Deca Wakeboard Park ~ Davao's top wakeboarding destination

Barangay Tacunan, Mintal
Davao City, Philippines

I just hope that I'll be able to back flip right after our adventure here (ilusyon amigo!!! ~ ahahaha!)

Balong and I went to Davao City mainly because I need to pay my dues in POEA regional office that includes SSS, Pag ibig, and OWWA membership fee. It just so happen that I forgot my passport at home, thus they deny to issue the Employment Overseas Certificate known as AOC. I am a bit disappointed because we wake up early that morning just to be here but we ended up with nothing (katangahan do happens sometimes though ~ ahahaha!).

View of Mt. Apo from the highway to Brgy. Tacunan, it's not a perfect shot coz of the clouds but fair enough to view the silhouette of the Philippine's highest mountain.

There is an international airport here, the Francisco Bangoy International Airport located in Sasa where our birthplace is situated but there is no direct flight from GenSan that is why we took the long way via airconditioned bus that cost us around PHP 150++ each. Davao City is around 6 hours drive from Marbel (Koronadal City) where we currently live. There is a nonstop bus that will direct you straight to the city passing the tuna capital of the Philippines, General Santos City. For this long drive, we usually prefer to travel at dawn so that around 7 or 8 in the morning we’ll arrive in Davao feeling fresh and to avoid the traffic along the way.

That's me at the back of SM City. The background is One Oasis Condominium in Davao City.

While on the bus, Balong asked me several times where is Mt. Apo as the road from Gen San to Davao City consists of hundreds of miles. I told him that he will see it soon once we arrive in Digos, Davao del Sur. You can see it from his eye that he is really excited and i swap the window seat to him. And when we arrive in Digos, I pointed out from the highway the magnificent view of Mt. Apo and he took several shots just to capture this moment (ahahaha!). Well, i can't blame him though. It's not that stunning like Mt. Mayon in Albay but this is the trademark of Davao known around the world.

SM City, Davao is the drop-off point of our bus trip. Since it’s the first time of Balong to come here, I want him to experience what this city have and why it’s considered as the Durian City of the south. Too bad because it’s not durian season yet; thus, he wasn’t able to try one, poor baby (ahahaha!). 

My cousins and Balong..... missing you guys. My cousin's unit is located just in the corner at the back and we had a hard time locating it earlier (ahahaha!).

Davaoeños is an even mix of tribes. This is considered as the largest city in the Philippines in terms of land area and the fourth most populous city in the Philippines. It is also home to the endangered Philippine Eagle known as monkey-eating eagle and i will feature that next time i guess once we visit the sanctuary where they habituate.

We didn't waste anymore time, right after we get in we sign up for registration right away (excited mode ~ ahahaha!)

The entrance of Deca Homes Subdivision.

Since it’s impossible to get my EOC, then it’s better to explore Davao once and for all. We have only one day to spare as our flight back to Manila is in two days. I called my cousin right away where is the location of Deca Wakeboarding Park and she responded that it is just a few meters from her house. It blows my mind and I asked her how to get in there (ahahaha!). After several discussion, she advised to get a taxi that will direct us straight to Deca Homes in Tacuman, Mintal. 

There are plenty of equipments around. It's free to use by the way, it's included when you paid the packages they offered.

There are actually many modes of transportation in getting here but if it’s your first time in Davao better hire a taxi then because it will direct you straight to where the park is. Aside from that, it’s a bit faster as the travel will only take around 30 minutes from SM City without the traffic. Try your expertise to haggle with manong driver as we did that several times (ahahaha!). There is a taxi metro that they used but a fixed price of PHP 200 is good deal, personally (hehehe!).

There is a cottage area for observer to sit on.

Mt. Apo is just on the background but the clouds is covering it's majestic beauty.

We enjoyed our communication with manong driver because he don’t know where the exact location of the place is (patay tayo jan ~ ahahaha!). We thought he knew because before we hop-on we asked him to drop us in Deca Wakeboarding Park and he just said plainly ‘ok , welcome’. COME ON!!!!!! (ahahaha!). I don’t know if he is just playing around but he keep on asking passerby where is it and that bothers me bigtime (ahahaha!). I have my ipod with me and try to track it via GPS and it’s nowhere to be found!!! It gave me options of unknown places out of Davao City (ahahaha!!!!). I called my cousin again and I let her talk to our friendly driver, I don’t know what happen but in just less than 10 minutes and voila!!!! We saw the arched that leads to Deca Homes (ahahaha!). It makes me wonder, are you sure manong you really don’t know the place? Well, if he doesn’t know then too bad he is a taxi driver but it was one enjoyable trip complete with oooppsss and owssss along the way (ahahaha!).

