Raph Trinidad performs among Palawan’s mangrove-rich waters. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Filipino wakeboarding prodigy and Red Bull athlete Raph Trinidad showcased his arsenal of skills on some of the most breathtaking islands of Palawan during Wake Paradise, a project aimed at promoting the sport in the country and shedding light on Trinidad’s rapid rise to the top of the wakeboarding world.
“Wakeboarding in Palawan really gave me the opportunity to enjoy what I love doing most and embrace the beautiful scenery of the islands around the Philippines,” Trinidad said. “Having the opportunity to wakeboard in such a beautiful destination was a surreal experience and I’m pretty sure that all my fellow wakeboarders will love to ride in a place I’d love to call Wake Paradise.”
Trinidad is slowly making waves in the sport internationally, with podium finishes in the 2022 IWWF World Championship in Pathum Thani, Thailand and in the 2019 World Cable Wakeboard Championship men’s open division in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Trinidad, who comes from Liloan Island in Cebu and got in the sport at age 14, is currently the No. 2-ranked wakeboarder in the world.