Tanauan, Leyte - The 4th National Skimboarding Competition held at Tanauan, Leyte, the skimboarding capital of the Philippines, was a big success, Mayor Roque Tiu announced.

"Judging on the success of the Competition, we are now contemplating of making two competitions annually," Mayor Tiu said. The summer or Easter Sunday Competition which is the usual schedule of the national skimboarding competition will still be continued while the December Competition will still push through every year.

This will still depend on the availability of sponsors for the event, Mayor Tiu said. While he knew that Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla, Victoria Skimboards, Aloha Board Sports thru Freddy Gonzalez, and other sponsors, will still be willing to sponsor the two skimboarding events, he said that he still need the support of more benevolent benefactors and the promotional support from the national government so that this competition will really be included in the annual Tourism activities of the Philippines.

Several members of the media voiced out the need for the support of the national government so that the Skimboarding initiatives of the local government of Tanauan, Leyte will get a big boost. This kind of activity which has been launched through local initiatives, must be given the necessary logistics and promotional support from the national government, the local media opined.

The Competition was capped with an Awarding ceremonies, followed with a Reggae Party which lasted until three o'clock the following morning. This was participated in by hundreds of participants and other spectators from the different parts of the country.

Two hundred skim riders participated in the three categories of the National Skimboarding Competition, the groumet division for the youngsters category, the Wahini Division for the women participants and the Open Men's Division for the professional skim riders.

As in the past, the riders from Tanauan lorded it in all categories, over the other riders from all over the country. This is not a hometown decision, Mayor Tiu said, because the judges came from the Philippine Skim Association.

For the groumet division, Jhonry Cinco got his second championship title, followed by Frande Piamonte, Carl Gabas and Hendric Vargas, all of Tanauan, Leyte.

Woman rider Sheryl Pajelleno was again adjudged as the Wahini Division champion for the second year. The other winners are Kikay Espada, Tina Cumpio, all of Tanauan; and Jamaica Salceda of Cebu as the 3rd runner up.

Obet Yanuario emerged as champion in the Men's Division. Obet was the emerging champion last year but he ended up as a runner up because he suffered a foot dislocation on the last day of the competition.

Dariel Espada of Tanauan, who was last year's champion, won as the first runner up while cousin Leo Espada who is this year's first International Malaysian Skimboarding Champion emerged as 2nd runner up. Dags Hermosa of Cebu placed 3rd runner up.

As Philippine Skimboarding Association President Juan Duazo of said, the Skimboarding competition in Tanauan, does not only provide a venue where the riders can compete and enjoy the ocean, it is also an opportunity to meet other riders from all over the country, renew friendships and develop love for the sea and nature. When one loves the sea so much, that will really make him want to protect the environment.

He thanked Mayor Tiu, Victoria Skimboards and Aloha Board Sports for taking the lead in promoting skimboarding as water sport. (PIA 8)