Local skater flips way to national limelight

By: Leobert Julian de la Peña

CHRISTOPHER Leccio Hurich, also known as “Ping”, a native of Mambusao, Capiz and a radiology student of Iloilo Doctor’s College, is storming his way into the Philippine skateboarding scene.

Winning various awards and trophies, Hurich strives to improve his craft to help lift the local skateboarding scene here in Iloilo.

In fact, Hurich bagged the crown in the Annual National Vans Philippines Go Skateboarding Day Men’s Best Run Category last June 22, 2019 at Metrotent Convention Center in Pasig City.

In an interview, Hurich said “I had lost this competition for the past two years and I thought I wasn’t going to win or place due to the last 2 losses.”

His most unforgettable achievement was winning the 2014 Hampang Competition organized by Team KSIN (Kant Stop Ilonggos Now) which was also a Regional qualifier for Vans Philippines Go Skateboarding Championships.

“I entered the Championship Finals at PCC in Pasay City and placed second, then as I was exiting the stage after the awarding, the previous CEO of Vans Philippines asked me if I wanted to get sponsored by Vans, of course I said yes! When I was walking away, I had tears in my eyes because my dream came true of getting sponsored by a big skateboarding brand such as Vans,” Hurich added.

With skateboarding still in its development phase in Iloilo, exposure to the sport is not that consistent and well-known.

Hurich also emphasized that if the newly elected officials and local government would support action sports, then it would be very helpful for the skating community as their primary aim is to train the youth to be potential champions.

On August 24-25, 2019, Hurich will represent Iloilo in the upcoming Go for Gold Skateboarding Championships in Sta. Rosa, Laguna at Backyard Skate park.

The top 3 winners from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao will compete to be qualified to enter the SEA games and a spot on the national skateboarding team.