Deca Wakeboard Park vicinity, the serenity of the manmade lake is just amazing!!!!

It feels like we own the whole place because no other players is in there yet (ahahaha!).

Another mishaps is finding their house inside Deca Homes (ahahaha!). Well, I will not dig into that further but to make the story short we paid additional 50 to manong and we walk trying to find my cousin's house and at last after 10 minutes of wandering, we found it in the far-off part of the subdivision (ahahaha!).  Haysssssss that is the beauty of traveling, expect that you'll get lost sometimes! (ahahaha!).

Whew!!! Good luck to us!!!  It's our first time to do this... Just hope i'll not dive into the water as i don't know how to swim (ahahaha!).

Before we take into the water, there is a pre-orientation briefing first. Basically, they instruct you on how to turn left and turn right, something like that (ahahaha!)

We only stayed for a few minutes in their house and we left right away because it’s almost 9 already and I don’t want to be ‘nog nog’ right after this adventure no (ahahaha!). The place is not like Lake Sebu that is in the midst of natural rain forest, so expects that natural breeze and fresh air is abundant in there. But in here, the park is situated in an open air so direct sunlight is your main enemy (anarte, bat ka pa pumunta kung ayaw mo umitim!!!! ~ ammmppppp ahahaha!! just use sunblock for goodness sake!!!)

Ready to ride ha??? Kimmy and Jimboy seems excited while Balong hmmmmmm are you ready baby? ahahaha!

Oh yeah!!! That's me. Kneeboarding is just a piece of cake (bwahahaha~ yabang!!!)

The park is just a few blocks away from my cousins house and it excites me because in the main road you’ll see a huge banner of ‘Deca Wakeboarding Park’  with a picture of a professional wakeboarder splashing into the water and it looks absolutely AWESOME!!!! (ahahaha!). I just hope that at the end of this trip, I’ll have a picture like that you know (ahahaha ~ dream big amigo!!!!).

It's Kimmy's turn....

The park is completely surrounded with mesh wire and from the outside you’ll see what’s going on within. Since we arrive in the morning, there are only few players around and it’s perfect because it feels like we own the whole place (ahahaha!). We brought our cousin Chinkee, Kimmy, Jimboy and Jam Jam for this escapade and this is the first time as well that they engage to this spree (ahahaha!). Well, since it’s our first time together so good luck to all of us!!! (ahahaha!).

Jimboy has a sore eyes but it didn't stop him from doing this.

Nice one Jim (hehehehe!)

Deca Wakeboard Park is considered as one of the top wakeboarding destination in the south and has the biggest wakeboarding facility in the Philippines. We do have plan to visit CamSur supposed to be but that change when we visited here. It is an extreme sports; that is why, we decided to try this at least once in our lifetime: something out of our league you know (ahahaha!). It may be an extreme sport but don’t worry there are lifeguards on standby just in case you need some back-up (hehehe!).

Balong and Jam Jam before he take the plunge!

Whew!!! nice..... it's his 3rd loop actually (hehehe!).

One of the staff greeted and welcomed us right away and lead us to the reception building. The building is good enough to accommodate few people who is interested to take the splash. He explained in details the package they offered and my cousin butted-in and ask if there is a discount for residents of Deca Homes. The receptionist explained that there is as long as you show proof that you have a house here. I saw Jimboy suddenly left and get the electric bill as proof (ahahaha!).

Feeling pro-rider huh???? (ahahahahaha!!!!!).

Prices here varies every season so please prepare PHP 1,000 each player should you want to stay here for a day. They usually have packages for 2 hours, 4 hours, or whole day affair. We chose the 4-hour package that cost me and Balong for PHP 700 each and since my cousins Chinkee, Jimboy and Kimmy got discounts; thus, I only paid around PHP 2,500 for the five of us.

