Skimmers join 1st national competition in Eastern Samar

TAFT, Eastern Samar, Jan. 25 (PNA) -– About 60 skimmers in the country competed in the 1st Dangkalan Pacific Beach Resort National Skimboarding Competition 2016 in this town on Sunday.

Leander Apita of Borongan City was the champion in the Open Category followed by Nico Cobacha of Tanauan, Leyte and Princeton Cinco of Tolosa, Leyte for second and third place, respectively.

In the Wahine or Women’s Category Jona Cacellar of Tanauan, Leyte and Jessica Ayes of Tolosa, Leyte came in second. Sunkish Salceda of Tolosa, Leyte came in third.

In the Grommet Category, Kent Tanquion was the champion. Arnold Boco and Tristan Silvano came in second and third placers. The three are from Llorente, Samar.

According to organizer Leonardo Balmes, manager of the resort where the event was held, the participants said the event is a reunion of sorts for skimmers. The last time they joined a competition was in Tanauan, Leyte five years ago.

Tanauan town in Leyte province prides itself as the skimboarding capital in the country.

However, current local elected officials of Tanauan have not continued the sport that has attracted participants from skimmers around the country and Asia.

Skimboarding involves quick running, dropping and mounting on the board, and gliding over the short waves before the water breaks on the shore.

According to Roderick Bazar, head of the Board of Judges, skimboarding is a variation of surfing. 

The former can be done even without big waves.

Bazar, who hails from Borongan City, Eastern Samar, bagged the championship trophy in the International Zap Skimboarding in Delaware, USA in 2014.

He said Dangkalan is just perfect for the event.

The boards used are flat and shorter than surf boards. A typical skim board is made of smooth marine plywood and fiberglass and does not require much buoyancy.

“The high-end skimboard cost as high as USD400 or PHP19,000 each.

Balmes is happy that 60 skimmers joined the competition. He said he tapped people who are interested and supportive of the skimboarding sport and businesses that catered to the sport as sponsors of the event.

“Its election season and my co-organizers don’t want politics and sports to be mixed,” Balmes added.

The open category champion received PHP15,000 cash and other freebies. Cash prize for 1st to 3rd –runners up was PHP10,000, PHP7,000 and PHP5,000. While the 5th to 10th placers received PHP500 each.

For the top four winners of Wahine and Grommet, they received PHP5,000, PHP3,000, PHP2,000 and PHP1,000. While the 5th to 10th placers got PHP500 each.

Maxim Rob Aga, 6, from Dolores, Eastern Samar was the youngest participant and showed a lot of promised according to the skimboarding international champion Manoy.

Balmes said the organizers are planning for another event for Holy Week or another national competition for 2017. (PNA)
LAP/SQM/VICKY C. ARNAIZ