Mountain Biking in Marinduque

Mountain biking as a relatively new sport has attracted many local followers in Marinduque. The sight of groups of men riding bicycles over the the island’s interior terrains has become a familiar sight any time of the year.

Cross-country cycling is one category in mountain biking that has drawn many participants who engage in this sport as a form of recreation but take it more seriously whenever there are competitions. Team Marinduque, composed of biking enthusiasts is at the forefront of promoting this sport, especially to local bikers.

Team Marinduque certainly looks forward to the day when local talents will have the opportunity to compete in national cycling competitions also. Competing in cross-country cycling does require a high level of fitness and a range of skills such as pursuing steep technical drops and aerial maneuvers over jumps or humps constructed for the purpose. A popular place where a rough terrain and rocky bends exist is an abandoned minesite in Brgy. Cayapang, Mogpog, Marinduque.


Few local inhabitants have seen this secluded place where lies an artificial lake dug out up to some 45 meters below. Throughout this island-province, Team Marinduque has charted at least fifteen trails suitable for recreational mountain biking. Some of these trails wind through river banks, forests and uphill climbs that are certain to test a biker’s strength, endurance, skills and self-reliance on survival skills, specially when met with episodes of flat tires or broken bikes.

Just some of these trails provided by Team Marinduque are shown below:



Trail from Boac to Canat and back going through dirt roads, paved roads, sloped dirt roads and rivers.















Marlanga-Matuyatuya Trail.

















Boac Poblacion through Tumagabok.









Landy to Puting Buhangin


















Mogpog-Mampaitan-Boac















Boac-Puting Buhangin-Mogpog


















Buenavista Poblacion - Tigwi - Tungib-Lipata - back to Poblacion.

Marinduque Extreme, Saturday, May 14. Abandoned CMI minesite as venue

Marinduque Extreme is a term adopted by a local action and adventure sports group for athletes who are into biking activities that involve speed, height and a high level of physical exertion brought about by environmental obstacles. Team Marinduque that organizes these events includes Romeo Mabiog, Sr., president, Dr. Ed Ancheta, race-director, Dr. Josue Victoria, DVM, race grand-marshall and Cong. Allan Velasco, among others.

Past competitions have seen the participation of Leo Oracion, triathlete and member of the first Philippine Mt. Everest expedition, and Pepito Diapera, Champion, North Face Thrill of the Trail Ultra Marathon and champion, Guam Ko'Ko' Road Race.

Venue for this annual competition is an abandoned minesite in Capayang, Mogpog that offers nerve-wrecking tracks, turns, climbs, rock beds and devil's drops guaranteed to induce an adrenalin-rush among the competitors.


The Marinduque Extreme Duathlon (Run-Bike) category is open to all riders for the 7.5-kilometer to 20-kilometer race. Professionals and novices will also join the Cross Country or the Aggressive cross-country races covering 30 kilometers for males and 25-kilometer race for females.

With such events Marinduque Extreme promotes sports tourism, discovers and develops talented riders for national and, eventually, international competitions.

The event starts at 7:30 am on Saturday, May 14, at the old CMI Minesite in Brgy. Capayang, Mogpog (in photo).

Come rain or high water, you are welcome!

Marinduque Extreme Series III

MARINDUQUE EXTREME SERIES 3 is a one day cycling event, now on its third year. Date: May 14, 2011

Duathlon Run-Bike 7.5-25Km
Aggressive X-Country 30km

Race Category and Prizes**

Male Open 30km
1st-- Php 20,000.00
2nd- Php 15,000.00
3rd-- Php 10,000.00

Male Novice 30km
1st-- Php 20,000.00
2nd- Php 15,000.00
3rd-- Php 10,000.00

Female Open* 25km
1st-- Php 15,000.00
2nd- Php 10,000.00
3rd-- Php 5,000.00

Duathlon

Male Open 7.5-20km
1st-- Php 15,000.00
2nd- Php 10,000.00
3rd-- Php 5,000.00

Female Open* 7.5-20km
1st-- Php 15,000.00
2nd- Php 10,000.00
3rd-- Php 5,000.00
*At least Three (3) Participants to open this category.


