FOREIGNERS SHINE

Denmark’s Lasse Brock Bennedsen led the cast of qualifiers for the championship round in the premier Open Wakeboard division of the Summer Wake Jam 2015 national wakeboarding and wakeskating competitions yesterday at the Papa Kits beach resort in Liloan town, northern Cebu.

Bennedsen, a martial arts expert who has an 8-0 (win-loss) record including two knockout wins in kickboxing back in Denmark, was scheduled to vie for the ultimate spot of the Open Wakeboard division later in the evening yesterday alongside Great Britain’s Nick Montagu, Ed Altaire Arcay, Amador Pilapil and Mier Macapat.

In the Beginner’s Wakeboard category, Japan’s Nao Isobe grabbed the top spot going into the championship run as he displayed the most convincing tricks. He was followed by Cebu’s James Hans Uy, Nao’s compatriot, Hiroya Nakano, Vanz Mariano, Vietnam’s Reza Rabaya, skateboarder-turned-wakeboarder Jermey Flar, Junie Reybaca, Jose Kenny Dy and Great Britain’s Matt Buoss.

The Open Wakeskate top qualifiers for the championship round, on the other hand, are Daryl Abella, Britain’s Montagu, Jeffrey Maru and Russia’s Artimey Dunaev.

The Open Ladies’ Wakeboard category top qualifiers were Roscel Nicole Patalinghug, Angelica Fernando, Cleofe Anenas, Genelyn Yoscres and Guada Jajoma.

Cebu Wakepark Marketing Manager June Ann Bolneo said the race in Cebu has so far attracted the most number of participants, both foreign and local.

The event, which dangles more than P40,000 in cash prizes, is being participated by Cebuano talents and rivals from Davao, Manila, Great Britain, Denmark, Singapore and Japan.

“Our main goal really in staging this event is to encourage Filipinos, particularly Cebuanos, to take part and promote the sport because Cebu is very accessible for foreigners because we have an international airport,” Bolneo said.