MARIGOT--More than 300 persons, including First Vice-President Valérie Damaseau, watched the Caribbean Street Workout Cup on the Marigot waterfront on Saturday, the second edition of which was hosted for the first time by St. Martin. The event, held every two years, was last held in Martinique in 2015.
St. Martin had the privilege of hosting the event due to its joining the Caribbean Street Workout and Calisthenics Federation in Guadeloupe last year. Their objective is to hold events in the Caribbean islands. The location for 2019 is not yet known.
The St. Martin event was a qualifier for the World Cup to be held in Moscow, Russia, on July 29, 2017.
A pre-requisite from the Federation was acquiring the approved and certified competitive structure for the athletes to perform on and this was purchased by the Collectivité in time for the event at a cost of around 30,000 euros. The structure will now be placed permanently close to the market lady statue.
The competitive structure should not be confused with the simple wood structures installed around the French side by the Collectivité as part of a health plan for the youth (parcours santé).
“It was a great opportunity for us to host this event and bring a new sport, not very well known yet, to the attention of the public,” said President of Jeunesse Soualiga and Team Alpha, Jean-Marc Gervais. “We are developing it here in St. Martin, but in Guadeloupe about a thousand youths are already practising it.”
Competing in the event for the first time were four athletes from St. Martin (Team Alpha) and seven from Guadeloupe. The winner of the event was Weedlay Loubli from Guadeloupe and he will represent the French Caribbean and France in Moscow. Team Alpha members went to a championship in Guadeloupe last year in August to see what it was like, and as Jean-Marc points out the level in Guadeloupe is much higher.
“The main thing for us was to participate, to feel what it’s like to be in a championship,” Jean-Marc added. “The Federation was very pleased with our organisation. Our athletes only started a year ago without having the actual structure to train on, but we definitely have potential. The other athletes had four to five years of experience.”
Athletes were allowed two three-minute freestyle routines with accompanying music to show the judges what they could do to earn maximum points. The one scoring the most points was the winner. They were judged on criteria such as style, agility, strategic strength, and dynamic strength. Two of the four judges came from the Dutch-side from “Team Don’t Quit.”
Moves included pull-ups, push-ups, dips, hand stand, back level, front level, and more.
“It was an awesome show,” Jean-Marc enthused. “I’m very satisfied and we are looking now to create other events now that we have this structure. My objective is to create other street workout teams in St. Martin, to compete here and abroad. There are plans also to put a structure in Friar’s Bay and French Quarter.
“After seeing this show the youth are very motivated and keen to try new moves. Team Alpha has had eight new members sign up. The great thing about this sport is that it’s free, no monthly payments, no waiting for machines. All you need is water and a towel. At this age the youth want to be strong and buffed with a six-pack of abs.”