Staff of Deca Wakeboard Park. I guess you need to do this to be fit like this one (ahahaha!)

Jimboy's first attempt to do the wakeboarding... Looking good man!!!

Right after registration, there is a waiver form to fill and sign for all riders just in case something will happen. It’s the same set up in Lake Sebu zipline that before you take the ride you need to sign for the waiver first. Maybe they just want to make sure that whatever will happen they are not responsible though unless it is intentional (awtssssssss ~ hehehe!). Honestly, I don’t know how to swim and since we are here already there is no more turning back (hehehe!).

So excited huh? hmmmm i prefer to be a photographer than to be there queuing though (ahahaha!)

It's Balong 1st attempt. He landed just fine but not good enough (ahahaha!)

Before we take the ride there is a pre-orientation briefing that we need to undergo and what’s more interesting my cousins and Balong pushed me to be the dummy (ahahaha!). Well, thanks to our instructor as he is too persevere in explaining the do’s and don’ts while on water (ahahaha!). Since it’s our first time to try, he advises that we do the kneeboarding first. It is actually a board ridden in a kneeling stance. It’s like you’re kneeling while being towed by specialized cable system.

Balong's 2nd attempt!

He leaps more than a meters away . At least, he glided in the water just fine (ahahaha!).

Kneeboarding is much easier as you rely mainly on the board without standing like the real wakeboarding. It’s like, this activity is preparing yourself to balance using the board, to adjust the flow of the water and for you to familiarize the water run way. It’s a lot of fun really and everyone can do it but sometime it’s hard to get up especially if you have knee problem because it keeps on pounding your knees from start to finish (ahahaha!).

Balong and Jimboy waiting for their turn... They are not exhausted though for several attempts, good for them because they are a good swimmer (ahahaha!)

That's AWESOME, baby! Good JOB.. At last, after 3rd attempt Balong made it. (hehehe!)

The advantage of kneeboarding includes an extremely low center of gravity, less wind resistance, the ability to ride higher and farther back in the tubes and taking off on a steeper part of the wave. Kids can do this as well, too bad because Jam Jam don’t want to join us; thus, we feed her with lots of chichirias (ahahaha!). The towed kneeboards have a padded deck contoured to the shape of the shins and knees and a huge strap that holds the rider to the board. You need to lean forward with your arms at full extension, and the strap should be relatively tight so that the board is attached to you at all times (hehehe!).

There are so many equipments to use. I just don't know if they sell it but it's a good room decoration though (ahahaha!).

You'll do it soon Jam (hehehe!).

Right after a few rounds of kneeboarding here we are trying to do the wakeboarding (ahahaha!). It’s da*******mmm hard to do ammmpppnessssssssss!!!! You know what is the difference with wakeboarding and kneeboarding, it’s obvious!!!! Kneeboarding is on your knees while wakeboarding you stand (Do that make sense? ~ ahahaha!). I did try but I really can’t glide to the water (sigggggggghhh).  Splash here and there, grrrrrrrr!!! Ok, I love the crashes  though, but if it’s coming every time it becomes annoying (ahahahaha!!!!). You know what I did, I only watched Balong and Jimboy do it. I promise myself, next time we will be back in Deca Wakeboard Park, I’ll learn it whatever the cost maybe (ilusyon big mate ~ ahahaha!). 

After the escapade, it's time to have some photo souvenir of the place.

This is the proof that you registered in the park.

I may failed doing the wakeboarding for now but it’s the best adventure to try once in Davao City. It is an ideal and convenient spot to enjoy your holidays and don’t forget to tag your friends along, the more the merrier (hehehe!).

Our way to my cousin's house.

So there you go, below is the shot took by Balong on my first and last attempt to do the wakeboarding.. hmmmmpp he was laughing while taking this but i understand clearly why. Even myself, I keep on laughing while seeing this (ahahaha!). But anyway, if you're into extreme then this is a MUST-TRY, believe me. It's a bit hard at first but if we stayed along pretty sure I've got the right wave for me. As what other would say, better luck next time, i guess (ahahaha!).

That's me during my first and last attempt of wakeboarding (Balong took this pic ~ ahahahaha)

Have a great day and night everyone...

Cheeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiioossss!!!

Enan signing off.

SMILE

:)

.