Only Two Paddlers Survive Non-stop ?Extreme Stand-Up Paddle? from Camotes to Lapu-lapu City
By Mary Jane Catriz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 16 Jan 2015
?The fact that a Low Pressure Area (LPA) entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) just as we were beginning to paddle made the crossing very difficult,? explained Erwin Glenn ?Buzzy? Budlong after he survived from the historic Stand-Up Paddle (SUP) attempt.
Only Budlong, who holds the title ?Longest Filipino Paddler? in 2010, together with the veteran German paddler Johannes Leib of Island Buzz Philippines SUP and Kayak Guide have successfully completed the nonstop crossing out of six paddlers who undertook the 45-km SUP challenge.
According to Budlong they are targeting to finish it together under five hours. However, the two paddlers endured the 45-kilometer gruelling quest around eight hours due to the rough seas they encountered.
?The waves at about 45-degrees from our rear made the maneuvering of our Alcyone Stand Up Paddle Board very difficult,? explained Budlong.
Dubbed as the ?Extreme SUP 2015?, Budlong, Leib, along with other four veteran paddlers Epos Falcone, Jovil Villamor, Alain Jacquez and the lone female paddler Jade Abellana started their voyage around 7 AM from the Santiago Bay Resort in Camotes Island and arrived roughly around 2 PM at the Be Resorts in Lapu-Lapu City.
Although they failed to meet their target arrival time, the six veteran paddlers have successfully paddled their hearts out for a good cause ? ?to create awareness that it is feasible to paddle around different islands of the Philippines.?
?We should familiarize our own sea through free-energy sports. In this way, we can help to save our ocean free from fueled or motorized sea transportation as well as we could discover more about the islands that we have in our country,? said Budlong during the press conference at the Be Resorts Hotel last January 13.
Budlong also added that SUP has already an estimated 500 paddlers and counting in the Philippines, and expect to grow worldwide especially with their plans to organize activities to promote free-energy sport such as SUP, surfing, kayaks and other forms of water sports.
The attempt is also with partnership with the Sustainable Energy and Enterprise Development for Communities (SEED4COM) initiated to promote awareness with Let?s Do It Philippines Movement, which is targeting to gather 5 million volunteers nationwide for a simultaneous clean-up drive project on September 20, 2015, wherein Budlong and other paddlers are invited to join the cause.
The SUP challenge was made possible with the support of the Be Resorts Hotel in the presence of the sales and event officer Jin Marollano, the SEED4COM executive director Dann Diez and Lapu Lapu City Tourism Office top honcho Hembler Mendoza.
According to Mendoza, they were impressed with the event and that Local Government Unit of Lapu-Lapu City will try to find corporate sponsors so that the event will be staged again next year, and make it a bigger one.
If the competition pushes through next year, according to Budlong, he is eyeing for an international competition that will feature different categories such as beginners, experts, and more race division like marathon, dash, relay and sprint SUP?s.
Budlong also said, during the press conference, that they are targeting to gather 30 to 50 participants next year.
For water sport enthusiasts who are interested to learn SUP or any other free-energy sports, you may contact the following mobile numbers: (+63) 947 98x`90379 look for Johannes and (+63) 927 5683799, Buzzy.
PHOTOS BY ISL.
Top photo: (L-R) Island Buzz Philippines SUP & Kayak Guide Johannes Leib, DWLE Marketing & Product development's Epos Falcone,Alcyone SUP shaper Alain Jacquez, Seed4com's Enrique San Juan, Island Buzz Philippines CEO Buzzy Budlong.
L-R: Be Resorts, Jin Marollano, Jovil Villamor,
DWLE Marketing & Product development's Epos Falcone,Island Philippines CEO Budlong will be joined by Island Buzz Philippines, ultramarathoner queen Jade Abellana, Alcyone SUP shaper Alain Jacquez,SUP & Kayak Guide Johannes Leib,Lapu tourism chief Hembler Mendoza.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Mary Jane Catriz.
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