The Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) hosted the initial leg of the Philippine Kiteboarding Tour Season 8, the first ever of its kind in the province, from October 21 to 23, 2022 at the King Fisher Resort at Brgy. Caparispisan, Pagudpud.
A total of 45 participants, composed of local and foreign athletes from the Philippines, Germany, Ireland, India, Palestine, and France, competed in different categories: twin tip races, hang time, freestyle, and foil board racing.
In recent months, PGIN has expanded the potential of Pagudpud’s coast by including water-based sports activities such as surfing and skiing, and has partnered with the Philippine Kiteboarding Association to host this kiteboarding competition as part of its recovery program for the sustained recovery of the province’s tourism sector.
“It’s one of the very known places in the Philippines, one of the best you can find,” Katherine Borgwardt, a competing athlete from Germany, remarked.
Filipino athletes dominated the competition by winning the majority of the contested activities. The winners of the various categories of the competition received cash prizes ranging from 50 to 200 USD. Sponsors also gave additional prizes, such as action-shot cameras, a free round trip ticket to any country in Asia, and kiteboarding equipment.
On the other hand, Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc expressed his goal to make Ilocos Norte the sports tourism capital of Northern Luzon by hosting such events at the online Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum earlier this year.
“We want to establish Ilocos Norte as the sports tourism capital of the north. If there’s anyone interested and we have the facilities, I’m all for it.”
Previously, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte, in partnership with the Municipal Government of Pagudpud and Ikani Surf Resort, hosted one of the newest activities in the province, the “SurfIN: INtayon Ilocos Norte.” It was the first national-level match in Pagudpud where surfing athletes and enthusiasts gathered.
PGIN, under the leadership of Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc, sustains the expansion of the local tourism sector by partnering with sporting organizations to stage more events that will benefit host communities in the future. －Allyssa Charisse G. Magno, Geraldine R. Ulep, Kenneth Dhovan Natividad, PGIN-CMO Interns
