RP bets face X-treme test in Thailand

Fifteen Filipino extreme athletes face the greatest challenge of their lives as they compete in the 2000 Asian X Games Qualifier and Disney Channel/ESPN Junior X Games II presented by Toyota Dec. 3-10 in Phuket Island, Thailand.

Six see action in the Junior X Games while nine campaign in the Asian X Games Qualifier, donning the national colors in the eight-day spectacle which features the leading extreme athletes in the Asia Pacific region.

The event will be ushered in by the Junior X Games wherein the Philippines will be represented by skateboarder Edmund Vega Chua, 13, and sport climbers Andrew Carl Severino Robles, 14, Santiago Ledesma, 14, Martin Angelo Cu, 12, Mary Frances Angsico, 15, and Dalia Oosthuizen Guerrero, 15.

Vying for a slot in the Summer X Games in the United States next year are Mark Steven Buzon Schultz, Simon Sandoval, Dennis Oliver Diaz, Jamie Javelosa, Gilson Chu, Anna Ma. Venecia Mallari, Anna Christina Araneta, Lissa Aireen Lesaca and Iva Ybanez.

Schultz, 21, is the very first Filipino entered in bicycle stunt competition. The rest of the team are competing in sport climbing.

Aside from the chance to compete in the Summer X Games, participants in the Qualifier will get a crack at the $80,000 prize money. Junior athletes will win family trips to Disneyland, USA.

With interactive booths, games, prizes and giveaways, the carnival-like atmosphere will draw an estimated 20,000 spectators throughout the extravaganza created by ESPN.

The Patong Beach in Phuket island is the site for ESPN’s massive venue – a custom-made course comprising towering climbing walls, and a challenging park course and monster half pipe for the skateboarding, bicycle stunt and aggressive in-line skating events. The scenic Nai Harn Lake is the venue for wakeboarding.

All action will be broadcast across the globe on the ESPN international networks.