Tahniah

As being part of documentaries in the second leg of ASEAN Mountain Bike Cup held in Mesilou Highlands, Kundasang, Malaysia, I can’t really help myself to send warm cheers to our fellow Pinoy athletes. They have shown the best and extreme performance as if it was the last ride of their lives. It was the performance I haven’t seen back in the Philippines.

As I approached my spot in Downhill trek, I went to Arjuna Saulo (not his real name in Philippine passport), a retired Dowhill athlete, one of country’s respected cycling coach in mountain and road bike and currently our National Commissaire, have asked him as to how to be the BEST mountain biker. He said, “dapat buo ang loob mo, it’s not about do or die, it’s about die hahaha joke lang! Handa ka mahulog, handa kang mapilay. Dapat meron kang bike, hindi yung nanghihiram ka kung kani-kanino lalo na kapag race day na. Hindi mo kailangan maging karerista para maging magaling mountain biker, kahit mga weekend warriors, alam nila ito. Alam nila that the end of the day, mapuputikan sila, madudumi sila. Idadagdag ko pa, mountain bikers have spectacular skills, ang sports na ito ay para sa mga matatalino. Ganito ang riding skills ng mountain biker, lagi yang may presence of mind, hindi ito yung sports na makapadyak at pedal lang ay aandar ka na. Ang mga mountain biker, matatalino yan. Iniisip ng mountain biker kung saan sila dapat dumaan, iba ng position ng katawan kapag downhill at uphill, not to mention yung pagtimpla nila ng gear sa iba’t ibang klaseng terrain sa trails. Ito rin importante, ang center of gravity sa bawat pedal, ginagawa ito para maging intact palagi sa lupa kahit lumilipad o umaahon. Tawag ko sa kanila, gifted talaga. Kaya ang mga mountain biker, kapag pinagamit mo ng road or triathlon bikes, sigurado iba ang handling nyan. Importante pa rin, practice para gumaling at makaiwas sa aksidente.”

Downhill (DHI)

Our DHI delegates was not surprised with the muddy and slippery DHI terrain. The designed trail by Malaysians were truly challenging and breath taking. Here are few photos of the whole terrain which I took during the practice and seeding run:

These are our DHI delegates who bravely took the challenge:

Joyce del Socorro – Team 8A/Bike Town (Women Open)
Fredrick Capistrano Farr – Team Prima-Isuzu Dmax (Men Master A)
Eugenio Marquinez Malabanan – Team Prima-Isuzu Dmax (Men Master A)
Rafael Camille Nolasco – Team V12/BMC (Men Master B)
Menia Moises Lozada – Team Edonus (Men Master B)
Eric John De Leon (Men Master B)
John Deric Tobias Farr – Team Prima-Isuzu Dmax (Men Junior)
Eleazar Barba Jr (Men Open)
Sean Cura (Men Open)
Gabriel Benipayo (Men Open)
Rommel Santiago Bongcayao (Men Open)

Here’s the official race results by DHI ASEAN Mountain Bike Series 2 (Malaysia) is posted in ASEAN MTB Cup Race Results.

As one of the proud Filipinoes who went to Malaysia, Tahniah Pilippines! You did a great job!