Local bets glide to kiteboarding feats

MANILA, Philippines - Carlo Leongson foiled Jay Ortiz’s back-to-back title bid in the Masters division while Doque delos Santos kept his reign in the Men’s class as the local bets dominated the TwinTip race of the second leg of the ICTSI Philippine Kiteboarding Tour-Season 2 in Bulabog beach, Boracay last Sunday.

The Manila-based Leongson saved his best for last, coming through with an ace in the last of three races to break a three-way tie and capture the hotly contested Masters crown. He pooled seven points and beat Ortiz, the Philippine Kiteboarding Association president who ruled the kickoff leg in Sta. Ana, Cagayan last month, and first stage runner-up Atte Kappel of Sweden, who posted eight and nine points, respectively.

De los Santos, one of Boracay’s top kiteboarders, redisplayed the form that netted him the first leg crown, scoring four points and besting PKA vice president Ken Nacor and Louie Fernando, who had nine and 11 points, respectively, in the Men’s division of the $10,000 event sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

Germany’s Kathrin Borgwardth, meanwhile, averted a sweep by the local bets as she nipped Liezl Tio, another Boracay-based bet, for the Women’s crown in the event backed by Cabrinha, LIP Sunglasses, Aqua Boracay, The District Boracay, Diamond Watersports, The Lazy Dog Bed & Breakfast, Ultimate Apparel and Boracay Terraces Resort.

Borgwardth assembled five points to edge Tio by one with Finland’s Viola Kaukonen finishing a far third with 15 points.

Irene Lara and Glynn Aurelio, meanwhile, became the first Novice champions in the event which also offered Cabrinha Kiteboarding gear to the winners with the former coming out of a kite tangle virtually unscathed then putting on an ace in the last race to score six points. She repulsed compatriot Paula Rosales by only one for the Women’s plum with Finland’s Maria Kariniemi placing third with 11 points.

Aurelio, on the other hand, dominated the Men’s section with four points, beating Ruel Madaluyo by five while NCR bet Joseph Consul placed third in the three-day event which drew 120 kiteboarders from 20 other Asian and European countries and Manila, Davao, Puerto Princesa, Laguna, Puerto Galera, Boracay and Romblon.

Meanwhile, kiteboarding action resumes Friday with the staging of the third leg in Daet, Camarines Norte with the final leg set in Puerto Princesa, Palawan on March 6-8.

For details, call 632-638-9273 or 0917-4123888 or email [email protected] or [email protected] or facebook at philippinekiteboardingtour.