ARCHIVED: 3/18/2010
By Cynthia L. Carrion
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| PHOTO KRISTINA BOTT |
Boracay is indeed a sports tourism paradise! From swimming delights to volleying a ball on its crystal-white powdery shorelines, one does not run out of ways to unleash dynamism and energy into a superbly magnificent and active recreation in Boracay.
An amazingly-big crowd of local and foreign competitors and spectators from 20 countries trooped to Boracay from February 24 to 27, 2010, for the 1st Kiteboard Tours Asia. Supported by the Department of Tourism, the event showcased the rising popularity of another water sport that the Philippines can confidently host.
Kiteboarding (or kitesurfing) usually requires different boards and specific performance kites. The boards with or without foot-straps or bindings, and are combined with the power of a large controllable kite to propel the rider and the board across the water. Both kiteboarding and kitesurfing are a surface water sport that uses the wind to pull a rider through the water on a small surfboard or a kiteboard (similar to a wakeboard). In kiteboarding, a freestyle or wake-style is used. This differentiates from kitesurfing which is more "wave-riding" oriented.
The Kite Tours Asia held in the Philippines was a perfect sample of a sports tourism event that once more made the Philippines proud of its stunningly-tropical climate, with a wind condition that is very conducive to kiteboarding.
This event (The KTA) has been formed to give an international platform to the skills and talents of kiteboarders throughout the Asia Region. It is the first international tour of its kind in Asia that will have to stop in five different countries between September 2009 and March 2010.
Open to everyone, amateur and pro riders alike, the KTA in its first year will be running two disciplines (freestyle and course racing) at each tour stop in accordance with the new unified international competition rules by the International Kiteboarding Association (IKA).
The philosophy of the KTA is to start slow and grow steadily to especially give homegrown riders the opportunity to experience the fun and excitement of being part of an international competition scene. It hopes to provide a stepping stone for the Asian region’s best riders into the pro tour scene by giving them exposure to high level competition at a more local level.
For results and other information, log on to www.kiteboardtourasia.com.
