By JADEN ALBERTO

Intern

Young push biker Juan Dominique "Uno" Principe is set to represent the Philippines in the upcoming King Rider of Thailand which will be hosted by RSR Runbike and will be held on Feb. 15 and16 at the Ayutthaya Province Stadium in Ayutthaya, Thailand.

A growing sport in Asia, push biking involves riding a bicycle without pedals and only one’s feet to "push" it on the race track. It has been advocated as a sport for kids aged 2-8, developing vital skills such as balance and coordination at an early age. The sport also introduces kids to competition early on and is a training ground for building passion for physical activity. 

After several podium finishes in local tournaments, including a title-clinching performance in the three-year-old mixed category of the Jan.11 edition of the Philippine Push Biking Racing Series, Uno will now vie for international glory as he prepares for his Thailand stint.

The Bacoor City native was encouraged by his parents to start push biking in order to engage in a more active lifestyle. In August 2024, Uno started competing with his father Jerome coaching him.

In preparation for his February contest, Uno spends his time after school religiously training thrice a week, with a mix of outdoor and indoor drills, to prepare him for the competition. At times, he also trains alongside other push bikers from the Philippine Balance Bike Academe, Kick2Pedal, and Tangway Brave Riders.

When asked about Uno's current level of readiness, his mother Renee said that her son has been ecstatic about the opportunity and looks forward to the camaraderie among fellow young racers. 

“Uno is really excited about the upcoming tournament. He’s not only looking forward to racing but has also prepared goodie bags for all the racers. He even took the time to personally choose Hot Wheels cars to give to each participant as a fun token,” said his mother.