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Riding the Wind in Boracay | 11 | LANGYAW #03 February 2011

February 2011Travel, Heritage, Culture & PhotographyL A N G YAW #3

Riding the wind in Boracay

2 | LANGYAW #03 February 2011 Riding the Wind in Boracay | 32 | LANGYAW #03 February 2011

E s t a n C a b i g a s P h o t o g r a p h ye s t a n c a b i g a s . c o m + 6 3 9 1 8 9 4 5 6 9 6 2

c o n t a c t @ e s t a n c a b i g a s . c o m

Published, National Geographic Magazine (May 2010), Exhibited, International Orange Photography Festival, Changsha, China (October 2010), from the series “A Ritual of Faith”


My name is Estan Cabigas and I am a traveler, photographer and blogger.

My ethnicity is a mixture of Filipino, Chinese and a minority, the Subanen tribe of Western Mindanao. I call Cebu as my permanent home, studied in Manila,

worked in the cities of Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Davao and Makati, where I’m now based.

An inveterate traveler, I have gone to almost all corners of the Philippines as well as forayed abroad. I enjoy the freedom that going to places entails, both the trip itself and the destination, reveling in the many things that the act of travel offers: the sounds, the sights, the people and the flavors. I’m more into going off the beaten path but am equally comfortable in tourist traps too.

I have traded the comforts of the corporate life to pursue my interests. Right now, I’m a documentary and freelance photographer focusing on architecture, travel, and sports. My work has been exhibited locally and abroad, published two coffeetable books, and attended local and international photography workshops.

My blogs have also won in the Philippine Blog Awards, wrote for CNN Go and images published in the National Geographic Magazine and Geo.

Check my photo portfolio atwww.estancabigas.com.

I make meaningful photo stories. If you’re interested with my images, articles or want to hire me for work or for Photography talks and workshops, contact me at [email protected] or via my mobile at +63 918 945 6962.

My other websites:www.langyaw.com www.simbahan.netwww.fitandrun.info www.salagubang.netwww.aninag.org

All images and text by the author. All rights reserved.©2011

Ang Langyaw

http://estancabigas.com

http://estancabigas.com/about


Thus, a Filipino lady recreational windsurfer

told me in between sips of her beverage and I was finishing my plate of spaghetti, roast chicken and calamares during one of the night parties of the 22nd Boracay International Funboard Cup (22-29 January 2011).

It was like riding the wind. A good way to de-stress.

Riding the WindWindsurfing and Kiteboarding in Boracay

TExT AND PhOTOS BY

Estan CabigasESTANCABIGAS.COM SIMBAhAN.NETLANGYAW.COM


When I wrote about this international water sports event for CNN Go last year, I didn’t have much of an idea of what the funboard cup or windsurfing is about. This year, I was there, witnessing first hand the riders with their windsurfing or kite boarding gear doing stunts and jumps and splashes and racing across the shallow waters off Bulabog Beach in Boracay.

I was enthralled and wide eyed that this is one of the best things to do in Boracay from December to February with strong winds at 25 – 40 knots blowing because of the amihan, the northeast monsoon. So much better that I didn’t take a dip at White Beach but stood my ground at the windy platform at sea and having myself burnt under the sun. It was just great fun.


But it can also be enjoyed all year round even when the habagat, the southwest monsoon, hits.

But what does it take to ride the wind? Does one have to be strung tight and strapped to a board and pulled by the oversized kite with kevlar strings? Or just let the wind blow

on the sail when windsurfing? Of course not. One has to master how to handle and manoeuvre the gear. To fall and drink sea water. To fail but not be frustrated.

One can actually learn how. Green Yard Funboard Center offer courses that in no time, one can head to the waters and just


have the time of one’s life enjoying the sea and the adrenaline surging. And, oh boy, what a rush! I can almost feel the heart pumping as the board just slide and skim off the water. Or knowing when to turn and jive to change directions. It’s like mastering to tame the wind and go where one wants to head to.

What I do like about the whole stuff, especially with kiteboarding, which, they say is much easer to master than windsurfing, is learning how to jump. With the right wind, switch from eleven to one, pull and off you go. Simply said than done. But a whole lot exciting.

What makes Boracay a good venue for this in the country and in Asia is the constant howling wind creating just the ideal conditions that windsurfers and kiteboarders


love. But it also depends on the tides. When it is low, expect the latter to be there first. When the tide starts to rise, the windsurfers make their appearance.

Couple this with the shallow waters off Bulabog Beach which is actually part of

a reef and it can just be fun. For those wanting a good challenge and waves, the area beyond the reef is great. There were even kiteboarders far off at sea.

As night falls, parties can just be awesome, a good way to end the day. And the best thing?


Windsurfers and kiteboarders are a fun lot to hang out with regardless of the nationality. There were Estonians, Swedes, Germans, Koreans, and those from Guam. There was even a Kazahk who is based in Moscow.

Never underestimate the ladies though. They can be as formidable and competitive as the men, aggressive and impressive too. Beautiful to look, keen and with drive.


For spectators, the long line of Bulabog’s beach strewn with algae is a good vantage point affording good views of the competition and those who are just enjoying the sea. Sea spray and sand can sometimes get into one’s eyes, shades is advisable, but sand can get into one’s hair.

But the best vantage point? One of a series of media and timer’s platforms at sea which is just awesome especially at the start when the horde of competitors come closer and closer,


then in a few minutes, pass you by. Wow! But if you’re in these areas, be ready with your sunblock, hat, longsleeves and water for hydration.

Another attraction is the carnival which closes the competition. Here, participants wear funny costumes and hit the waves. Most men wear wigs and skirts but the more colorful the better it is.

What impressed me with this internationally recognized competition is the performance of the Filipinos. I’m proud to say that we do have a talent pool who can compete with the best in the world. It’s not only the men, but the women also gave a strong showing!

Windsurfing and kite boarding in Boracay is really a good alternative than just going ATV, ziplining, zorbing or frolicking at White


Beach. Unfortunately, less people know about this considering that it’s just a few minutes ride (or walk) to the other side, way past the bars and crowd.

The next time you go to Boracay? Head to Bulabog Beach and just learn to ride and master the wind.

With gratitude to Nenette Graf of Boracay Beach Resort who invited me to cover the 22nd Boracay International Funboard Cup, www.boracaywindsurfing.com


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