Kappel, Tio snare kiteboarding plums

MANILA, Philippines - Swede ace Atte Kappel and Filipina Liezl Tio squeezed out a pair of thrilling victories to chalk up the TwinTip Race titles while Christian Tio and Norway’s Malin Amle re-stamped their class in Freestyle at the close of the ICTSI Philippine Kiteboarding Tour-Season 2 in Puerto Princes, Palawan recently.

Kappel stepped up his act in the last three of the five-race event, breaking off a tie with Jay Ortiz after two races en route to clinching the Masters crown he also won in close fashion over the Philippine Kiteboarding Association president in the tour’s third in Camarines Sur last month.

Liezl Tio, on the other hand, leaned on her experience and foiled compatriot Irene Lara from Aklan in the women’s TwinTip race of the event organized by the PKA and sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

Doque delos Santos, meanwhile, dominated the men’s TwinTip races with five aces, outclassing French Pierre Vogel, Christian Tio, Julius Non and Reynard Gajisan.

Lithuanian Deivis Maciulis placed third in the Master with Carlo Leongson and Eddie Garcia taking the next two spots in the event supported by the City of Puerto Princesa, the Emerald Playa and Nature Park, Microtel by Wyndham, Kuyba Alomoneca Meditation Garden, Printhub Solution, Chez Rose Beach Bar and Restaurant, Katabom Bar, Blue Palawan Resort and Fluidsurf.

Kara Leongson ended up third behind Liezl Tio and Lara with Paula Rosales and Jing Gajisan wind up fourth and fifth, respectively.

Kappel also took the Hangtime crown with another near-flawless trick, beating Christian Tio, Delos Santos, Ryan Cahilig and Vogel, while Lara got back at Liezl Tio by snaring the women’s title with Amle, Austrian Julia Tausch and Swede Lovisa Johansson taking the next three places.

Christian Tio and Amle also remained the king and queen of Freestyle, respectively, as they duplicated their romps in Camarines Sur with the former showcasing his skill in the flat but shallow water and the latter dazzing the crowd with her own routine.

Vogel settled for second and Reynard Gajisan and Delos Santos finished third and fourth, respectively, while Amle topped Tausch, German Franziska Limmer and Rosales in the women’s side of Freestyle.