Tio, Oshima score in ICTSI kiteboarding

MANILA, Philippines - Teener Christian Tio finally nailed the elusive win in the ICTSI Philippine Kiteboarding Tour-Season 2, ruling the men’s freestyle in emphatic fashion while Japanese Aya Oshima got back at Norway’s Malin Amle in the women’s side in Bagasbas Beach in Daet, Camarines Norte last Sunday.

Tio, the 14-year-old Boracay-based star who placed third in the kickoff leg in Anguib, Sta. Ana, Cagayan last month and finished second at home last week, bucked the big waves and the tough Daet cast with awesome tricks to humble French champ Pierre Vogel and local aces Reynard Gajisan and Doque delos Santos.

Oshima, on the other hand, put on an amazing show to upstage Amle in tough condition this time, winning the women’s freestyle plum in the three-day event organized by the Philippine Kiteboarding Association and sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

The Japanese ace made it a two-win romp as she also ruled the TwinTip Race, repeating over Amle. Filipina Liezl Tio missed taking runner-up honors when she was swept by the big waves and lost her board 10 meters to the finish.

Stephane Decenciere, the Sri Lanka-based Frenchman, marked his tour debut in style, topping the Hangtime division in 5.05 seconds and winning the Cabrinha kite set in the event sponsored by Cabrinha and LIP Sunglasses. Delos Santos settled for second in 4.55 seconds while Russian Kirill Litvinov placed third in 4.37 seconds.

Daet Mayor Tito Sarion graced the opening and awards rites of the event, the penultimate leg of a four-leg tour backed by Daet On The Go, Bagasbas Lighthouse Hotel, Mike’s Kite, Bigg’s Dinner and CBS Pineapple Soap.

Amle, meanwhile, made up for her freestyle defeat by bagging the Hangtime women’s plum in 3.78 seconds, using the big waves as kicker or ramp to pull off high jump feats. She edged German Kathrin Bogwardt and Oshima, who had 3.59 and 3.39 seconds, respectively.

Romanian Ana Enciu actually performed the highest and longest jump to the delight of the crowd but crashed on her landing, invalidating her attempt and winding up fourth.

Swede ace Atte Kappel flashed top form in the wind and against the big waves as he foiled PKA president Jay Ortiz to capture the TwinTip Race Masters crown.