Asian wakeboard tilt begins at Lago de Oro

MANILA, Philippines—Thai teener Daniel Grant heads the favorites in the third and final stop of the 2011 Stoked Inc-Rip Curl Asian Wake Park Tour Saturday at the Lago de Oro cable park in Calatagan, Batangas.

“I’m pumped to finally have a solid chance to take the overall titles for wakeskate and wakeboard this year,” said Grant, a 13-year-old Rip Curl rider.

“I will do everything I can to win. I’m dedicating my riding to all the people back home in Bangkok who are dealing with the unfortunate floods.”

Grant will be up against some of Asia’s best, including Singapore’s Alex Bennet-Leat, South Korea’s Kim Yong-ill and Thailand’s Aye Tatsanai.

The Filipino riders are also expecting a solid run behind Mark Griffin, Carlo Dela Torre, Robert Caratti and top female bet Samantha Bermudez.

JV Borromeo, chair of the Waterski and Wakeboarding Association of the Philippines, said the event is part of the Philippine team’s buildup for the Southeast Asian Games this month.