Doque delos Santos bested a tough international field to post a victory and two runner-up finishes in the kickoff leg of the 2015 ICTSI Philippine Kiteboarding Tour–Season 2 at Anguib’s white sand beaches in Sta. Ana, Cagayan Valley last Tuesday.
The Boracay-based Delos Santos flashed superb form to edge Reynard Gajisan of F1 Kites and French Pierre Vogel in a fiercely-fought duel for the TwinTip Race (men) crown.
Delos Santos earlier placed second in Hangtime and Freestyle events of the three-day competition.
Swede Atte Kappel put on a scintillating performance to dominate the popular Hangtime event, his 12.67-second jump tipped to eclipse the current Asian record for the longest jump. Delos Santos had a 6.17-second jump for second while Christian Tio, the world junior No. 2, ended up third.
Louisa Johannson completed Sweden’s sweep of Hangtime by ruling the women’s side, beating German Franziska Limmer and Viola Kaukonen of Finland while Boracay-based Liezl Tio topped the TwinTip Race women’s event, humbling Rebecka Maudal and Limmer.
Jay Ortiz snatched the TwinTip Race Masters crown as Kappel, who dominated the first two races in the opening day, struggled with a kite problem in the final day and dropped to third with Puerto Galera’s Eddie Garcia taking runner-up honors.
The Romblon-based Gajisan, meanwhile, copped the Freestyle plum in windy conditions.