Xrage is all the rage

It was extreme adrenaline and extreme nerves during the recent X-rage extreme games festival sponsored by Philips. Each category in this "no mainstream" event–BMX, skateboarding and in-line skating–required a certain luck and a knack for creative stunts.

The "No pain, no glory" sports event attracted old and young enthusiasts from all over the country. Amateur and world-class pros literally took to the air in their bikes and skateboards, defying gravity–and sometimes even anatomy–in dare-devil stunts.

Isabel Cheng, Philips Regional PR manager and X-rage project manager, reveals that the event, now on its second year, will tour nine cities in seven countries–Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Singapore, Jakarta, Shanghai and Beijing.

"Basically, the games identify their market," adds Isabel. "They are the type of people who are energetic and somehow defy the norm."

Philips has developed this event to reach out to the Asian youth from 15 to 29 years old. As Lea Baterna, Philips marketing manager says, "We know that the youth are very active and very energetic. Philips saw the opportunity for getting into their lifestyle in extreme games. In this sport, they can show their skills and talents. Philips wants them to know it is very supportive in pursuing their dreams. This event is a statement for that."

Though X-Games are relatively new in Asia, they have gained enormous popularity and following among Southeast Asian youth.

"This young market invests their time and money in buying gear and other X-Games stuffs," Isabel relates. "They play the games on roads or in the streets. They basically see these on TV through the sports networks. They don’t have the chance to play them the way their foreign counterparts do. Thus, it is a (new) opportunity for them to experience and participate in this kind of sport."

The event might just serve as a launching pad for another world-class X-Games athlete. Winners will get the chance to attend X-Games summer camps in Jakarta or in Pennsylvania and also get to meet X-Games larger-than-life personalities and coaches.

With that in mind, 19-year-old Genevieve Legaspi, a senior Business Management student at Holy Angel College and the lone female participant of the games, never had second thoughts about joining the local version of X-Games.

"It’s a dream come true to be part of this competition," Genevieve says enthusiastically. She singles out in-line skating as her favorite. "I like this game because basically it’s roller-blading. There are no tricks or stunts needed,no obstacles to deal with such as rails, ramps, grinds, loops, verths, etc."

But as Genevieve moves to the advanced levels, she has no choice but to face the aforementioned obstacles. "They are part of the game. But I’m happy to handle them successfully," she says.

Genevieve, a self-confessed Verth Queen Faviola de Silva fan, points out that "courage" and "being physically fit" are qualities aspiring X-Games players should possess.

"In the grind, a player should know how to balance his body. He should have the focus to perform, whether on skateboards or on skating shoes. No-no ang mahina ang loob dito."

Despite having sustained several injuries, Genevieve’s passion for the games gets deeper each day. "If you want something that gives you a different level of satisfaction and happiness, this is it. Kahit masaktan ka o mapilayan ka, OK lang," she believes.

If Genevieve has just started to love the games, 25 year-old-Willy Santos considers X-games his life.

"I’ve been doing this for 15 years," Willy relates. "I started when I was 11. At 16, I became a professional skateboarder."

This California-based Filipino skateboarder loves X-Games for one reason. "It is a kind of sport that is free-flowing," he explains. "You can go wherever you want. You can also do whatever you want. Just keep on skating or skateboarding."

For over a decade, Willy Santos has established such a reputation in the sport that he is included in the illustrious X-Games list of "Who’s Who." In fact, Willy has bagged numerous titles and awards such as First Place Vans Triple Crown, New Jersey 1998; 16 Vans Triple Crown, Ohio 2000; MTV Music Sports Festival, Austin, Texas 1997; Second Place B3 Louisville, Kentucky 2000; and Fourth Place B3 Lake Havasu, Arizona 2000, to name a few.

Willy, also a one-time Munster Germany World Cup winner, believes that "skateboarding requires a lot of dedication and a hundred percent creativity." He points out that his every-other-day practice regimen keeps him in tip-top shape and helps him execute a perfect jump-and-land. "Back in the States, I skate in the morning at the Ocean Beach skate park with my friends. If I want a serious ambience I skate or practice at secret spots, mostly around San Diego."

Willy, who changes his board every five days, consistently participates in international competitions to hone his talent for skateboarding. This Vans (shoes) image model and owner of Willy’s Workshop, a skateboard-cum-barber shop, also believes that "one should get into something one really knows. Something that one wants to get involved in for the rest of one’s life."

As extreme as the games are is the passion with which its growing number of enthusiasts are taking to the ramps and turning rage into raves.