Boogie Down at Obyan Surfing Competition scheduled for December | Sports

SAIPAN Surf Company, Local Bones, Salty Skin Pacific LLC and Marianas Surf Skate League Inc. will host the island’s premier bodyboarding competition, “Boogie Down at Obyan”, on December 10-11 at Obyan Beach.

An orientation was held at the beach on Saturday with Meet Director Ed Manibusan and Beach Marshal Dave Cabrera discussing event logistics, scoring system, rules, among other related topics.

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 for all of you,” Manibusan told them during orientation. “You are the surfers here. You have to maintain the culture and help drive it forward.

In the final, four surfers will compete for the championship which includes a $500 prize. Second place will receive $250 and third place will receive $100 plus gifts. The winner of the Wave of the Day prize will walk away with a new board.

A great experience

Frank Ramon, who has been surfing for years, said it was “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.

Wormhole-loving Herman “Herm the Worm” Guerrero said, “Let’s put on a good show for everyone and show Saipan what we’re capable of.”

Masaki Kitokam, for his part, said, “I love the passion and being in the water.”

Marpac Sales Manager James Lee said they were “really delighted to be sponsoring this first annual bodyboarding event. Knowing these guys, they really put a lot of heart into it…. Again, we’ve never had an event like this before, so with Eddie [Manibusan]Dave [Cabrera] and Jo [Villacrusis] putting… this together, it really means a lot.

Other event sponsors include 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 Representative 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.