Budlong, Leib Conquer Nonstop “Extreme Stand-Up Paddle”

“The fact that a Low Pressure Area (LPA) entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) just as we were beginning to paddle made the crossing very difficult,” explained Erwin Glenn “Buzzy” Budlong after he survived from the historic Stand-Up Paddle (SUP) attempt.

Budlong, who holds the title “Longest Filipino Paddler” in 2010, together with the veteran German paddler Johannes Leib of Island Buzz Philippines SUP and Kayak Guide, have successfully completed the nonstop crossing out of six paddlers who undertook the 45-km SUP challenge from Camotes Island to the Island of Lapu-lapu City.

According to Budlong they are targeting to finish it together under five hours. However, the two paddlers endured the 45-kilometer grueling quest around eight hours due to rough seas.

“The waves at about 45-degrees from our rear made the maneuvering of our Alcyone Stand Up Paddle Board very difficult,” explained Budlong.

Dubbed as the “Extreme SUP 2015”, Budlong, Leib, along with other four veteran paddlers Epos Falcone, Jovil Villamor, Alain Jacquez and the lone female paddler Jade Abellana started their voyage around 7 am from the Santiago Bay Resort in Camotes Island and arrived roughly around 2 pm at the Be Resorts in Lapu-Lapu City.

Although failed to meet their target arrival time, the six veteran paddlers have successfully paddled their hearts out for a good cause “to create awareness that it is feasible to paddle around different islands of the Philippines.”

(L-R) Island Buzz Philippines SUP & Kayak Guide Johannes Leib, DWLE Marketing & Product development’s Epos Falcone, Alcyone SUP shaper Alain Jacquez, Seed4com’s Enrique San Juan, Island Buzz Philippines CEO Buzzy Budlong.

“We should familiarize our own sea through free-energy sports. In this way, we can help to save our ocean free from fuelled or motorized sea transportations as well as we could discover more about the islands that we have in our country,” said Budlong during the press conference at the Be Resorts Hotel last January 13.

Budlong also added that SUP has already an estimated 500 paddlers (and counting) in the Philippines, and is expected to grow worldwide especially with their plans to organize activities to promote free-energy sport such as SUP, surfing, kayaks and other forms of water sports.

The glorious attempt is also in partnership with the Sustainable Energy and Enterprise Development for Communities (SEED4COM), initiated to promote awareness with Let’s Do It Philippines Movement. They are targeting to gather 5 million volunteers nationwide for a simultaneous clean-up drive project on September 20, 2015, wherein Budlong and other paddlers are invited to join the cause.

The SUP challenge made more possible with the support of the Be Resorts Hotel in the presence of the sales and event officer Jin Marollano, the SEED4COM executive director Dann Diez and Lapu Lapu City Tourism Office top honcho Hembler Mendoza.

According to Mendoza, they were impressed with the event and that Local Government Unit of Lapu-Lapu City will try to find corporate sponsors so that the event will be staged again next year, and make it a bigger one.

According to Budlong, if the competition pushes through next year, he is eyeing for an international competition that will feature different categories such as beginners, experts, and more race division like marathon, dash, relay and sprint SUP’s.

Budlong also said that they are targeting to gather 30 to 50 participants next year.

For water sport enthusiasts who are interested to learn SUP or any other free-energy sports, you may contact the following mobile numbers: (+63) 947 9890379 look for Johannes and (+63) 927 5683799, Buzzy.