After holding a triumphant Luzon leg, FINIS Philippines travels South to boost open water and swimming events through the FINIS Boracay Newcoast Open Water Festival in Boracay Island, Aklan on May 11 to 15.
FINIS Philippines Managing Director Coach Vince Garcia said they lined up four exciting events for water sports enthusiasts, as well as for the country’s best tankers—The Kids of Steel Triathlon—Visayas Leg; the Green Aquathlon; the Open Water Swim and the Caticlan-Boracay Channel Crossing Fun Swim.
“It would be more of an investment to make it an annual event that will keep growing next year and the year after and so on,” said Garcia, expressing optimism of carrying the momentum with more sporting events in the Visayas through this event.
FINIS also tied up with Megaworld’s Belmont Hotel, now the event’s official hotel partner, as the latter is extending discounts to participants and their entourage.
Garcia also expressed his gratitude to the local government units for their undying support and coordination.
“We’d like to thank Aklan governor, Florencio Miraflores for endorsing our events and likewise for the assistance of Malay Municipal Mayor Floribar Bautista in making these events possible,” said Garcia.
The online registration for the four events is still ongoing and available on the RaceYaya website.
The Open Water Festival kicks off its first race with the Caticlan Channel Crossing Fun Swim—from Tabon Port in the Municipality of Caticlan to Manoc-Manoc Beach in Boracay—on May 13.
The FINIS Green Aquathlon, dubbed as the race for the environment starts on May 14 with events in 2.5K run, 800m swim, and 2.5K run course for adults. It will have eight age groups (16-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, and 50-Above) for the male athletes and four age groups (16-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-Above) for the female athletes.
Meanwhile, the kids’ aquathlon will have four age groups for the boys and girls, namely 6-Under, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, and 13-15. Course distances of each kids age group are 50m swim and 200m run (6-Under), 100m swim and 200m (7-8 age group), 200m swim and 1K run (9-10 age group), 300m swim, and 2K run (11-12 age group), and 400m swim and 4K run (13-15 age group).
Also, on May 14, the Visayas leg of the Kids of Steel (KOS) triathlon will take place at the Boracay Newcoast with five age categories with different course distances: 6-Under (50m swim, 700m bike, and 200m run), 9-10 (200m swim, 2K bike, and 1.5km run, 11-12 (200m swim, 4K bike, and 1.5km run), and 13-15 (300m swim, 8K bike, 2K run), while the Open Water Swim Series will be at the Boracay Newcoast on May 15.