Filipino-Norwegian leads Philippine team in kiteboarding

MANILA, Philippines - Fil-Norwegian teener Christian Tio is expected to carry the fight for the country as the foreign-flavored third season of the ICTSI Philippine Kiteboarding Tour blasts off beginning next week in Siargao.

Tio, a silver medalist in the 2014 World Juniors Championship, is among the top guns featured in the freestyle discipline of the $40,000 tour, which will go to four kitesurfing destinations in the country this season.

With over 500 participants anticipated, the tour will visit Siargao for the first time on Nov. 27-29 for the kickoff leg then make stops in Boracay on Jan. 8-10 and Anguib Beach, Cagayan on Feb. 12-14, before culminating in another new spot, Cuyo Island in Palawan on Mar. 11-13.

“I’ll try my best to win,” the 14-year-old Tio said during yesterday’s launch at Solaire.

The event, according to Philippine Kiteboarding Association president Jay Ortiz, is meant to benefit not only the Pinoy riders who get to raise their level competing against world-class foreign bets but also Philippine tourism in general.