All Local participants who finish will receive Php 1,000.00 each


Rules and Regulations

Off-Road Duathlon

May 14, 2011

1.) Check in, body marking and distribution of race kit will start at 5:30 until 7:00 in the morning. Athlete will not be accepted after the check in period. The race will start at exactly 7:30 in the morning

2.) The race will be 7.5 kilometers trail run, 20 kilometers of XC mountain biking through trails and mud to the finish line for MALE and FEMALE.

3.) This is an individual sport. Athletes are not allowed to have external support like pushing, carrying the bike, changing flat tire or fixing the bike by others. The participating athlete is the only one who can fix/repair his bike or they can have it fixed at the designated bike mechanic tent. A racer found guilty of accepting any help from any outside support will be disqualified.

4.) There will be a designated water station in the run and bike course.

5.) The athlete should only follow the designated race course; there will be trail signs along the course. Strictly no short cutting. There will be checkers/marshal along the course. An athlete found guilty of such offense will be automatically disqualified.

6.) Give way to the overtaking runner/biker in the trail to avoid accident or misunderstanding between the racers. The athlete should be on the right side of the course to make the left side of the course a passing lane.

7.) There will be a designated bike mechanic on the bike course. The athlete is only allowed to have their bike fixed by him/herself or by a designated bike mechanic at the tent.


Cross-Country Mountain Biking


May 14, 2011

1.) Check in and distribution of race kit will start at 12:30 until 1:30 in the afternoon. Athletes will not be accepted after the check in period. The race will start at exactly 2 o’clock in the in the afternoon followed immediately by the next category.

2.) The race course is 30 kilometers for male and 25 km for female of Cross-country Mountain biking in trail and mud.

3.) This is individual sport which means that an athlete is not allowed to have any external support like pushing, carrying the bike, changing a flat tire or fixing the bike by others. The participating athlete is the only one who can fix their bike or they can have it fixed at the designated bike mechanic tent. Racer found guilty of accepting any help from outside support will be disqualified.

4.) There will be water stations on the run and bike course.

5.) Follow only the designated race course. There will be plenty of trail signs along the race course. Strictly no short cutting. There will be checkers/marshal along the course. Athletes found guilty of such offense will be automatically disqualified.

6.) Give way to the over taking biker on the trail to avoid accident or misunderstanding between the racers. The athlete should be on the right side of the race course to make the left side of the course a passing lane.

7.) There will be a designated bike mechanic in the bike course. The athlete is only allowed to have their bike fixed by him/herself or by a designated bike mechanic at the tent.

To Register Online:

1.) Deposit the amount of 800.00PhP at any LandBank Branch to this Savings Account SA 123456789.

2.) Write on the Wall of this event the following:

a) Your complete Name, age, valid e-mail address and the event you are joining.
b) LandBank Branch, Date, Time and amount Deposited

Online Registration will close on April 30,2011

On-site Registration will be 1000.00PhP starts 5:30 am on event day.

WELCOME AND ENJOY THE RACE!!!

May 14, 2011 Race Day

5:30 Registration Duathlon
7:00 Opening Program
7:30 First event Duathlon Female
9:00 Duathlon Male
10:30 Airsoft competition
12:00 Lunch
12:30 Registration XC race
1:00 Offroad Motorcycle show
2:00 XC Male Novice
3:30 XC Male Open
5:00 XC Female Open
6:30 Event OfficiallyCloses/Closing Program /Awarding
7:00 Party

May 15, 2011 Trail ride to those who will decide to stay for the whole weekend.

