Lapu’s skating champs leave for Malaysia

FOUR international long-boarding champions who received a plaque of recognition by the Lapu-Lapu City government during its 52nd Charter Day celebration left yesterday for Malaysia for another competition slated June 22-23.

Mayor Paz Radaza herself met the four in a press conference before sending them off to the airport a few hours before noon yesterday.

The “Gruponopo” as they call themselves which means “Grupo” or group and nopo the backward spelling of “Opon” the old name of Lapu-Lapu City, has been doing long-boarding, a variation of skate boarding since 2008.

“Grupono” is composed of John Den Escarda, 23; John Rex Tongco, 19; John Rey Ricablanca, 25 and Jerico Baccay, 24, a nurse.

All four are multi-titled long-boarding champions with Tongco the most accomplished having won several international titles including the Singapore for Push Don’t Pollute in 2010, the Rimba Alam Downhill Race in 2011 in Malaysia and the Slide Jam & Slalom Competition 2012 in Thailand.

The city government of Lapu-Lapu has shouldered the group’s roundtrip tickets to Malaysia and their pocket money.

Meanwhile, Mayor Radaza disclosed that she planning of buying the group new sets of long-board skates, “saying kaayo nga karon pa ni sila na-recognized but because they became the pride of Lapu-Lapu City, we will build a skating park for them and other enthusiasts to enjoy and practice.”

The more than a million peso skate park will be built at the back of the Hoops Dome in Barangay Gun-ob and designed by a Californian designer. It is expected to be completed within the year.

“Here we keep the youth busy with sports to keep them away from vices and illegal drugs,” Radaza said.

“Gruponopo” thanked the mayor for the planned park and promised to help coach skating enthusiasts once it is operational. /CORRESPONDENT NORMAN  V. MENDOZA