The Flying Tanooki Goes Bowling
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Republic Wake Park Adventure
| (video: Mario Tanooki) |
My 1st time Wakeboarding at the Republic Wake Park, Nuvali, Laguna
Wake-boarding is one of the things that I’ve always wanted to try out. It’s on my list of things-to-try before I get old. I’ve seen many professionals on TV gliding through the water and jumping through the air as they hold on to a rope pulled by a speed boat. They make it look easy and like it were child’s play. I always thought to myself ‘it couldn’t be that hard.’
Last weekend, a friend posted on Facebook that they were going and if anyone was interested to join them. Of course, I excitedly said yes! We met at Alabang and drove south on SLEX to Laguna. Made our way to the Sta Rosa Exit. Driving along Sta Rosa-Tagaytay road, we made a left to Nuvali Boulevard. You can’t miss it due to the big signage.
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| (image: romanleoreyman.com) |
After a security check-point where we left an ID and +15 minutes of driving
through the village we reached our destination. The Republic Wake Park.
Total travel time was about an hour and a half to two hours depending on the traffic. Travel times are generally longer on weekends.
We went through registration, signed the waiver, and paid for our riding
pass. Riding rates are determined by how long you want to use the facility.
There’s a 1hr, 2hr, 4hr, and 8hr pass. Arrogantly dismissing the feedback from
friends that this activity is really
tiring. We got the 8hr passes. Yikes!
Once everything’s settled and paid for you can borrow the some basic gear for wakeboarding. It’s
inclusive of the riding pass. You just have to give a refundable deposit amount
which serves as payment just in case their gear gets majorly damaged due to
improper usage.
Dining / Lounge Area
There is a dining / lounge area where we ordered drinks, meriendas, and
lunch from. The food and choices were okay. The food prices are similar to
those here in the Metro Manila Area. This area is located right beside the
wakeboarding area so we are treated to a view of professional wakeboarders doing
stunts while have our lunch and merienda.
Small Swimming Pool
There is a small pool area for kids and those who just want to relax. The
pool is about 4-feet deep and is flat – It does not get deeper at any point.
The water is also a bit cold too – it’s not a heated pool. Perfect for relaxing
quick dips after a long and tiring day of wakeboarding.
Wakeboarding Equipment Store
For those who are really getting into this sport, there is a merchandise
store filled with more serious wakeboarding-related gear from helmets to boards
and everything in between. You must really like,
enjoy, and be into this sport before considering buying gear because the prices
aren’t for the casual weekend-wakeboarder. Considering that this is my first
time trying out wake boarding, the basic rental gear is more than adequate for
my needs. Though we did see a lot of people, who look like frequent visitors of
the wake park, bringing their own gear.
So here’s the basic gear:
1. Helmet
Safety helmet with the ‘Republic’ sticker on the side. They have sizes for extra-small,
small, medium, large, and extra-large. Mandatory safety precaution.
2. Life-vest
Life-vest with the ‘Republic’ logo. They also come in
sizes. Mandatory safety precaution
as well.
3. Kneeboard
(Sorry, I can’t seem to find a picture of the actual
knee-board that we used.)
Designed to be used with the rider kneeling down on
the board strapped on to the legs/thighs via a large Velcro strap.
Based on my experience, this proved to be an easier to ride board to get you up and
running through the course with lesser chance of losing balance and tipping
over. More of a beginner’s board if
you will.
4. Wakeboard
Designed to be used with both the rider’s feet placed
flat on the board’s surface on a feet-apart position for control over balance
and maneuverability.
Based on my experience this board is harder to ride properly than the
knee-board. Balance and control plays a bigger role here than with the
knee-board.
Beginner’s Training Area
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| (image: geejaytravellog.blogspot.com) |
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| (image: geejaytravellog.blogspot.com) |
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| (image: geejaytravellog.blogspot.com) |
To ease the learning curve for beginners, amateurs, novices, and
first-timers – that’s me. The park provides a basics learning course. The speed and force of the cable pulling here is
slower and weaker. And there’s an instructor teaching you the basics, showing
you the basic stance and telling you what to do every step of the way. Of
course there’s only so much that the instructor can teach/show you. Everyone is
different. Everyone learns how to maintain balance and control of the board and
your body in a different way. Most of the learning will come through
experience.
Having said that, during my first try at the beginner’s course, I made it
almost half-way before falling down. It wasn’t easy, but it was fun! A bunch of
tries later I was able to make it a cross and I have gained confidence in my
newly-acquired skill to try the professional course.
P.S.: the line of people queuing for beginner’s course moves slowly. The
course can only accommodate one wakeboarder at a given time, the speed at which
the wakeboarders are pulled is slower, and the instructor gives instructions to
the new-comers. In short, lining up at the beginner’s course will consume a
considerable amount of time.
Professional Wakeboarder’s Course
Here it is! The professional course. The track riddled with ramps and
obstacles. Professionals gliding through the water and flying through the air. The
speed at which the cable is pulled here is at least doubled that of the
beginner’s course. It certainly is intimidating especially for a first-timer
like me.
With the advice of my friends I first tried the knee-board with this
course. As I move closer in line for my turn my heart beats faster. Seeing
other novices like, me wiping-out as soon as the rope their holding gets
pulled, I became more nervous. Finally, it was my turn. I positioned the
kneeboard at the designated ready
position. I strapped my thighs with the Velcro strap and held on tight to the
rope. Before I knew it the dispatcher yelled ‘ready’ and at a moment’s notice I
was pulled into the course. The speed is a bit overwhelming for a beginner. The
force pulling on the cable is straining on the arms and shoulders. But I held
on. In my experience, there wasn’t very much need to balance the kneeboard
unlike the wakeboard that’s why I made it through the whole course. I let go of
the rope once I was already at the starting line because my arms and shoulders
were already very tired. I made it! And for the 1st time too!
I rested a bit and I tried the professional course once again with the
kneeboard. Little did I know that this time was the last time that I could make
it through the course for this visit. Having gained a little confidence and
more arm and shoulders strain in the process on my first two successful runs I
decided try the course on a wakeboard… And there it hit me. This was nothing
like the beginners course where you’ll get pulled by a gradually speeding rope
giving you ample time to balance your board and your body. No. Here once the
dispatcher yells ‘ready’ in a
moment’s notice you’ll get pulled fast
by the rope. And try as I might, I just couldn’t get to make a successful run
through the course let alone stand on the board. And I tried a gazillion times.
Until such time that the sun was setting and I called it quits.
Even though I wasn’t able to ‘do’
wakeboarding on the professional course, I was happy. I got to accomplish a lot
through my 1st time. I was able to finish the beginner’s course
successfully and I was able to make it across the professional course on
kneeboard. I won’t be crossing wakeboarding off my things-to-try list yet, not until I get to finish the professional
course on a wakeboard for 10 times! Who knows, maybe by then, wakeboarding would
have already grown on me and I might not cross it off the list at all. But one
thing is for sure. I’m definitely coming back for more!
Note:
I thank, give credit, and cite the
sources of each and every image or photo that I post here, which I do not hold
the corresponding copyright to. By no means do I claim that they are mine. I
may have only used them to cite examples and give visual representations to topics that I am referring to. All credit belong to the corresponding copyright
owners.
Starting a new Adventures Blog.
The Flying Tanooki Adventures Blog
The Japanese raccoon dog , also known as tanuki (狸 or たぬき?) in Japanese.
"As the tanuki, the animal has been significant in Japanese folklore since ancient times. The legendary tanuki is reputed to be mischievous and jolly, a master of disguise and shapeshifting, but somewhat gullible and absentminded."
(source: wikipedia.org)
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