Filipino surfers triumph in 2011 Boracay Int'l Funboard Cup

http://elyvalendez.blogspot.com

FILIPINOS emerged champions in five out of seven categories of the 22nd Boracay International Funboard Cup held last week.

Reneric Moreno (Men's division), Rolando Francisco (Grand Master contest), Fele Kyanko(Women's), Gordon Gelito (Youth) and Manny Cabili (as the fastest rider with 58kph) were crowned in the event participated in by 100 surfers from 27 countries.

Fabrice Beaux of France/USA was hailed champion in Master's category and Germany's Simone Bartmann with 48kph speed was the fastest female rider.

We are not only good in boxing and are not only doing well in Football. This success shows that Filipinos' are great in water sports as well, despite the fact that, windsurfing is yet to be popularized in the country.

But of course the issue on "lack of support from the government" as our athletes commonly say, remains.

Maybe it's high time for the government to look more deeper at the potentials of Filipinos in sports, particularly in water sports. It is sad to know that it takes foreigners to say that we are the best in certain things, yet we don't invest on them.

Surfertoday.com describes the country, with it's more than 7,000 islands, as "one of the bestwindsurfing destinations in the world".

"The consistency of the wind (in Boracay) also puts (the island) in the epicenter of wind sports," it added.

This is something that the government should invest into, then bank on our growing popularity in sports and tourism. With proper training for athletes, good media mileage and better infrastructure facilities and services for the tourists, we could make great money out of sports.

Aside from Boracay, we also have Siargao and La Union that are known as great surfing sites. Lots are still undiscovered.

Take Palawan as an example. How I wish I could also see surfers playing with the winds and the waves at Sabang beach in Puerto Princesa City. Sabang, which serves as the take off point to the famousPuerto Princesa Underground River is a good place for water sports. If you've been there, you'll agree with me.

Palawan,  or the whole Philippines is beautiful, no doubt about that, but aside from the wonders of nature, we lack activities to offer our visitors. Adding water sports in the very short 'to do' list would be a big help for our tourism. I believe. We need to invest, really!

By the way, here's the list of winners in the 2011 Boracay International Funboard Cup.


Windsurfing

Grand Master
1. Rolando Francisco (PHI)
2. Robert Graf (SWI)

Master
1. Fabrice Beaux (FRA/USA)
2. Keiichi Kobayashi (GUM)
3. Typhoon (KOR)

Men
1. Reneric Moreno (PHI)
2. German Paz (PHI)
3. Gido Gelito (PHI)

Youth
1. Gordon Gelito (PHI)
2. Harold Madrigal (PHI)

Ladies
1. Fele Kyanko (PHI)
2. Tiina Jurisson (EST)
3. Simone Bartmann (GER)

Speed Men
1. Manny Cabili (PHI) – 58kph
2. Gilbert Gelito (PHI) – 57kph
3. Keichii Kobayashi (GUM) – 55kph

Speed Ladies
1. Simone Bartmann (GER) – 48kph
2. Tiina Jurisson (EST) – 46kph
3. Fele Kyanko (PHI) – 46kph