Chasing Waves: The Philippine Surfing Championship Tour siargao surfing philippines international surfing ciruit

PHILIPPINE TRAVEL NEWS

Chasing Waves: The Philippine Surfing Championship Tour
Text and Photos by: Kage Guzon
Oct 20, 2005

Pack up your boardies and slather on the sunscreen! It’s time to chase those waves as the Philippine Surfing Circuit 2005 gathers the top surfers from all around the country in the first-ever nationwide pro-surfing competition.

The competition will travel to the six different provinces as the year progresses. And at each of the stop, these provinces will be adding their own unique stamp and charm to the circuit. What you end up with is a melting pot of several influences and local flavors … mixed with a good dose of saltwater.

It started in Baler, Aurora in February then hits Siargao Island in September 24-26 and moves to Guiuan, Eastern Samar (in October 6-9, just in time for the habagat winds. The Circuit then goes to Catanduanes in October 20-23 and Lanuza in Surigao del Sur come November 14-21. The tour climaxes in San Juan, La Union in December 15-18.

Surfers must follow the wave, and this tour will lead them to some of the spectacular parts of the country. This is a surfer’s dream buffet: Siargao’s world famous Cloud 9, the “Majestics” in Catanduanes, Lanuza’s right hand breaks (reportedly the longest in the country). Couple that with the picturesque old towns of Baler, Aurora, the spectacular sunsets of San Juan, La Union and the hardly ridden waves of Eastern Samar. Never has the Philippines surf scene been this exciting.

Imagine traveling and surfing these exotic destinations watching the best of our local boys gunning for a chance to win cash prizes, and the title of “Best Filipino Surfer”. And potential surf groupies won’t be left standing on the shore. Surf clinics will be offered in cooperation with Five Forty Surf Co. and the local surfing clubs as well as fun games with Smart Communications, Inc. and Conquer Equipment will be made available at various points of the tour. Competitors and spectators can look forward to

those laidback days out on the beach and stoked sessions of surfing seriously good swell followed by nights dancing under the stars of jamming beside a bonfire with San Miguel Corporation.

Chasing Waves: The Philippine Surfing Championship Tour

Mark the dates above on your calendars. Note that dates could change depending on the weather and wave condition. Mother nature can be fickle. Surfers can travel hours to a destination armed with a swell report taken off the internet only to find out that the winds had changed, leaving them with smaller sized waves, or worse, nothing bigger that a ripple. Surfing may be for the adventurous but it also asks for patience.

Now that you have been forewarned, take out that stylus and plug these dates into your PDA.

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Additional Information:

“Working hand-in-hand with the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the specific Local Government Units (LGUs), we are endorsing surfing as a catalyst for tourism development by establishing the country as a haven for THEMATIC DESTINATION SURFING: Experiencing the Culture, People and the Locale”, as disclosed by Congressman Prospero “Butch” Pichay, the Philippine Surfing Federation Inc. (PSF) Chairman.

He further said that PSF is initiating this circuit to increase the awareness of the sport and promote the less popular, yet equally beautiful surf destinations all over the Philippines.

For each event, there will be a registration fee of Two Hundred Pesos (Php200) per surfer. By joining the tour, the Top Three Filipino surfers will have the opportunity to compete in an international surfing competitions for free.

For queries or questions, you may get in touch with Ms. Zeny Pallugna at +639195355056 or Ms. Mhay Rondael at +639172085317 or send your e-mail through psftour@gmail.com.

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