World renowned Australian surfer Philippa Anderson hitting the waves at Cloud 9 in Siargao Island. Photo courtesy of Philippine Surfing Federation.
BUTUAN CITY, Agusan Del Norte—More than 40 professional women surfers from Indonesia, Taiwan, Malaysia and other parts of Asia as well as around the world is expected to compete in the world famous surf of Cloud 9 in Siargao Island for the International Women’s Surfing Cup on May 1-4, 2012.
The women Asian Surfing Championship (ASC) circuit will be held in five countries, namely: Indonesia, Taiwan, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines. Women surfers from all over Asia will converge at Cloud 9 surf break in General Luna as they vie for the Php300,000 or approximately US$7,000 total prize-money.
“This is a historical landmark in the progression of Philippine surfing as it is the first time that ASC included Philippines in a multi-country, multi-event professional surfing competition circuit,” said Zeny Pallugna, Secretary General of the Philippine Surfing Federation (PSF).
Pallugna pointed out that both the local and international events are very good indications that Siargao’s tourism is flourishing.
“The ASC works with local, national and multinational event sponsors and organizers to maximize the results of the competitive surfing events towards accomplishing the goals of sharing the sport of surfing and bringing positive economic, social and environmental benefits to the people in these Asian countries,” said Pallugna.
According to an ASC statement, their ultimate goal is to grow the sport of surfing in Asia from the grassroots level by assisting each country in creating organized and sanctioned events that will develop the skills of theirsurfers in healthy competition as well as to draw attention to their area for the progression of surfing locally, nationally, and throughout the Asian region.
First Filipino Champion of Siargao Women's Cup, Nildie Rietenbach at Cloud 9. Photo courtesy: Philippine Surfing Federation.
The Surigao del Norte provincial government revealed that as the events counterpart, Governor Sol Matugas has released 200,000.00 pesos financial assistance to General Luna Mayor Jaime Rusillon to help fund the event.
Ivonnie Beltran Dumadag of the Provincial Tourism Office stated in a phone interview that all the necessary things needed for the event are all in place.“We are all ready for the coming event, the transportation and accommodation facilities are all in place. We are now just finalizing the size events like beach volleyball open and the nightly live musical entertainment,” said Dumadag.
