Those who send pokemon into combat are called pokemon trainers, not pokemon battlers. Most of any battle is won before the match begins, for a set of techniques must be selected before any fight, and a pokemon's talent brought out in a myriad of potential ways. During an actual match, pokemon trainers can do little but shout commands and switch pokemon. Those who desire a greater level of control than pokemon battles allow for typically turn to video games, but an increasing number from around the world have instead come to Sinnoh for the ancient tradition of Mantyke kiting.
Mantyke are a lightweight pokemon who in the wild maneuver by gliding on the wind, for they can barely flap their wings. Yet by tying a string to these pokemon and extending and retracting it or altering one's own position, humans can exert a remarkable control over a Mantyke in midair from their surfboards or water pokemon. The use of some kind of floating platform requires enormous dexterity and balance from the Mantyke battler, although it remains an aquatic sport as much because it is easier to find bodies of water than large open spaces on land as because of tradition or appreciation for this particular skill.
For all the elaborate patterns on each Mantyke's back, for all the ritual and tradition around these contests, Mantyke kiting is a competitive sport. The two Mantyke in each event engage in combat not unlike pokemon in battles, typically by shooting bubbles at or ramming one another while dodging their foe. A Mantyke's own ability, especially their endurance, plays a significant role in determining victory or defeat. But the greats of this competition can remain on top even after their Mantyke evolves, for the human element is much greater than in pokemon battles.