A shot at wakeboarding at Lago de Oro

There are some sports that I could say would be improbable for me to try. Take surfing for example. No matter how I would like to try this sport, there are some reasons why I can’t try this. First, and most importantly, I don’t know how to swim! Yup, the most fundamental thing needed, and I don’t even know how! Second, I don’t think I’d be able to stand on a board while balancing myself on the waves.

Anyway, enough about what I may not be able to try…more on what I can try!

When my friend invited me to try wakeboarding, I told her, "Asus, nakiki-uso ka na naman!" Wakeboarding is something that celebrities are into these days. Not only that, many people are trying this [new] water sport. (I don’t know if it’s really new, but maybe its something that people are noticing these days.) As for me, I don’t want to do something just for the sake that everybody’s doing this or that.

But then, the adventurous me took over and I was able to convince myself that this is something I should try even if just once in my life. More importantly, I felt that this is something I can do.

Camarines Sur is known for its wakeboarding spot. But for those who are looking for a place nearby, Lago de Oro in Calatagan, Batangas, is your next best alternative. It is 2 ½ to 3 hours away from Manila (may be 2 hours if you’re really lucky and don’t encounter any traffic). There are two schedules for wakeboarding, 9:30-12:30 and 1:30-4:30. We opted for the morning session; thus, at 6:00 a.m., I, Wendy, my sister Angeli and her boyfriend Aris, and my friends Charity and Shiela left Paranaque and headed south. We just drove through McDonald’s to buy breakfast because we didn’t want any time lost. (We wanted to make most of the morning session.)

Anyway, we arrived at Lago de Oro at around 9:00 a.m. After paying and registering, we went to the manmade lake and caught a glimpse of what we were about to do! Gosh! It wasn’t that simple, we learned afterward.

Before you get to try wakeboarding, you have to finish one round of kneeboarding first. Meaning you have to go around one lap without falling off the board. In kneeboarding, instead of standing, the person kneels on the board. So this was what we did! After some instructions like stay on the bend forward position, hands hold the wood tight, and "do this" when turning, we lined up to try. We let Aris go first so that we ladies will see how it is done! Aris’ first try was a success until the third turn! Then it was my turn! My heart was beating fast and my palms were sweating. As I positioned myself, I was bracing for that one big pull to the water.

Getting ready…kneeling poistion muna kami.

As I heard the click, I was pulled on to the water. My first thought was I was going to fall!  Luckily, I held on to the wood and before I knew it, I was gliding on the water! Yahoo! I passed the first step! I just kept my head down because we were instructed to do so (this makes your gliding much smoother because the drag is less).

Next came the harder challenge, turning. When you turn, you will feel the cables loosen and then tighten again, pulling you harder. For this step, there was a technique taught to us on how we would adjust to the loosening and tightening of the cable. How did I fare? Let me just say that I forgot what to do, and when the cables tightened again, I wasn’t able to hold on the the wood…splash! he! HE! I fell into the water on the first turn (there are four turns in one lap). I though to myself, mahirap pala! Really, it isn’t that simple!

That’s me on the water! Whoooo!!! 

Since I was far from the "take-off" spot, I decided to wait for a while beause I felt that my friends and sister were not going to make it also (how thoughtful of me!) and that we could go back together. Well, Charity and Shiela fell on the first turn, whereas Angeli, on the third (galing! but she later on said tsamba lang daw because on her next two attempts, she wasn’t able to pass the first turn also). My next attempts were also failures. I got to try only three times because on my third attempt, I felt my wrists got broken, and I didn’t want to gamble on trying again, baka mabali na ng tuluyan. ANyway, only Aris got to finish the entire lap (three times I think). We ladies, on the other hand, called the spot of the first turn our favorite spot because that’s where we all kept on falling! As in hindi talaga namin nalampasan (save for that one lap by Gel). Aris then went on to try wakeboarding but fell down on the water immediately after the first pull. (The first pull, when you are in the first postion and the cable pulls you into the water, is actually the most crucial because when you pass this, it is easy na when you glide straight after, that is, until the first turn.)

This is the last of four turns…. 

There were some who were already good at

it and made it look easy…(show-offs! he! he!) 

All had their chance to try and try again, but sadly, 12:30 came and our turn was done. As for me, masakit na wrists ko and that third try was actually my last (although I would have loved to try again!). Anyway, we left at 12:30 and just ate lunch at Tagaytay. 

For those who are interested, here are Lago de Oro’s rates for wakeboarding (www.lago-de-oro.com/): 

1 hour: PhP440

Morning session: PhP 900

Afternoon session: PhP 900

Whole-day session: PhP1,386

Beginner’s ticket: PhP480

For those who want to try, I suggest you come early because as the morning went on, more people arrived, which meant we had to wait a while before we could try again. Or, you could try coming in on weekdays. Basta the less people, the better. Second, try the beginners ticket first. It goes like this kasi, for the PhP900, it is actually for the wakeboarding…but you have to finish one round of kneeboarding first. SO unless you get that one round, you will not get to try the wakeboarding. And for beginners like me who can’t even make the first turn, the beginner’s ticket would suffice. So unless you’re confident that you can finish the one round of kneeboarding, pay for the beginner’s ticket first. 

And last but not the least, and most important, if you know you’re up to it, EXERCISE! Stretch! Let me tell you that our arms and hands were so sore and painful after! Walang kapantay na sakit! Okay, I am exagerating. Pero masakit talaga sa muscles! I couldn’t drive the next day and I coudn’t even pick up heavy things. So before the big day, exercise, exercide, exercise (I can never overemphasize this), especially your arms.

Despite the failures, I found the whole experience worth it! It was very challenging and at the same time fun. I am definitely going back…I have to make that turn! Really, I have to!