**Subject to revisions and fine tuning

Monstrous Blue Marlin in Banot

Two fishermen named 'Inshot' and Edwin from the fishing village of Banot in Gasan caused quite a stir when they anchored their outrigger dragging this huge silvery-white fish, Malasugui, caught near the Tres Reyes Islands off Gasan. This Blue Marlin is said to have weighed a hundred kilos and measured about nine feet long. The long spear-shaped upper jaw of this big fish was cut off to be preserved by the catchers as anting-anting, charm against asuangs.

Sold at one hundred fifty pesos per kilo the families of the two fishermen met the holiday season with faces beaming, gratified for their Christmas wishes granted.

Photos by Joseph Emil Biggel.

Marinduque Extreme: Series 2 on Video

Sharing this video of Marinduque Extreme races held last weekend. Duathlon (Run-Bike-Run) and Aggressive Cross Country Mountain Bike Race in the island of Marinduque, Philippines.

It was good to see Curt Shepard, his charming wife Dahlia and family at the race. They maintain the highly informative website www.ulongbeach.com containing lesser known historical accounts about Marinduque. Also gracing the occasion were photographers that included Dan Pagulayan, expected to post some of his photos on Facebook.

Marinduque Extreme 2 in Pictures

Day 2 was for Aggressive Cross-Country Mountain Bike Race.

Leo Oracion, the celebrated first Filipino to reach the summit of Mt. Everest and Pepito Deapera, Champion of Guam Coco-Road Race and Northface, 100 km. Ultra Marathon were feted by the Marinduque Capitol Choir to a "putong" welcome ritual. The two sportsmen joined Marinduque Extreme Series 2.

...and there they go! On Day 1 the competition was for Duathlon (Run-Bike-Run), with participants from Lukban, Lipa City, Novaliches, Cainta, Pangasinan and Marinduque. Nilo Estoya, a member of the Philippine Team also competed.

The race venue: Old Capayang minesite, abandoned after extraction of precious metals like copper and gold. The artificial lake was dug out to a depth of 45 meters below sea level. Some migratory birds flock to a spot near the lake not frequented by humans.

The challenge to bikers covered a 5.2 km-loop that had to be encircled six times (for the duathlon, four times with bike plus two times for the run). A lot of technical drops, turns, climbs, mud pits and rock beds, really extreme conditions that separated the tough from the not-so-tough characterized this playground.

One of the technical drops is shown here.

View of the mine site. Picturesque even with degradation all around, it's a continually changing landscape with natural growth trying to survive. The area belonging to the company is all of 2,439 hectares.

Behind Extreme Marinduque

Some of those behind MARINDUQUE EXTREME: Dr. Josue Victoria, Atty. Allan "P.A." Velaso, Joven Lilles and Gerry Jamilla.

MARINDUQUE EXTREME

"MARINDUQUE EXTREME SERIES 2" goes on Saturday morning, November 28th. The race will occur at the very heart of an old mine site in Capayang, Mogpog. The lake dominating the scenic view is what remains of an old open mining pit, part of the mountain that was carved and dug out more than 420 meters below sea level.


Abandoned for five decades, this hallowed ground has become a Mecca for extreme sports enthusiasts, offering adrenaline rush-guaranteed sports events suited for athletic men and women with nerves of steel. This is the present home of Team Marinduque for its Aggressive Cross-Country Mountain Bike Race, Offroad Duathlon Competition and other adventure sports like motocross and airsoft.

Race Director is Dr. Edgar Ancheta, with Dr. Josue Victoria as Race Grand Marshall. Romeo Mabiog, Sr. is Team Marinduque president. A project of the Provincial Government of Marinduque led by Gov. Jose Antonio N. Carrion, Atty. Lord Allan Velasco, Marinduque Tourism Council president and Team Marinduque.

MORE ON "EXTREME MARINDUQUE" SERIES 2

Team Marinduque describes "EXTREME MARINDUQUE SERIES 2" as "an aggressive cross-country mountain bike race and offroad duathlon specifically designed for athletic men and women with nerves of steel!"

