Lapu-Lapu offers new sports activity

CEBU, Philippines - The Lapu-Lapu City Tourism Office welcomed a new watersport seen to entice more tourists and vacationers to visit the Historic Resort City.

Flyboard, a watersport that originated in France and invented by French watercraft rider Franky Zapata in 2011, is now available in Lapu-Lapu City. It is a type of water jet pack with a 20-foot tube attached to a jetski which supplies water to drive the watercraft up to the air.

In the Philippines, the flyboard's operation first started in Subic, Zambales in 2012.

Lapu-Lapu tourism chief Hembler Mendoza in an interview said the new attraction is a welcome development as the city embarks on building more tourism blocks.

"Flyboard is another alternative sea sport in a recreational kind of way," he said.

BJ Ang, owner of the Diamond Watersports in Hadsan Beach Resort, Barangay Agus which operates the flyboard, said this kind of watercraft is a unique activity that local and foreign tourists visiting Mactan island should try.

"The goal of Diamond Sports is to increase the quality of watersport activities and equipment here in Mactan," he said.

The Diamonds Watersports acquired the flyboard from the Networx Jetsports, a shop specializing in jetskis.

Since it is new to tourists, Ang said they are charging P4,500 for 20 minutes of flyboard experience because of the high operational cost. "But it's definitely worth it," he said.

He added that among countries that operate flyboard, the Philippines has the cheapest fees as the average rate in other countries is $150 for 20 minutes.

Wayne Comendador, 20, who tried flyboarding said the new watersport will gain attraction to foreign tourists because "it is cool and the technology is new."

Meanwhile, the tourism office in Lapu-Lapu expressed possibility of hosting sports event with the use of flyboard. "Probably the city can invite foreign nationals in joining water-based competitions," Mendoza said.

He added that this may not happen overnight because of the preparations involved and that the plan should be discussed more between the tourism office and the watersport establishment.  (FREEMAN)