Russian, Swede reign in ICTSI kiteboarding

MANILA, Philippines - Lisa Nikitina of Russia flaunted superb riding skills and racked up two victories, including the Twin Tip crown, while Atte Kappel of Sweden repeated as Masters Twin Tip champ in the second leg of the ICTSI Philippine Kiteboarding Tour Season 3 at Aqua Boracay in Bulabog Beach Sunday.

Julius Non from Soloviento, Caliraya also made an emphatic return to the kiteboarding scene, winning the men’s Twin Tip while John Clyde Pardo took the novice men’s diadem, edging Gordon Gelito with Jondymar Cortes, William Cansino and Blazei Schmidt placing third, fourth and fifth, respectively.

Non, who won the inaugural leg in Calatagan, Batangas in 2013, scored 10.0 nett to foil local bet Bong Fernando, who had 12.0, while Ronnel Mateo pooled 16.0 for third followed by Doque delos Santos (17.0) and Christian Tio (19.0).

Nikitina turned in a nett score of 6.0 to best German Kathrin Bogwardt (9.0) while Viola Kaukonen of Finland, Mary Jane Gajisan and Liezl Tio took the next three spots with 17.0, 22.0 and 28.0, respectively, in the opener of the three-day event sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc and organized by the Philippine Kiteboarding Association.

The Russian ace rider also dished out the same awesome form in ruling the Freestyle division, besting Bogwardt and another German Franziska Limmer with Kaukonen settling for fourth in the second day of action where Nikitina also won a Cabrinha board in the raffle draw.

Bogwardt, however, got back at Nikitina and foiled the Russian’s three-title bid, topping the Hangtime class with a score of 3.57 seconds with Gajisan placing second (3.33) and Nikitina ending up third (3.19) followed by Kaukonen (3.15) and Limmer (2.82) in the event sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. and backed by Cabrinha, Coca Cola, Greenyard Boracay and Sailor Jerry.

PKA vice president Ken Nacor took the men’s Hangtime diadem in 7.39 seconds, defeating Kappel (5.87), Swede Mike Blomvall (5.85), Sassan Moscoso (5.64) and Russian Kirill Litvinov (5.23) while Slovenia’s Sabrina Savnik copped the novice women’s plum with 6.0 nett, thwarting Korean Jinah King (8.0), Lynley Teng (6.0), Theresa Szewczuk (25.0) and Iryna Nikitina (30.0).

Earlier, Kappel, riding his Flysurfer, scored 5.0 nett to repeat over PKA Jay Ortiz on his Cabrinha (10.0) with Carlo Leongson, Eddie Garcia and Mariel Candava placing third, fourth and fifth with 12.0, 18.0 and 24.0 nett, respectively, in the event backed by Aqua Boracay, Municipality of Malay, Valhalla Restaurant, The Lazy Dog & Breakfast, Lemoni Cafe & Restaurant, Freestyle Academy Kitesurfing, Vavuud, Area51, Boracay Suncruiser, Blue Bayou Boracay, Boracay Box & Ladder Hostel and Ultimate Apparel.

Tio, a Red Bull international rider, nipped Louis Hutter in a pulsating duel in the Freestyle division, piling up a score of 31.5 as against his rival’s 21. Tio earlier edged Andrey Salnik, 31.5-30, while Hutter repulsed Sergei Sotov of Russian, 31-30, in a pair of semifinal thrillers in the event supported by Damiana’s, Smoke Resto, By Da Way Sports Bar & Restaurant, Hoy Panga Boracay & Gypsea Shack, Double Dragon Apparel, Surf Kitch, Dos Mestizos, Palassa Spa, Bom Bom Bar, Pat’s Creek Bar, Boracay Water, Lokal Shop, Lokal Snack Bar, Gusto y Gusto, Boracay Sun, My Life on Board and PCTV.