The game-changing Laoag sandboarding on its 9th year

The LEAD (Laoag Eco-Adventure Development) Movement kids, who helped put the Laoag Sand Dunes on the adventure map, now grown-ups, in a more adultish vid.

So many changes since that trial ride on August 2, 2009 in La Paz. A co-op has brought together LEAD, the originators of sandboarding in the Philippines, and all the other operators who came after LEAD, for a common good, which is to boost tourism in Laoag City and the rest of the North. The expansive dunes which also cover parts of Paoay and Currimao make Ilocos Norte extraordinary. Have you had your own sand adventure yet?

Sports Unlimited Laoag “La Paz” Sand Boarding/Duning BTS

Sports icon Dyan Castillejo and prominent TV host Marc Nelson were in Ilocos recently to shoot for Sports Unlimited’s upcoming episodes. At the end of a via ferrata adventure in Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, Sports Unlimited proceeded to the capital of Ilocos Norte, Laoag City, where they were led to the capital of sandboarding in the Philippines for the uniquely Ilocos thrills, with no less than the pioneers of sandboarding in the country, the Laoag Eco-Adventure Development Movement, simply known as LEAD.

Dyan and Marc are not new to La Paz. Sports Unlimited was the first sports and adventure show that featured the iconic Laoag La Paz Sand Dunes more than a decade ago. A couple of LEADers were among a group that hosted Sports Unlimited for that first ever local sand duning adventure on Philippine television, which later evolved to a creative palangana, yes, a batya adventure, if you will recall. And then came the trending sandboarding culture introduced by LEAD Movement.

Very pro to the core, the duo tried every imaginable trick on a board. The younger members of LEAD were so amazed.

Catch Sports Unlimited every Saturday evening on ABC-CBN with replays on the ANC Channel.

With special thanks to Sports Unlimited, Dyan and Marc, Gene and the rest of the crew.

Contact LEAD Movement:  Reny Tan 0919-873-5516 /0917-841-5155 or Nicole Arce 0917-523-0331 Like Ilocos Sand Boarding on facebook.

Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2014

Sifting Sands: Only the Best Remains (The 2nd Laoag La Paz Sandboarding Competition)

There’s only one sandboarding competition in the Philippines and it happened again for the second time at the Laoag “La Paz” Sand Dunes. And as the young President of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC), Mikee Fariñas, has mentioned in her inspirational talk, it has become  the sandboarding capital of Southeast Asia.

Though this year’s competition was not as epic in terms of preparations and size, just the same the spirit rose above the sea of sand.

We still get the goosebumps. Five years ago, who would have thought the humble DIY sandboard made of plywood could launch a new culture of extreme sand shredding in these parts?

Judging the intimidating, almost-head-splitting Free Style Category were Ilocos’s premier tattoo artist Janer Santos (chairman), eco-adventure enthusiast from Adams Paul Acupan and pro skater Kriss Castro. The best time was central in the Time Trial Category. A total of eleven city boys and three La Paz homeboys braved the burning sun, the launcher (like how Fairon and Klein want to call it), the ramp and a wipeout. The top five placers in both categories were awarded a trophy and cash prize each.

The get-together was made possible by the City Government of Laoag, through the leadership of Mayor Chevylle Fariñas, and the Laoag Eco-Adventure Development Movement (LEAD), with the unequivocal support of the Barangay Talingan leaders and the Laoag Solid 8 Corp.

Let the spirit of fiesta and bayanihan live on!

Two-time champion in the Free Style Category, Ema Manuel

Congratulations to the winners of the 2nd Laoag La Paz Sand Boarding Competition!

Time Trial Category
1st – Maco Custodio
2nd -Eugene Tan
3rd -Carlo Domingo
4th -Ema Manuel
5th -Jay Clavel

Free Style Category
1st -Ema Manuel
2nd -Adriano Aceret
3rd -Eugene Tan
4th -Carlo Domingo
5th -Maco Custodio

*On behalf of the LEAD Movement, thanking the participants, judges, Laoag Solid 8 Corp., Marc Nicolas  (the race director), Clyde (the emcee), Toto, Sean, Rommel, Allan, Jao, Darwin, Nick, Jake, Brgy. Talinngaan, ABC President Mikee Fariñas, the Laoag City paramedics, the City Government of Laoag and everyone who in one way or another helped make the event meaningful.

Photographed by Blauearth © Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2014