"The scenic race track is a classical description of an aggressive cross-country race covering a 5.2 kms loop with varying degree of difficuties with a lot of technical drops, turns, climbs and mind boggling mud pits and rock beds... expect extreme conditions."



Date: Nov. 28 & 29, 2009
Venue: CMI Old Minesite, Capayang, Mogpog, Marinduque
Photos: Dr. Josue Victoria

EXTREME MARINDUQUE DRAWING PARTICIPANTS

"MARINDUQUE EXTREME SERIES 2" scheduled for November 28-29, 2009 in Capayang, Mogpog continues to attract participants from outside the island-province. Early confirmation has been received from the lady bikers/journalists of GMA7, Leo Oracion's biking group from Lukban (Oracion is the first Filipino to climb Mt. Everest), another group from Lipa City and the Batangas Riders.

Started in 2007 by the provincial tourism office and Team Marinduque the local competition has seen all types of cyclists from everywhere joining scheduled races here such as Duathlon, Aggressive Cross-Country Races, Triathlon and Fun Rides around Marinduque. It has also encouraged beginners to join the activities, leading to the discovery of home-grown talents capable of joining national competitions, and the promotion of the green-tourism concept.

Categories for "Marinduque Extreme Series 2" are open for Beginners/Novices, Open/Elite, and Executive. The event this month is expected to draw to Marinduque not only the participants but their families as well as hotel bookings reveal.

Busy with the preparations are the capitol's Dr. Jose Victoria, Dr. Ed Ancheta, tourism officer Gerry Jamilla, coordinator Joven Lilles and provincial administrator Allan Velasco and other members of Team Marinduque province-wide.

DIG THIS! "EXTREME MARINDUQUE SERIES 2"

Marinduque continues to make a mark as an important eco-tourism destination in the Mimaropa region. The next “Extreme Marinduque Series” will be held on Nov 28-29, 2009. The abandoned minesite in Capayang, Mogpog which has been transformed into a perfect location for such activities is the venue.

The first of such series was held in 2007, and has since drawn a great deal of interest from all types of cyclists from outside the island-province, joining scheduled races here such as Duathlon, Aggressive Cross-Country Races, Triathlon and Fun Rides around Marinduque. It has also encouraged beginners to join the activities, leading further to the discovery of home-grown talents capable of joining national competitions.

Alongside what has been dubbed as “Extreme Marinduque Series 2” are related outdoor sports activities such as spelunking to further promote Marinduque’s other natural treasures like Tarug Caves in Mogpog, Bitik Caves in Sta. Cruz. The recently discovered San Isidro Caves with Subterranean River, in the northern part of Sta. Cruz is also one such site expected to attract cave enthusiasts.

"Extreme Marinduque" is a project of the Provincial Government of Marinduque and Team Marinduque.

CHALLENGE OF THE ROUGH ROAD AROUND THE 'GEOGRAPHICAL CENTER OF THE PHILIPPINES'

The area where the Luzon Datum of 1911 lies is attracting visitors who probably hardly know the significance of that area near Balacan & Argao. Soon, an eco-tourism park will be developed there in cooperation with the barangay residents. Recent visitor is a group of motorcycle riders from Boac, photo sent in by Douglas Green (click this high resolution photo to enlarge).

From: "Doug Green"
To:
Sent: Friday, November 21, 2008 6:39 AM
Subject: A picture for you to consider


Last Sunday the BOAC Old ? motorcycle club made an excursion to Argao to enjoy the challenge of the rough road from Balanacan to Argao and other fishing communities. As you can see they got through.
--
Douglas Green BRITISH COMMERCIAL CONSULTANT
Philippines

MOUNTAIN BIKING WITH ATTY. ALLAN VELASCO

Atty. Velasco leads local mountain bikers in scouring and conquering the Marinduque interiors. Here at the Mansiwat route.

WHAT IS "EXTREME MARINDUQUE"?