Delos Santos, Gajisan score kiteboarding repeat

MANILA, Philippines – Doque delos Santos and JingJing Gajisan continued to dish out top form as they ruled their respective divisions for the second straight time and led the winners in the third leg of the first ICTSI Philippine Kiteboarding Tour in Soloviento, Caliraya, Cavinti, Laguna last Sunday.

Like in the second leg in Ilocos Sur two weeks ago, Delos Santos posted three podium finishes, including two victories, keeping the Cabrinha Hangtime Challenge title with a 4.64-second jump. The ICTSI-backed rider from Boracay bested Swede ace Atte Kappel, who posted 4.17 seconds and Bong Fernando.

Delos Santos also took the hotly-disputed Twin Tip Race after settling for second to Fernando, backed by Cabrinha Greenyard, in Ilocos Sur. Kingfisher, Pagudpod-based MJ Cahilig placed third in the three-day event sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. and the Cavinti Local Government and Lago Fishing Village.

The Boracay-based Gajisan, meanwhile, topped the Twin Tip women’s category for the second straight time, besting Kara Leongson of Soloviento and Liezl Tio, who finished second and third, respectively.

PKA president Jay Ortiz also repeated as champion in the Twin Tip Race Masters Category, defeating Puerto Galera’s Eddie Garcia and Carlo Leongson in another close race in the event backed by Boracay Greenyard, the official distributor of Cabrinha equipment, Stoked, Dakine, Aloha Boardsports, and supported by Tanduay Ice, Colt 45 and Summit Water.

Brazilian Estefania Rosa dos Santos toppled Aussie Ali Dudfield and Norwegian Rebecka Maudal to capture the Freestyle Women’s Singles crown while the Boracay bets dominated the Freestyle Men’s class with Along Gajisan foiling Delos Santos and 12-year-old Christian Tio.

The Caliraya leg drew 45 participants from Manila, Davao, Puerto Princesa, Caliraya, Puerto Galera, Boracay and Sweden, France, Brazil, Australia, Norway, Hong Kong and England with a bigger field expected to vie in the fourth and final leg on March 7-9 in Puerto Princesa.