Leading foreign, local surfers vie in Siargao int’l meet today

SURIGAO CITY — Top local and foreign surfers are expected to demonstrate their skills in the official start of the eighth Siargao International Surfing Cup today in Cloud Nine, General Luna, Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte.

Officials of the annual surfing event, which ends Sept. 30, said at least 40 Filipino surfers coming from Baler, Quezon; Aurora; Camarines Norte and Sur, Metro Manila; La Union; Samar; Leyte; Tacloban City; Davao; Surigao del Sur and Surigao del Norte will be competing against 12 foreign surfers who joined this year’s surfing cup.

The foreign group includes Australians Mark Matthews, Matthew Griggs and Andrew King; Americans Dane Jordan, Aaron Fredette and Anthony Colas; Japanese Kirby Fukunaga and Monetoro Tanaka; Indonesian Deded Surnaya; Frenchmen Dion Agius and Brent Dorrington and Australian junior surfers Dan Jordan and Jay Thompson.

American Aaron Fredette was last year’s first runner-up to Australian champion Steven Hughes. Hughes is not joining this year’s tournament due to hectic schedules.

The international level is accredited two-star surfing competition by the Association of Surfing Professionals-Australia/Asia Region (ASP-AA).

ASP-AA official, Matthew Wilson is with foreign surfers who just arrived from Manila yesterday and are now in Cloud Nine, General Luna, Siargao island, Surigao del Norte.

As representative of ASP-AA, Wilson will see to it that the competition is conducted according to criteria and standards of the Wolrd Surfing Bodies.

In total, around twenty foreign surfers will compete with their local counterparts as some ten unnamed foreign surfers who arrived last Monday are now in General Luna.

Surigao del Norte Governor Robert Lyndon Barbers told newsmen in a press conference yesterday that all is set for this year’s 8th Siargao International Surfing.

The 5th Siargao National Surfing Championship kicked off last Monday in simple ceremonies. Its first ten winners will automatically qualify to the 8th Siargao International Competition.

Local talent Carlito Nogalo, defending champion of last year’s National Open is raring to defend his crown this year.

Nogalo said, he is ready to stake his title and that he is confident of retaining the crown as he was trained hard for this year’s competition.

The present group of competitor has shown much enthusiasm to have the competition get going despite financial constraints.

Surigao City Mayor Alfonso Casurra expressed full support to the Provincial Government of Surigao del Norte in hosting the 8th Siargao International Surfing Cup.

"The hosting of an international surfing event has indeed pushed the province as the surfing capital of the Philippines", Casurra said.