PHILIPSBURG—St. Maarten will be represented at the first Open Ocean Surf Ski Pan-American Championship in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil this weekend.
Qualifying for the first Pan-American are local paddlers Juan Pablo Piscione and Lidwien Weitenberg.
Piscione is an experienced paddler and multi-sport discipline athlete competing in cycling, triathlon and kayaking.
Weitenberg came to the island after hurricane Irma to join The White and Yellow Cross as an occupational therapist. Having never participated in any water sport before, a colleague introduced her to surf ski paddling, and in her short paddling career she has participated in several surf ski races in Guadeloupe, The Dutch Coast Race in Holland, St. Maarten’s Soualiga Challenge Reloaded and the World Championships in France.
At the Worlds in September, Weitenberg finished 32nd out of 36 competitors in 2 hours 18:45.02 just 37:15.10 minutes behind the winner.
“We feel very proud to go to the very 1st Open Ocean Surf Ski Pan-American Championship and represent St Maarten,” said Piscione.
”I would personally would have loved to accompany some very good St Maarten young paddlers with aspirations to compete on this high level.”
In addition to competing in the surf ski Piscione is also a paddling instructor.
“We have it All’ on this beautiful Island to practice the accelerating Surf Ski Sport. A National Federation, good coach, great equipment and plenty of clean blue ocean around us.”
