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PHOTO
FERDZ DECENA
09LKH Smile
Ser 4
Eco-friendly fun
“We also want to promote a `leave
nothing behind’ sense of eco-
adventure,” says Tina Tan of LEAD.
“Cleaning up after yourself is part of our
sport philosophy.”
The La Paz Sand Dunes is a coastal
dune field that protects the land against
potential ravages by storm waves from
the South China Sea. Case in point: the
nearest village of La Paz is a thriving
fishing community.
All around the erg are signs of
plant succession. Salt spray from the
sea carries minerals that color the
dunes orange-yellow, pale rust, and
sometimes a spectacular, blazing cobalt
in the sunset. Calcium carbonate from
seashells and rotting seaweed feed
nutrients to the sporadic growth of
Joshua trees and bush-like vegetation.
While these austere trees do offer
some protection from the sun, it’s
highly recommended that you bring
sunblock — a thought I’ve mulled over
as we baked in the noon heat. Oh, my
kingdom for some SPF 30!
Back on the board, I crouch in the
approved stance, just like I’ve seen
my skateboarder friends do, and push
myself off the dune. Zooming down the
slope, I realize I’m going too fast. I do
everything I can to avoid a wipeout, or
what they call the dreaded “sandwich”
round these parts: eating sand, doing the
ostrich. Sand + wich. Get it?
All of a sudden my board grinds
to a halt as the sand provides natural
brakes. I’d actually managed to avoid a
face plant. As unspectacular as that just
was, I am elated. I raise my fists and
shout a victory whoop. Heck, that was
awesome!
I sit down beside the 4x4, in the
shade, looking back up the dune as one
of my companions slides down it. In 10
minutes I will trudge back up that hill
and, no doubt about it, try it again.
Cebu Pacific flies to Laoag from Manila.
www.cebupacificair.com
Salt spray from the
South China Sea carries
minerals that color the
dunes orange-yellow, pale
rust and cobalt
076-081 Feature 5 - Sandboarding Laoag CORR.indd 81
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