MANILA, Philippines - Kiteboarders from Europe dominated the Philippine leg of the inaugural Kiteboard Tour Asia (KTA) with Robin Snuggs of the United Kingdom and Frenchmen Mallory De Villamarque and Florian Daubos leading the charge in the men’s freestyle in Boracay recently.
Topping the women’s side were Kathrin Bogwardt of Germany, and Carla Delmoral and Nuria Goma of Spain, who also all won in the women’s course racing.
The Asians, however, held their own and ruled the men’s course racing with Turkish Taner Aykurt, Lithuanian Deivis Maciulis, and Thai Narapichit Pudla winning the top three posts.
Other winners were Germans Angel Parzhuber, Tony Heiss and Bobo Corniel, and Candice Shedley of Canada, Lizel Tio of the Philippines, Jannika Stav of Norway, who topped the men’s and women’s speed categories, respectively.
Meanwhile, local favorite Ken Nacor of Cabrinha Boracay finished third in the overall standing after four legs of the KTA.
The Philippine leg was organized by Hangin Kite Center and the Philippine Windsurfing Association, and backed by the Department of Tourism, Philippine Sports Commission, Province of Aklan, Municipality of Malay, Rudy Project, Stoked Inc., Seair, Boracay Beach Resort, Cabrinha and North Kiteboarding, Ion Essentials, Boracay Kite Resort, Boracay Windsports Association, Blood Red, and ANC.
The event, which gathered 59 racers from 22 countries, has toured China, Hong Kong, Vietnam and the Philippines. It will conclude in Thailand on March 25-28.
According to event organizer Nenette Aguirre-Graf, the country’s hosting recognized the huge potential of the sport in the country. She added that Boracay is the pioneer and preferred site of international enthusiasts because of its world-class equipment and training programs.