” said Wedd.

Wedd said that if anyone is interested in paddleboarding to contact the SUP Shack team for sales, rentals or lessons.
Here are some of the unofficial results from Saturday’s races:

Team Relay:
1) Visayan Power
2) Are We There Yet?
3) Blood, Sweat and Beers

11′ Under 2000m:
1) M. Borcina – 19:55
2) R. Keefauver – 20:31
3) K. Chan – 20:54

11′ 2″ Over 2000m:
1) S. Perez – 16:47
2) K. Bustamante – 16:57
3) R. Cubelo – 17:07

11′ Under 1000m:
1) W. Jamindang (time unavailable)
2) C. Cubelo
3) B. Navarro

11′ 2″ Over 1000m:
1) J. Baker – 6:13.0
2) S Perez – 6:13.2
3) K Bustamante – 6:13.4

COMPLETE RESULTS

SUP Fest Results- (bib number, name, time, split time, gender)

500M Long Board:

1.  207  Jude Baker  00:03:52.5  00:00:00.0  Male

2.  205  Sean Perez  00:04:02.7  00:00:10.2  Male

3.  213  Kiko Bustamante  00:04:04.5  00:00:12.0  Male

4.  209  Jonte De Leon  00:04:13.9  00:00:21.4  Female

5.  206  Pat Balencha  00:04:24.5  00:00:32.0  Male

500M Short Board:

1.  174  Warren Jamindang  00:04:51.6  00:00:00.0  Male

2.  161  Mark Borcina  00:04:58.6  00:00:07.0  Male

3.  165  Brittney Navarro  00:05:26.2  00:00:34.6  Female

4.  167  Erica Coggins  00:05:30.8  00:00:39.2  Female

5.  166  Joshua Medlin  00:05:42.4  00:00:50.8  Male

Relay:

1. 198  Sean Perez Sus Shiatan Warren Jamindang  00:07:49.4  00:00:00.0  Team

2.  201  Unnamed Racer  00:08:26.6  00:00:37.2

3.  103  S. Miyoshi, M. Borcina, R. Barrer  00:08:57.3  00:01:07.9  Male

4.  104  C. Coggins, P. Madrid, J. Madrid  00:08:58.5  00:01:09.1  Male

5.  102  J. De Leon, G. Sosa Perez, C. Borcina  00:10:16.9  00:02:27.5  Female

1000M Long Board:

1.  207  Jude Baker  00:06:13.0  00:00:00.0  Male

2.  205  Sean Perez  00:06:13.2  00:00:00.2  Male

3.  213  Kiko Bustamante  00:06:13.4  00:00:00.4  Male

4.  215  Reiner Cubelo  00:06:26.6  00:00:13.6  Male

5.  206  Pat Balencha  00:06:41.1  00:00:28.1  Male

1000M Short Board:

1.  174  Warren Jamindang  00:07:43.4  00:00:00.0  Male

2.  176  Christine Cubelo  00:07:52.4  00:00:09.0  Female

3.  165  Brittney Navarro  00:08:11.4  00:00:28.0  Female

4.  171  Unnamed Racer  00:08:24.3  00:00:40.9

5.  167  Erica Coggins  00:08:32.8  00:00:49.4  Female

2000M Long Board:

1.  205  Sean Perez  00:16:47.1  00:00:00.0  Male

2.  213  Kiko Bustamante  00:16:57.3  00:00:10.2  Male

3.  215  Reiner Cubelo  00:17:07.3  00:00:20.2  Male

4.  207  Jude Baker  00:17:19.0  00:00:31.9  Male

5.  214  Jack Kabiriel  00:17:31.8  00:00:44.7  Male

2000M Short Board:

1.  161  Mark Borcina  00:19:55.0  00:00:00.0  Male

2.  173  Richard Keefauver  00:20:31.8  00:00:36.8  Male

3.  172  Keith Chan  00:20:54.2  00:00:59.2  Male

4.  176  Christine Cubelo  00:21:16.6  00:01:21.6  Female

5.  169  Lynnwood Baker  00:21:33.3  00:01:38.3  Male

PHOTO GALLERY:

The paddlers of the 1000m race gather around to learn the course layout. (photo by Daniel Paran)

In a very close race, Sean Perez takes first in the Long Board 1000m, followed by Jude Baker for second. (photo by Daniel Paran)

Brittney Navarro, Michelle Nelson, and Erin Barrer warm up before the race. (photo by Daniel Paran)

Paddleboards line up the sands of Matapang Beach for SUP Fest. (photo by Daniel Paran)