Go for Gold skateboarders begin buildup

MANILA, Philippines — Focused on delivering the goods in the coming Southeast Asian Games, the Philippine skateboarding team under the Go For Gold program will embark on a series of regional tryouts to discover the finest skaters in the country.

Skateboarding and roller sports chief Monty Mendigoria announced yesterday that the search for the most talented Filipino skaters would kick off with the Luzon leg on March 16-17 in Iba, Zambales.

The best from the Visayas region will show up in Cebu City on April 6-7 where Asian Games gold medalist Margielyn Didal is expected to inspire the national team aspirants right in her hometown.

“We feel that Margie and the skateboarding team will become our bright lights in the 2020 Olympics, and hopefully they can bring home our first Olympic gold medal,” said Go For Gold godfather Jeremy Go.

The National SEA Games qualifier is scheduled Aug. 24-25 in Sta. Rosa, Laguna after the most promising skaters from the south take centerstage in the Mindanao leg on May 25-26 in General Santos City.

Aside from targeting majority of the 16 gold medals at stake in skateboarding in the SEA Games that the Philippines is hosting on Nov. 30-Dec. 11 in Clark, the national skaters are also training their sights on the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.