Surfin’ Siargao -1

SIARGAO, Surigao del Norte – Many surfers claim that

Siargao has the best and most consistent surf in the

Philippines. It made an eccentric entry into the world of surfing arena and is now reputed as the country’s “Surfing Capital.”

Lying at the northeastern coast of Mindanao, facing the Pacific Ocean, the unspoiled teardrop-shaped island is considered as the shangri-la of adventurers and nature lovers.

The huge and powerful “Pacific rollers” has been ranked among the top five breaks in the world, including “Cloud Nine” which is considered one of the world’s top surfing waves. Its waves combine the best quality features of Hawaii’s fabled “pipeline” and the top-billed wave of Indonesia.

Siargao island, which is two hours away from Surigao City via fastcraft, is below the typhoon belt and has optimum weather for those who crave for the ocean.

Surfing started here sometime in June 1980. Tony Arruza, an American and Steve Jones, an Australian came to General Luna (south of Siargao), in search of a perfect wave.

They surfed in that area known as the “Jacking Horse” near what is now “Cloud 9.” Word spread around in the surfing world that there is a secret place in Siargao island that has good surf.

In 1992, world-famous surfing photographer John Callahan together with Kevin Davidson, John Slater and Taylor Knox, had photos taken riding the big surf in Cloud 9, which landed in the different surfing magazines all over the world.

In 1995, the local government of General Luna together with some expatriates from Australia organized a surfing competition dubbed as “Siargao Surfing Classic.” The event paved the way for the first Siargao Surfing Cup in 1996.

In 2001, Surigao del Norte Governor Robert Lyndon Barbers tapped the Association of Surfing Professionals of Australia/Asia (ASPAA) to manage the event.

Department of Tourism (DoT) Secretary Richard Gordon said that the international surfing competition was staged as part of the DoT, the provincial government of Surigao del Norte, municipal government of General Luna led by Mayor Cecilia Rusillon and the tourism private sector’s unified bid to promote the Philippines as the “surfing destination of Asia.”

The recent 8th Siargao International Surfing Cup proved to be a success with 14 of the world’s top-rated surfers from Australia, Japan, Hawaii, Guam, Canada, France and Indonesia joined the event despite travel advisories.

Filipino surfers were pitted against 61 other foreign competitors. The youngest among the group, 16 and 17 years old, are considered top 2 of the best surfers in Australia in their category.

Australian surfer Jay Thompson emerged champion of the surfing event and bagged the top prize of R225,000 and a trophy. Mark Matthews of Australia came in second, while Aaron Fredett of Hawaii and Matthew Griggs of Australia were third and fourth, respectively. Local surfers Carlito Nogalo of Baler, Aurora and hometown favorite Dionisio Espejon of General Luna were fortunate to reach the finals along with Dion Agius of Australia and Girby Fukunaga of Japan. The winners were determined by the amount of time the surfer is inside the wave’s “tube” or “barrel”. - to be continued