Kayak freestyle in the sun, where else but in Bataan

The sun, the sand and the sea…and  colorful kayaks in a row. How better to spend a weekend! Video by INQUIRER.net’s Cathy Miranda

MANILA, Philippines – A duo of local kayakers emerged champions despite the hot sun, and wall of clouds that cancelled out winds and made the first leg of the Philippine Kayaking Series 2011 much more difficult.

Kayak pioneer and organizer of the kayaking event, Val Camara, said that contestants German Paz and Reneric Moreno staved off the challenge of 32 other hopefuls after they finished the 32-kilometer  kayak marathon in four hours, 10 minutes and 47 seconds.

Seventeen kayaks set off from the Anvaya Cove Beach and Nature Club in Morong, Bataan early morning on June 4 towards Zambales, in a race that passed through the open waters of the West Philippine Sea.

The kayakers paddled their way towards San Fernando, Zambales from Mabayo, Morong, Bataan and back—and hugged the coastline from Subic Bay, through the West Philippine Sea, towards Silanguin Bay, said Camara. The top five teams clocked in at around five hours.

Second to the winning duo were Team Anvaya’s Arnold Mendoza and Mark Roncales, both of whom finished the race in four hours, 14 minutes and 14 seconds.

Third place went to Anilao kayakers John Reyes and Harold Madrigal, while fourth place went to Doyet Dumaluan and Buzzy Budlong. The fifth spot went to Team Manila Extreme’s Alexis Atutubo and Romeo Castro.

The route prepared this year for the challengers was “designed for last year’s weather (with the) south westerly winds… favoring the paddlers going home,” said Camara.

But it was also chosen to let them enjoy the race as they included a journey through the “hidden beauty of Silanguin Bay. Getting there (was) part of the pleasure,” he said.

The kayak marathon challengers would have had an easier route had a wall of clouds not formed in the afternoon, as the first few kayaks made their way back to Bataan. Camara said that the “clouds cancelled out the winds and made the water flat. (That) effectively took out some contestants.”

If the difficulty of the kayak marathon sapped the energy of its contestants, the atmosphere at the event was soon back up as beginners, and other kayak enthusiasts, also participates in a 3K novice race, the “Crazy 8’s” or the kayak slalom race, and a kayaking clinic.

The Philippine Kayaking Series was organized by the Sun and Sea Sports, and the Philippine Kayaking Association. It is the longest running series of its kind in the country with its first event dating back to the 90’s, said Camara.

For more information, visit kayakphilippines.com, the Philippine Kayaking Series’ Facebook page, or call Didi Camara at 09053322530.