Historic Stand Up Paddle Attempt from Camotes Island to the City of Lapu-Lapu

I always admire a person with vision, someone who thinks not only for their own welfare but as well of others and how he or she can create a difference.

That person is Buzzy Budlong, he is one of the person i have so much respect because of his vision to develop the entire Cebu as the paddling capital of the country.

With this, he has already organized several paddling activities and this Thursday,January 15,2015, seven of them will be making history doing a non-stop 45-kilometer Stand Up Paddle (SUP) from Santiago Bay Resort in Camotes Island towards Be Resorts in Lapu-Lapu City.

Island Philippines CEO Budlong will be joined by Island Buzz Philippines SUP & Kayak Guide Johannes Leib, DWLE Marketing & Product development’s Epos Falcone,longboarder Dandoy Gn Tongco, Jovil Villamor, Henry Besabella and lone female paddler Jade Abellana.

According to Budlong they are targeting to finish it together under five hours thats why he only invited hardcore paddlers.

“This is will be the first time that we will be making an attempt to paddle from the Island of Camotes to the Island of Lapu-Lapu to create awareness that it is feasible to do it and to check the possibility of making it a race route for our future international SUP marathon,” said Budlong during a press conference last Tuesday at the Be resorts.

He was with Leib, Falcone,Alcyone SUP shaper Alain Jacquez, my colleague, Galleca Baylon of The Right Access Digital Solutions Inc. and Seed4com’s Enrique San Juan and Dann Diez.

Budlong added that SUP is growing around the world and in the country. There is already an estimated 500 paddlers and expect to grow especially with their plans of organizing activities to promote free- energy sport such SUP, kayaks, skimboarding, surfing and other forms of watersports.

“With free-energy sport, you get to see the other side of the country,” said Falcone.

Budlong added that one of the objectives of this historic attempt is to lure foreign paddlers to compete in their 2016 International SUP Marathon Race.

He wants to duplicate the famous annual Molokai 2 Oahu (M2O) race in Hawaii.
It is considered among the toughest ocean races which is a true test of the best paddlers in the world.

It is a 51.5 kilometer challenge which the participants will cross the infamous Ka’iwi Channel (Channel of Bones) encountering the rolling overhead swells and blistering heat.

Meanwhile, Budlong also said that part of the attempt is to promote awareness of Lets Do It Philippines Movement initiated by SEED4COM, which is eyeing to gather 5 million trash warriors all over the Philippines for a simultaneous clean up drive on Sept. 20, 2015 and invited Budlong to join the cause and focus on the coastlines in the country.

“Ive always wanted to do a massive simultaneous coastal clean-up and the partnership with Seed4com will finally make it happen,” said Budlong.

The paddlers will be camping out in San Francisco, Camotes tonight and will start paddling towards Lapu-Lapu at 7am on thursday and expected time of arrival will by 12n.