Christian Tio
Philippine kiteboarding wonder
Bio
Christian Tio is the kiteboarding star that the island paradise of Boracay in the Philippines can rightfully claim as its own. He spends most days in the water and finds that there are still more tricks to do and more wind to harness to finally make it to the top of the list of kiteboarders in the world. Born and bred in Boracay, Christian has been riding since he was just seven. Guided and supported by a Norwegian father and Filipino mother who were equally immersed in the sport, he began serious training in between school, playing football with friends and trying out video games.
At age 10, he took his Vegas kites and board from his home spot of Bulabog Beach in Boracay to the foreign waters of Pranburi, Thailand for his first professional dip at the KTA – the Asian kiteboard championship tour. There, he went up against riders at least twice his age and was stung by a jellyfish to boot. By competition’s end, he found his name at the bottom of the list. Christian was far from discouraged, though. On his return home, says Christian, “I pushed myself even more. Seeing all those people riding motivated me to do better.”
Two sessions every day with award-winning Filipino kiteboarder Khristopher Ken Nacor, who owns and operates the Boracay-based Freestyle Academy Kitesurfing School, transformed the Filipino-Norwegian from a relative kiting unknown to world number two in the Junior Men’s division in just a few short years. He claimed second place in the Freestyle category at the Junior Kitesurfing World Championships in 2014 and 2015. Locally, he has won championships at the ICTSI Philippine Kiteboarding Tour and the Boracay International Funboard Cup.
Having spent approximately half his life riding kites, bending sea and air, Christian is as professional and determined as any other man in the sport. He admits that though his parents and Ken Nacor remain supportive, his best and worst critic has always been himself. These days he 's working on improving his tricks, particularly the double handle pass and the double back mobe, and setting a new personal record higher than the five-metre jumps he currently executes. As each new kiting season approaches, Christian promises, “I’ll go bigger. More twists, more flips.” The world won’t be let down.
Achievements
2019: 2nd place at the Summer Youth Olympics
2018: 1st place ICTSI Philippine Kiteboarding Association Tour
Photos
Videos
Sponsoring Offers
Option 1
Brand Mention
$100.00
The rider will include your text, mention your brand and add a hashtag of your choice in an existing photo and post it on Facebook and Instagram.
Option 2
Custom Photo
$200.00
The rider will take a custom photo for your brand and post it on Facebook and Instagram including your text, mentioning your brand and adding a hashtag of your choice.
Option 3
Product Placement
$300.00
The rider will take a custom photo including your product and post it on Facebook and Instagram including your text, mentioning your brand and adding a hashtag of your choice.