OVER 30 teams expected to yield 300 athletes and coaches from Saipan, Guam, Hongkong, Japan Australia and Palau are joining the 11th Micronesian Cup international outrigger canoe race on Saturday and Sunday.

Hosted every three years by Saipan, the Micronesian Cup 2009 will again, bring together the 36 teams for men’s division and 18 teams for women’s division, including CNMI’s very own, Saipan Outrigger Canoe Club and the Fatuul SFCC.
Yesterday, SOCC led by Jim Sirok took one more practice session before spending the rest of the weekdays resting while waiting for the day for the competition.
This year’s outrigger canoe race involves 500-meter sprint, 1,500-meter sprint and the 12-mile long distance race.
The 500-meter and 1,500-meter races will be held with a minimum of six 250 meter lanes set up per heat at Fiesta Resort and Spa beach while the 12-mile long distance race will start at the light house channel and head south alongside the reef towards Pacific Islands Club, then, will turn counter clockwise around a buoy and back northward past the lighthouse channel to the finish line at Fiesta Resort.
Founded in 1999, the Micronesian Cup aims to reinvigorate the outrigger canoeing in the region. The annual event that Guam and Palau also host alternately gives Saipan paddlers the opportunity to present their best while providing the international and local participants an unforgettable experience.
SOCC placed second during the 2008 Micronesian Cup held on Guam.
The teams who have signed up for this year’s event are Saipan’s SOCC and Fatuul; Guam’s Team Napun Haya, Bihun Tasi, Homegrown, Taotao Galaide, Guatdan Tasi, Animum Tasi Fote, Animum Tasi Metgot, Haggan, Mas Poksai;  Palau’s Team Water Fall, Taki; Hongkong’s Lantau IOCC and Japan’s Ohana Hoe.