Group to boost paddle sports

THE Cebu paddling community wants to help the Cebu City Sports Commission promote paddle sports in Cebu and is aiming to produce the first Olympian paddlers for the country.

Paddle sports covers canoeing and kayaking— which are both Olympic events—and also include dragon boat racing, which is an Asian Games event.

Since he assumed office in 2010, CCSC chairman Ed Hayco has been motivating trainers, coaches and elite athletes to volunteer in helping the CCSC grassroots developmental program in several sports disciplines.

This year, those in the paddling community want to help. Seasoned paddlers like Buzzy Budlong of Stand Up Paddle (SUP) and Randy Su of Habagat have volunteered to spearhead the paddling grassroots program.

Outdoorsman Wendell Baghdok Getubig is also willing to help form the CCSC grassroots developmental program for paddle sports.

Getubig, 34, is undergoing training at the British Canoe Union (BCU) for a Level 2 Certificate in coaching paddle sports in Hong Kong. He is one of four Filipinos to obtain that. The other three Filipinos are Mike Soriano (Manila), Niño Capangpagan (Cebu) and Raymund Baylin (Cagayan).

“After learning that Cebu is supporting the sport of paddling and is interested in putting up a grassroots program, I got excited and I want to finish my course because I know I can contribute to raise the level of safety and learning of the sport,” Getubig said.

Getubig got the chance to upgrade his coaching certification from level 1 to 2 through his employer, the Asia Pacific Adventure (APA). It specializes in outdoor skills training, youth adventure programs, event management and adventure facility program throughout the Asian region.

“Cebu has so much potential in paddle sports. It’s good that Cebu wants to have a long term paddle development program,” Getubig said.

Getubig added that the Philippines has not yet pro- duced athletes in the paddle sports in the Olympics and only a dragon boat team has won medals in several international competitions, including the 10th World Dragon Boat Championship in Tampa Bay, Florida.

“The dream of CCSC of producing an Olympian paddler is very possible because we have a good venue, being an island in an archipelagic country. We are surrounded by bodies of water,” Getubig said.

According to Getubig, Cebu hasn’t progressed much in water sports, that is why he is excited with the vision of the CCSC.