proFessIoNal MoDel? Not. Professional kiteboarder Susi Mai, named three times as Red Bull “Queen of the Air,” tests the winds in Boracay’s Bulabog beach. Photo by Christian Black
Not Your usual Water sports You’ve heard about surfing and scuba diving, but how many people do you know play underwater hockey? Here’s a list of less-than-typical ways to get wet this summer.
KIte-boarDINg Ever flown a kite? Try letting a kite fly you. Kite-boarding is an extreme watersport where you stand on a board and are propelled by a kite. The important element is wind—the stronger the wind, the faster you can fly. GETTING STARTED: Get lessons from Hangin Kite Center in Boracay (www.kiteboardingboracay.com), the first established kite school and center in the Philippines. Lessons cost Php2,750 for 2.5 hours. GEARING UP: Kite schools provide basic equipment like a board, harness, helmet, and control bar with lines. KEEP IN MIND: Don’t be intimidated by this sport—kite-boarding takes time and practice to get good at.
Also referred to as kite-surfing, you can either ride a kite on waves or flat water. Strong winds mean faster speed, but you don’t want it to overpower you. Average kite-boarders can enjoy at a speed of 15–20 knots (37.6km/hr).
76 I Mabuhay Magazine I May 2012