De Lange gustong palawigin ang skateboarding

MANILA, Philippines — Hindi inaasahan ni professional downhill skateboard racer Jaime De Lange na bibigyan siya ng cash incentive na P100,000 para sa kanyang gold medal sa nakaraang 30th Southeast Asian Games.

Ang nasabing insentibo, nagmula kay Ronald Mascariñas ng Chooks-to-Go, ay gagamitin ng 23-anyos na tubong Muntinlupa City sa pagpapakilala sa kanyang sport sa bansa.

“I kinda wanna help the Tagaytay Skate Park and get my skates full going,” sabi ng 23-anyos na si De Lange, pinagharian ang 1.7-kilometer downhill skateboard racing event ng 2019 SEA Games na idinaos sa Maragondon, Cavite.

“As soon as I get my skates full going, get some free boards and free safety gear for the people, then I can really help grow the (downhill skateboarding) community,” sabi ng high school graduate ng Southridge sa Alabang.

Ang lima pang ginto ay nagmula kina Margielyn Didal (Game of S.K.A.T.E. at street event), Fil-Am Christiane Means (skate park), Daniel Ledermman (Game of S.K.A.T.E.) at Kiko Francisco (skate park).

Ayon kay De Lange, Development Sciences degree holder sa De La Salle University, gusto niyang palakasin ang downhill skateboard racing sa bansa kagaya ng ginagawa ni Didal sa local skateboarding scene.

“I know there are a lot of people that want to learn how to ride the skateboard and I wanna make sure that it is safe, accessible and easy. So that’s part of my initial goal moving forward,” wika ni De Lange.

Hindi kasama ang downhill skateboard racing sa calendar of events ng darating na 2020 Olympic Games na gagawin saTokyo, Japan.