THE PROVINCE OF QUIRINO HAS EMERGED AS
the country’s newest wakeboarding haven with the successful staging of the 1st Invitational Wakeboarding Competition at the world-class Quirino WaterSports Complex in the capital town of Cabarroguis.
More than 80 players from the country’s top wakeparks joined the inaugural tournament, which also saw the Philippine wakeboard team to the 30th Southeast Asian Games doing exhibition runs.
Jet Brigance of Decawake Clark Cable Park topped the Open Men Wakeboard category with 67.33, followed by Larry Sacabon of Quirino and Jon Dimacali of Republic Wakepark who bagged second and third places, respectively.
JP Canuto of CamSur Watersports Complex ruled the open men wakeskate, with Regi Causing and Renan Turiano, both from Republic Wakepark, capturing second and third spots, respectively.
In the advanced wakeboard, Jerome Javaluyas of Lago De Oro Wakepark captured the men’s division, while Shaina Alva of Pradera Verde dominated the women’s division.
Meanwhile, Charles Vilwhich legas Pradera Verde and Justine Buendia of Republic Wakepark conquered the advanced wakeboard, men’s and women’s divisions.
The competition is one of the highlights of the weeklong Panagdadapun Festival marking Quirino’s 48th provincial founding anniversary, also saw a grand street dance showcasing its various ethno-linguistic groups.
Started in 2007 by then governor Dakila Carlo Cua, the Quirino WaterSports Complex is a 9.5-hectare fullsize cable park and boasts a 450-meter wakeboard cable, a 2.5-hectare spring-fed lagoon and a large deck area.
The SEA Games team were impressed by the tournamentquality and tension of the cables, enabling them to glide on the water better.
It also has a winchpark for beginners with a 100-meter cable and 3,000-sq. m. lagoon.
Owned and managed by the provincial government, the property also has a twostory pavilion, function rooms, a multi-purpose hall, an infinity pool, an adjunct hostel and guest villas under construction.
Once completed, it is expected to boost the positioning of the province as a destination for culture, adventure, nature and sports tourism in the Cagayan Valley.
The two-day sporting event was supported by Landbank of the Philippines, San Miguel Beer, Petron Primes Gas Station, Del Monte, Boysen Paint, Smart and Isabela Gios Commercial.