ASIAN ENDURO SERIES ROUND 2: STOKED IN BOHOL
By: Ione Baron-Mejia
STOKEDDDD!!!
Nick Angelo De Guzman Velasco
Photos are great memory-promp. Some weeks may have passed after the Asian Enduro Series Round 2 was held in Calape, Bohol but all it takes is a single shot i took using my cellphone to transport me back, to perhaps the most exciting event the Enduro Pilipinas and Asian Enduro have ever held yet, that was last September 10 and 11, 2016. I could quite guess I am not alone scrolling occasionally to relive the event. While i normally blog right after the event, i decidedly went experimental this time, using my photo and the stunning action shots of Mr. Ericson Corpus as memory-promp, weeks after the event.
September 7, 2016, Wed was the start of my amazingly crazy weekend. Used to the thick traffic, I ninja-ed myself to the airport at 9AM and almost disappointed the traffic was not as bad. I would have been slightly ruffled yet aglow with post adrenaline rush by the time my plane was taking off but judging my perfunctory selfie inside the Cebu Pacific plane, i look collected and calm. The flight was uneventful almost. Having been a traveler, i have considered a bawling baby in front of me a non event, in fact it is a de rigueur. In fact i have come to appreciate the brave and patient parents travelling with kids. I wish i was like you.
After about an hour, we landed in the charming Cebu city, I happily bumped with the Team Groundzero in the Cebu airport. From left is March Aleonar together with his lovely wife, Ms. Ann Aleonar and Nino Martin Eday.
From the airport, i went straight to Ayala Mall for the presscon and briefing. Thanks to Recreational Outdoor Exchange - R.O.X. and Ayala Mall Cebu City for accommodating us there.
It was also the chance for me to visit my nephew who is studying in Cebu.
The next day, Thursday,I went Cebu port to go to Tubigon, Bohol.
I saw these guys in the port.The rain was drizzling in Cebu that time, which prompt me to seriously pray for a calm sea.
This ferry transported us from Cebu to Tubigon, Bohol.
My prayers were answered, the sea was calm, we had an uneventful journey. We were already in Tubigon after an hour.
This truck fetch us from Tubigon port to the town of Calape.
This is the Calape's version of bulalo instead it included beef intestines and the likes.
This is where we stayed during our four day visit in Calape. It is the guest house of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
Naturally, it is surrounded with hectares of ponds.
And with different plants and herbs, like this pepper. Have you ever seen this pretty violet pepper, it turns to cherry red when it ripens? They have it there in BFAR Calape.
Friday was track reading day!
Here are the pictures of some of the riders and their bikes basked in muddy glory.
FLORENT POILANE from France representing Vietnam. Asian Enduro Series - Round 1 and Round 2 Champion.
DRU DEL ROSARIO Team Rotten Wheels -from Manila
Mark Ibon and Joseph Obra from Palawan
RIDERS BEFORE THE START OF THE RACE
Nino Martin Eday, March Aleonar of Team Groundzero and Mark Ibon of Team DERP
Nathaniel Acain (sitting) from Team ZERO and the Team Humpers, Heydar Hosseini, Dante Francisco and Tenten Yu
TEAM BILIRAN
The tale of Vincent Platitas of Team ZERO from Zamboanga and Joseph Obra of Team DERP from Palawan. Day 1, Vincent Platitas had an unfortunate crash in Stage 2, it was bad, we were not expecting him to finish the race, but being true enduro warrior, we were surprise that he still choose to finish the race, despite the fact that he knew, he already lost a significant amount to time that cost him the possibility of being in the podium while competing in the elite category. In the end he still finished in 14th place despite the crash. Congratulations Vincent, all of us are proud of your sportsmanship and steel strength and determination. You are a true champion. Day 2, Joseph Obra also crashed in Stage 5, we had to bring him to Tagbiliran hospital for x- rays and other tests, thankfully their was no significant physical damage to him. He was back in Capale, just in time for the awarding ceremony. I felt really bad for Joseph because he was a strong contender too, he was top 6 in the elite category during the Day 1 ranking. But now, we are just thankful nothing serious happened to him. See in the trail soon, Vincent and Joseph.
