Nuvali’s Republic Wake Park

Nuvali’s Republic Wake Park

Manila’s Rich Kids’ Enclave

The kids had been complaining

of the long queue at CWC  

due to the influx of foreign wake boarders

that flock to the water park

at the fist quarter of the year…

So after their mastery exams

in their home schooling program

we took them for a wake boarding holiday

at Nuvali’s Republic Wakeboard Park.

This new wake park in Sta. Rosa Laguna

has making waves among wake boarding enthusiasts

and has been being directly compared to CWC

as another world class wake boarding facility

Unlike CWC, the Republic Wake park

does not have lodging facility yet

so we stayed in Acacia Hotel in Alabang

about an hour and a half drive

to the beautiful and booming Sta. Rosa Laguna.

This new Wake Park is owned by Gov. LRey Villafuerte

who also manages the government owned CWC in CamSur.

The Nuvali’s Republic Wake Park

(from me, a non- wake border’s standpoint)

We were the very first guest

 to arrive at eight AM,

and my daughter immediately filled 

up the registration form.

The facility was spanking new and we noted that.

this wake park is more compact

as compared to the expansive CWC.

The Riders’s shed,

…the clubhouse,

…the pool,

…and the beginner’s lake.

were built close to each other.

The lake looks very similar to CWC

but due to limited space it does not have a beach

where guests could sunbath or indulge in beach sports.

The place was spotlessly clean and tidy

the facility was well maintained and in top condition

something that the government owned CWC lacks.

The Nuvali’s Republic Wake Park

 (on a Cable Park Operator’s Standpoint)

While we were waiting for the Wake park operation to open

the cable operator recognized us

as he used to be the CWC operator

and he was happy to see us in Nuvali.

He gave us an overview of  the Republic Wakepark

and it’s main difference with CamSur Watersports Complex.

It also served a my daughter’s orientation

to the new facility that she is not familiar yet.

Although the lake may look exactly like the one in CWC

but according to the him this wake park lake

is a lot smaller, shorter, narrower and shallower

as compared to the CWC’s lake.

Because the lake is smaller and shorter

Republic Wakepark has a higher cable and shorter ropes

so wake boarder’s arms cruising angle 

is more comfortable and at ease at CWC.

Since the lake is narrower-

the hazards are closer to each other

and closer to the lake shore

making stunts and riding harder to maneuver.

And since the CWC lake is bigger, wider,

longer and deeper- it is apparently better off

than other wake parks in the country.

The Nuvali’s Republic Wake Park

 (from my Wake Boarder daughter’s standpoint)

While CWC boasts that they are

'the best Wakepark in the World',

 Nuvali’s Republic Wakepark tags itself

as “The Most Innovative Wakepark in the World“

I don’t really know what innovation they have there.

It could it be an innovation on its excellent maintenance.

It could it be the an innovation the park's compactness.

But the one that impressed my daughter

is the wake park’s automated queuing system.

Something the CWC and maybe other wakeboarding facility

in the Philippines and in the World does not have,

Riders’ photos are taken at registration,

pay for the lenght of time they desire to play

and the infos are encoded in the computer chips

embeded on rubber bracelets (they call it baller)

and scanned on a machine installed at the berth.

Once your time is up- the chips would be rejected
by the computer sensor and the rider  
will have to pay for the additional time

if they still want to wake  board.

Yes- there are no free rides in Nuvali

(that happens most of the time in CWC

if you befriend the operator).

Still, my daughter found the innovation cool,

A little later, the wake boarders started poring in.

Most of them are young English speaking kids

who came in Subarus, Audis, Monteros

and other high end vehicles.

 

Everybody seem to know one another

that the wake park appeared like a private clubhouse

of the rich- and the very rich.

 

...and the ambiance suddenly became very upscale.

Wake Boarders  in expensive siganture outfits

and fancy wake boarding paraphernalia

were the hit for the day.

Fancy ankle guards, personalized ornate helmets

Swanky knee guards looking like trinkets

something you will never see anywhere else

or from an ordinary wake boarder in CamSur like us.

There were few foreign guests 

seated on one table.

Although the crowd was very friendly.

as an ordinary person from a province

I found the ambiance too stiff and structured.

It could be that I’m 10 to 15 years older

than some these kids that’s why I’m feeling out of place-

…but several hours but later

 my daughter stopped wake boarding.

She said she’s tired and her arms are hurting

as she is not comfortable the higher inclination of the rope.

 I told her to rest for a while but a little later

she said she wanted to go back to the hotel.

When I asked her why she seem to not to be enjoying

and said that she does not experience 
or  feel the unruffled wake boarder vibes in the air.

So it wasn’t about my age after all.

Even my 15 year old well traveled daughter

felt the same way.
We do not belong to this social class.

When we left,

 I asked her if she wanted to come back

she said she would swim with her brother

at the hotel pool instead

.

Nuvali and CWC

(from a Professional Wake Boarders  Standpoint.)

When I talked to one of the guests

who I thought was a Filipino locale

and later found out to be a Japanese tourist.

He said he just arrived from 
wake boarding in  CWC in CamSur-

on his way back to Japan

and on a three day stop over in Manila.

When I asked how he finds Nuvali

as compared to CWC

He responded  with a pro wake border’s stance:

“ Nuvali is beautiful and well maintained

but not as awesome as CWC.' 
he answered surely and confidently.

 He said it right, CWC cable park maybe world class

but needs a world class maintenance like Nuvali.

For related CWC Reviews read here:

CamSur Watersports Complex (CWC): Wouldn't you wish you were here?

CWC (CamSur Watersports Complex ) Day

Laze and Play: CamSur Watersports Complex

CamSur Watersports Complex 26 February, 2012

Summer Na, CamSur Na (Almost) Over Na


Read More of My South Road Series Blogs here;

The South Road Adventure

 Road Trip From CamSur to Metro Manila
(South Road Series 1)

Jollibee Lucena Diversion

Tidy South Road Meal Stop

Pares King

Best South RoadMeal Stop

Acacia Hotel

Filinvest City Alabang,   Metro Manila

Nuvali’s Republic Wake Park

Manila’sRich Kids’ Enclave

Pancake House

Solenad, Nuvali