THE EPIC PALAWAN FINALE: NATIONAL ENDURO MTB RACE 2016

THE EPIC PALAWAN FINALE: NATIONAL ENDURO MTB RACE 2016

By: Ione Baron-Mejia

Mark Ibon of Team Downhill Enduro Palawan Rider ( DEPR)

Palawan finale, how thou I describe thee?  Your trails are as ridiculously captivating  as your city, as insanely enchanting as your people, as crazily delicious as your cuisine.  Wait for me when I go back, dear Palawan.

The Enduro Pilipinas/The Endure Network,  national  enduro mountain biking race finale  was held last November 5 and 6 in the city of Puerto Princesa, Palawan. enduro  mountain bikers from all over the Philippines flew to Palawan to participate the event,  but harkors from Manila dominated it. Certainly, we save the best trail  for last.

Hat’s off to these winners! You guys rock! Palawan’s trail is every bit what an enduro rider's dream is made of. It challenges every rider’s technical  skill,  physical fitness, stamina , strong  determination, mental toughness while fearfully  at the same time excitably  shredding those exceptionally gnarly trails and being treated with the most amazing views the Puerto Princesa had to offer. This trail definitely separates the men from the boys.

I will now let the pictures speak for themselves.

To the winners and finishers kudos to all of you.

Now,meet the big winners in Palawan!!! 

                                     

         Chino Mendoza, Chico Lavina, Ryan Solinap, Joseph Obra and                                                     Angelo Nick Velasco

      ELITE CATEGORY

1^ST              RYAN SOLINAP                                           DIRT BROS.

2^ND             FRANCISCO “CHICO” LAVINA                       TEAM BMC

3RD             JOSEPH OBRA                                             TEAM DEPR

4^TH              CHINO MENDOZA                                       TEAM RUROK 

5^TH             ANGELO NICK VELASCO                              TEAM DEPR

6^TH             ROMMEL RAGASA                                 REKLAMO RACING TEAM

7^TH              IVES TORRENTE                                          TEAM SIPAT

8^TH              BETTY KULLALUL                                         TEAM ZERO

9^TH            ERNESTO DALIZON                                       DEPR 

10^TH                MICHAEL HAMID                                                            TEAM ZERO
 

Renan Ricafrente, Heydar Hossieni, Heinz Tabinas, Jeffrey Calalin and Jerwin Ibon

AFICIONADO CATEGORY

1ST               HEINZ TABINAS                                         DEPR
2ND              HEYDAR HOSSIENI                                     TEAM ZERO
3RD              JEFFREY CALALIN                                        DEPR
4TH               RENAN RICAFRENTE                       REKALAMO RACING TEAM
5TH               JERWIN IBON                                             DEPR
6TH               GARY  GEREVELA                                        DEPR
7TH               JOBERT FAJARDO                                        DEPR
8TH               DRU DEL ROSARIO                       TEAM ROTTENWHEELS
9TH               NELSON CONAN                                           DEPR
10TH             AL MUKHAM UMAR                                       DEPR

Jose Obra and Renax Lim

LEGEND CATEGORY

1ST             RENAX LIM                                                BIKE LAB
2ND            JOSE OBRA                                                DEPR

Mark Ibon, Shanville Villaflor, Joyce Del Socorro and Marjorie Ibon


FEMININO CATEGORY

1ST            JOYCE DEL SOCORRO                      REKLAMO RACING TEAM

2ND           SHANVILLE VILLAFOR                      DEPR

CURIOUS CATEGORY

1ST            JAYSON OBRA                                DEPR

2ND          CHRISTOPHER TORRES                    TEAM ZERO

3RD           FERNAN   HERAMIS                         DEPR

4TH          MASHAR   BERNAN                           DEPR

5TH          MARVIN    BALAN                             DEPR

THE ELITE RIDERS

RYAN SOLINAP - DIRT BRO.

CHICO LAVINA - BMC

JOSEPH OBRA - DEPR

CHINO MENDOZA - RUROK

ANGELO NICK VELASCO - DEPR

MARK IBON ( BULLET RIDER)

RHOMMEL RAGASA - REKLAMO RACING 

IVES TORRENTE - TEAM SIPAT

BETTY KULLALUL - TEAM ZERO

ERNESTO DALIZON - DEPR

MICHAEL HAMID - TEAM ZERO

BRYAN KAISER LEONOR - REKLAMO RACING TEAM

OJ PETERSON LELINA - REKLAMO RACING TEAM

ALEC DY-LIACCO  - REKLAMO RACING TEAM

LEGEND

RENAX LIM - BIKELAB

JOSE OBRA - DEPR

AFICIONADO

HEINEZ TABINAS - DERP

HEYDAR HOSSEINI - TEAM ZERO

JEFFREY CALALIN - DEPR

RENAN RICAFRENTE - REKALMO RACING TEAM

JERWIN IBON - DEPR

DRU DEL ROSARIO - TEAM ROTTENWHEELS

ELMER CABESAL - DEPR

GARY NOEL GEVELA - DEPR

JOEBERT PAJARDO - DEPR

NELSON CANON - DEPR

MATTHEW TOPPING - REKLAMO RACING TEAM

MARVIN CACHO - DEPR

FEMININO

JOYCE SOCORRO - REKLAMO RACING TEAM

                                SHANELLE VILLAFOR - DEPR

CURIOUS CATEGORY

JAYSON OBRA -  DEPR

MARVIN BALAN - DEPR

FRANCIS FERNANDEZ - DEPR

Finally, i would like to thank the people of Palawan, especially the people in the community of Magarwak and Sta. Lourdes area of Puerto Princesa for welcoming us in their community.Thank you to the marshalls, drivers and everyone who helped in the event. Thanks to our race director Mr. Mark Ibon, for all your hard work, you were a one man team in organizing this successful event. Congratulations! Special thanks for the lechon and the "special carderetang kambing ", it was a treat, we loved it. To our race director's other half,   Marjorie Ibon, thank you for the support. I  truly enjoyed my stay  there because of your company. Thank you very much Marj.  I hope to see you soon in Manila. 

Thank you Palawan. I had a blast! I'm head over heels with your food, your trails and your mountains. I will be back soon.  :-)

Click link for more pictures from the event:

TRACK READING PICS


TRACK READING PICS II


DAY 1 STARTING PICS


DAY 2 STARTING PICS

DAY 2 STARTING PICS II

DAY 2 PICS

Dirt Bros at Magarwak

PALAWAN FINALE SS7 ACTION SHOTS

AWARDING

PALAWAN FINALE SS4

PINAY BIKERS CLUB

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Asian Enduro Series Round 2: Stoked in Bohol

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.

Before lunch we were in Calape already. We headed to the Calape public market to check some local cuisine.

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

PINAYBIKERS CLUB

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