Joseph Obra from Team DERP
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Let me show you these pictures of the riders, these are action shots of the riders having fun in the trail. Can you feel the excitement and the adrenaline rush during the race, can you imagine how high they get from speeding down those gnarly trails, can you believe those awesome view from the trail? That was our weekend weeks ago, the Asian Enduro Series Round 2 in Calape, Bohol. It was incredible!
Thank you to Ericson Corpus aka @unbreakableeric for the amazing action shots and for allowing me to use these pictures.
FLORENT POILANTE from France representing Vietnam - Champion - Elite Category
GABRIEL AMIGO III of Team Bislig - 2nd place -Elite Category
ROEL QUITOY OF Team ZERO from Zamboanga - 3rd place - Elite Category
NICK SHANE from Canada - 4th place - Elite Category
NINO MARTIN EDAY from Team Groundzero 5th place - Elite Category
PELDEN BORJI from Bhutan - 6th Place - Elite Category
JAKE ARVIN FUDOLG of Bike Ta Bai - Champion - Aficionado Category
HEYDAR HOSSEINI of Team Humpers from Cebu 2nd Place - Aficionado Category
DRU DEL ROSARIO - Team Rotten Wheels from Manila 2nd place - Aficionado Category
MICHAEL HAMID of Team ZERO from Zamboanga 4th place - Aficionado Category
ROMEO QUITOY SR. from Team ZERO of Zamboanga 2nd place - Legend Category
JAYSON PICKETT from Australia - Elite rider
Kenneth Wee from Singapore - Elite rider
Nick Angelo Velasco Team DERP of Palawa - Elite rider
DR. MILTON MACANAS from Team FACE of Tacurong City - Elite rider
MARK IBON of Team DERP from Palawan - Elite rider
AARON KISLER of Team SF Trail Blazers from Cebu City - Elite rider
ADRIAN ABELLA aka BAI ANDY of Team Humpers from Cebu - Elite rider
ALLAN DALMAO of Team Bike Ta Bai
ZENITH LLOYD LOMOD aka Ako si Zen of Team Duro Brothers - 2nd place Curious Category
BUTZ FRANCISCO of Team Humpers from Cebu City - 4th place - Curious Category
CHRISTIAN ANGELO GO FERNANDEZ of Team Biliran
DANDAN TUI of Team Humpers from Cebu
DAVE CHONG Team V12 from Cebu City
DWIGHT ANTHONY TAN INCHICO of Team Biliran
GERRY MARMITO
JOSEPH FALCONE of Team Humpers from Cebu - 3rd place - Curious Category
JOSE PIDAL MARIO
ROMEO KEVIN LANZADERAS of Team Calape Bikers from Bohol
LEO BARDA ECALLA from Leyte - Elite rider
LEONEL ERASMO of Team Biliran
MANNY PLAZA of Team Biliran
MARVIN LLANOS of Team ZERO from Zamboanga
MATTHEW ALAMANGOS from Australia
NING KAKAY of Duro Brothers from Bohol
NOEL DEFENSOR of Team FACE from Tacurong City - 4th place Legend Category
OGIE FLORES of Team FACE from Tacurong City 5th place - Aficionado Category
PATRICK PARRENO aka LNP bike of Team FACE from Tacurong
PENNY LLOYD BATOTO of Team Biliran
RAMON QUIJANO from Cebu City
REXTER CORTO
ROMMEL RAGASA of Team ZERO from Zamboanga
ROMULO JOHN JR. ESPINA of Team Biliran
RYAN ASUR
SHIRWEN RALAR AKA SIMPLY RUGGED from Team Biliran
VANZI GUB of Calape bikers is the bullet rider. Congrats Van.
VELMAR CANETE from Leyte
VINE PEROCHO of Team ZERO from Zamboanga
Finally, the fearless, she-shredders!
From the left: DOC MARIA JOSELA DEFENSOR , in the middle with her bike JOYCE DEL SOCCORO , at the back is JOY GUINAN and STEF PHEASANT
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