SIARGAO, Philippines — It all comes down to this. Wind, waves and the world’s best at Cloud 9.
History breaks in General Luna as Siargao hosts the country’s first-ever World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour event – the Philippines Pro presented by the PSC – Oct. 31 to Nov. 10 at the famed Cloud 9 reef break.
The foreign legion is already trickling in, and the swell is building in the island.
Carrying the fight for the country are three Filipino wildcards – four-time Siargao International Surfing Cup champion John Mark “Marama” Tokong, the acknowledged King of Cloud 9, plus Jayuard Alciso and Mara Lopez.
The challenge is massive. Brazilians lead the charge – reigning world No. 1 Yago Dora, and fellow world champs Gabriel Medina, Italo Ferreira and Filipe Toledo, plus Miguel Pupo. There’s also Italy’s Leonardo Fioravanti and Japan’s Kanoa Igarashi.
On the women’s side, all eyes will be on Australia’s Molly Picklum – the Portugal winner and current Yellow Jersey holder – and American aces Caroline Marks, Erin Brooks, Gabriela Bryan and Lakey Peterson.
“This is more than a competition,” said PSC Chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio. “This is sports tourism at its best – showcasing Siargao to the world, driving the local economy, inspiring our own surfers.”
The province is all behind it – Surigao del Norte Gov. Robert Lyndon Barbers, General Luna Mayor Johnson Sajulga and Vice Mayor Romina Sajulga.
And there’s extra symbolism. The historic staging coincides with the blessing of the new Cloud 9 Tower – the island’s surfing icon first built in 2003, destroyed by Super Typhoon Odette in 2021, and now rebuilt by the PSC and the General Luna LGU.