Filipino wakeboarder and Red Bull athlete Raph Trinidad secured gold in the Open Men’s Wakeboarding category of the 2025 IWWF Asia and Oceania Championships, earning a spot at The World Games 2025.
Filipino wakeboarder and Red Bull athlete Raph Trinidad cemented his place among Asia’s best, claiming gold in the Open Men’s Wakeboarding category at the 2025 IWWF Asia and Oceania Cable Wakeboard and Wakeskate Championships.
Held from January 24 to 26 at Decawake Clark Cable Park in Pampanga, the competition brought together the region’s top talents and served as the final qualifier for The World Games 2025 in Chengdu, China.
Trinidad scored 81.67, delivering a flawless run that secured his first-place finish.
He outperformed a highly-competitive field that included Stanislav Fidelsky (Kyrgyzstan), Luke Atirat Carrick and Benjamin Phechyuenyong (Thailand), and Zac Falzon and Lachlan “Locky” Fort (Australia).
Filipino wakeboarder Raph Trinidad celebrates his gold medal victory at the 2025 IWWF Asia and Oceania Championships. | Photo (c) Jarod Angelo Arevalo
Winning in front of a home crowd made the victory even sweeter for the 23-year-old Liloan, Cebu native, who secured his spot in The World Games 2025 with this triumph.
“Winning an international competition in my home park feels like a dream,” Trinidad shared. “Being surrounded by those who have supported me from the start made it even more special. It was an honor to represent my country, and the incredible support pushed me to give my best. I’m proud to bring this victory home.”
Despite the stakes, Trinidad focused on executing his planned run rather than worrying about the competition.
“In every competition, I always remind myself that my biggest competition is myself. As long as I land the run I planned, I’m already super happy no matter the outcome.”
This latest victory adds to Trinidad’s growing list of accolades, including a podium finish at last year’s IWWF World Cable Wakeboard and Wakeskate Championships in Paris.
“Thank you to everyone who has ever supported me. Because of all of you, I will always strive for growth and push myself even harder to reach my full potential in wakeboarding.”
Filipino wakeboarder Raph Trinidad was all smiles during the 2025 IWWF Asia and Oceania Championships. | Photo (c) Jarod Angelo Arevalo
For aspiring wakeboarders, Trinidad shared an inspiring message about perseverance.
“Trust the process. The falls on your first try, the doubts about whether it’s for you—I went through all of that too. If I could push through, I know for sure that you can as well. Remember, ‘If you fall seven times, get back up eight times.’ It’s not about how many times you fall but how many times you get back up.”
With his qualification secured, Trinidad is already preparing for the next challenge at The World Games 2025 in Chengdu, China.
“I will push myself even harder because there is still so much work to do in wakeboarding, and it’s only the start. Rest assured, you will see a version of me that is more motivated and ready to do my best for the Philippines.”