CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Skateboarder Garren Pol Garrido turned a story of struggle into a triumph of grit on August 8, battling through financial hurdles, lack of practice facilities, and a knee injury to capture the "Skater of the Day" award at the 41st Kadayawan Festival Open Skateboarding Competition in Davao City.

Squeezing into the top six in a stacked regional field, Garrido proved that passion and raw determination can make noise on the big stage, even when the odds and infrastructure are stacked against you.

The event also saw another Cagayan de Oro native shine, as Cheska Edulan dominated the field to claim the Women’s Division championship.

Podium Pursuit

Entering the festival showcase after weeks of grueling preparation, Garrido set his sights firmly on a podium finish.

"With all the preparation I put in, I genuinely expected to secure a podium finish in my category," he shared. "Even though I didn't quite make the podium this time, I’m still proud to have placed 5th overall and deeply honored to receive the 'Skater of the Day' medal."

Pushing through a tough field of competitors, Garrido advanced deep into the bracket to secure his place among the event's top performers.

"Iyaha place taman rako sa 2nd round, naa rako between 5th-6th place dayun na awardan ko as skater of the day (MVP) nga award during the competition," he said.

Battle Off-Park

For non-local skaters, the hardest part of the competition often happens long before stepping onto the course. Without major sponsor backing, getting to Davao City became a race against time and finances for Garrido.

"The biggest pre-event obstacle was definitely financial," he revealed. "I almost couldn't make the trip to Davao City due to a lack of funds. I even put up a fundraising post on Facebook, but unfortunately, it didn't gain any traction. I was only able to travel because I personally reached out to a few private individuals who generously agreed to support me."

That last-minute travel crunch meant arriving just a day before the main event—leaving almost no time to adapt to the course layout and contributing to a minor knee injury during his runs.

"Post-event, my main challenge was a minor knee injury," Garrido added. "This was largely due to a lack of practice time at the actual facility; because of the travel situation, I only arrived the day before the competition and couldn't get properly familiarized with the skatepark."

Infrastructure Gap

The August 8 contest brought into sharp focus the steep advantage local riders enjoy when their home city invests in proper athletic facilities.

"To be completely honest, the winners were all locals from Davao City, and their biggest advantage is having a dedicated, proper skatepark right there," Garrido pointed out. "They can practice whenever they want. For those of us from other cities, we simply don't have those facilities. We have to rely entirely on building our own DIY obstacles just to get some practice in."

Pure Character

While local Davao skaters took top podium spots across several divisions, it was Garrido's infectious energy, effortless style, and sportsmanship that won over the judges and fellow competitors.

The "Skater of the Day" title awarded to him went beyond technical execution, celebrating the true spirit of skate culture.

"Skater of the Day is based on: Style, sa aura na dala nimo, And sa pagka friendly sa tanan skater sir," Garrido said.

Heading home with a trophy in hand and lessons in tow, Garrido remains grounded, focused on building better financial backing for future contests while keeping his passion for the sport alive.

"The most important lesson I learned is the need to prepare financially well in advance," he reflected. "Beyond that, this experience reminded me to always stay humble and to constantly thank God for keeping me safe and guiding me throughout the journey." (Dave Achondo, Editorial Assostant)