Filipinos shine at challenging PKT Cagbalete leg

MAUBAN, Quezon — Withstanding unpredictable gusts, shifting tides and unsettled weather conditions, Cyril Dacudao and Doque delos Santos emerged victorious in their respective divisions in the second leg of the Philippine Kiteboarding Tour Season 11 on Cagbalete Island recently.

What had looked like a weather-affected weekend instead transformed into a dramatic showcase of elite kiteboarding, as tricky wind conditions turned each heat into a tactical battle on the water.

Sudden surges and shifting directions tested kite control and decision-making, rewarding riders who adapted fastest.
Dacudao dominated the women’s foil racing division, combining precision and conditioning.

She expertly navigated wind shifts and buoy turns, maintaining speed through lulls and capitalizing on gusts to defeat Trina Trei of Estonia.

Trei struck back in the twin tip racing event, edging Dacudao in a discipline that emphasizes explosive power, tight upwind angles and aggressive starts.

Another local standout, Maria Lyn Montanez, secured third, underscoring the growing depth of the Philippines’ women’s field.

The three-day event, sponsored by ICTSI, drew a vibrant mix of international and homegrown talents, reinforcing the tour’s reputation as a globally competitive platform.

Across divisions, adaptability proved decisive, as riders constantly adjusted kite sizes, stance and strategy amid fluctuating winds.

Meanwhile, Thailand’s Naprichit Pudla and Estonia’s Trina Trei reasserted their dominance in the freestyle division, duplicating their triumphs from the opening leg in Calatagan and reaffirming their supremacy in the discipline that highlights high-difficulty aerial tricks, rotations and handle-passes.

Filipinos Rey Sastre and SEA Games bronze medalist Warner Janoya finished second and third, respectively, in the men’s division, while Germany’s Madlin Potratz and Dacudao rounded out the podium on the women’s side.

In the masters’ twin tip racing division, multi-titled veteran delos Santos displayed tactical mastery, defeating compatriot Derek Sacapano and Estonia’s Tooms Krivonogov.

Exercising restraint in overpowering conditions, delos Santos timed his accelerations and conserved energy across heats — hallmarks of experience.

In men’s foil racing, Thailand’s Joseph Weston claimed the title, while Janoya placed second, followed by Northern Ireland’s Stefan Vance.

Pudla further asserted his dominance by winning the men’s twin tip racing, holding off Vance and Janoya in another tight battle.

Philippine Kiteboarding Association President Jay Ortiz, on the other hand, captured the grand masters’ racing crown, overcoming Northern Ireland’s Warren Vance and local bet Eddie Pacia Gracia in a tactical showdown.

With momentum building, the tour heads to its grand finale in Boracay from March 13–15, promising a fitting climax to a season defined by rising Filipino excellence and intensifying international rivalries.