Aussie, Japanese strong in the wind

Class leaders Robbie Radis and Ayako Suzuki easily topped yesterday the men’s and women’s rankings in the second round and continued their dominance of the 16th Boracay International Funboard Cup in Bulabog Beach, Boracay.

Radis is the heavy favorite to win the event for the second straight time while newcomer Suzuki is quickly building up a huge advantage over local bet and women’s defending champion Philstar.com star athlete Nenette Graf.

Anilao-trained Lance Joson ruled the juniors class after nine heats and is expected to garner more points in the third round.

"I am confident enough to know that I will win," said 15-year-old Joson, a high school student in Ateneo de Manila.

Boracay lads Gilbert and Guido Gileto also made a strong showing and landed in the top five.

The Gileto brothers were personally trained by Graf.

Winds picked up at 19 to 20 knots thus helping Paul Philips of the United Kingdom and Suh Yong Keun of Korea improve on their rankings.

Philips is now close behind Radis in the overall tally while Suh is in third.

Today’s fourth round of slalom races and Addict Mobile Speed Trials promise to heat up even more as wind speeds are predicted to increase for the remaining days of the Cup.

The 16th Boracay International Funboard Cup is part of the prestigious five-leg Adecco Asian Windsurfing Tour (AWT). Prior to the Philippines, the AWT was held in Penghu, Taiwan, and will make a stop in Kuantan, Malaysia; Bintan, Indonesia; and Saipan.

The Boracay Funboard Cup was made possible by Adecco, Fosters Beer, Neil Pryde, Lava Eyewear, the Department of Tourism, the local government of Malay, Aklan, and the Boracay community. Cup sponsors are Addict Mobile, Asian Spirit, Kinetic Windsurfing, the Greenyard Funboard Center, and Philstar.com.