Skateboarders balance their longboard as they cruise downhill along a barangay road in Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur (Photo by Erwin M. Mascariñas)
BUTUAN CITY –– As board-riding gains popularity as a sport, enthusiasts here are organizing the 1st Butuan Downhill Longboarding Competition on August 3 as part of the city’s charter day activities.
Jimat Libres, president of the BXU Boardriding Enthusiasts, noted that there were a lot of young talented longboarding athletes in the city and other localities of Caraga region hence, the competition would provide a good venue for them to further hone their skills.
Libres explained that skateboarding and longboarding gained popularity after they were included in the 56 sporting events during the Southeast Asian Games this December.
He added that enthusiasm for the sport is further fueled by its upcoming debut in the Summer Olympic Games next year in Tokyo.
The August 3 competition will be held in a three-kilometer concrete track in Barangay Maguinda.
Libres said they have so far listed 62 entries, with the athletes coming from Palawan, General Santos City, Bayugan City, Surigao City, Cabadbaran City, Cagayan de Oro City, Bukidnon, Nasipit, and Buenavista in Agusan del Norte.
Skaters from Iloilo, Bacolod, Cebu, and Iligan cities have signified their interest to join, Libres added, raising to 100 their expected participants.
Those joining the competition will pay P600 registration while ‘free riders’ or non-racers will pay P300.
The race categories are Masters for 30 years old and above; Open Elite for 18 to 29 years old; and Juniors for 17-year olds and below. The race is further categorized into men and women divisions. /lzb