THE world’s best surfers, including the Philippines’ very own John Mark Tokong, Piso Alcala, and Philmar Alipayo are currently in Gen. Luna, Siargao Island to compete in the 22nd Siargao International Surfing Cup.
Sanctioned by the World Surf League and the Asian Surfing Championships, the tourney drew a 64-man field with from Australia, United States, Hawaii, Brazil, Indonesia, France, Mexico, Chile, Ecuador, Israel and New Zealand.
Leading the charge of the local surfers are defending champion Tokong, perennial top winner Alcala, and Alipayo, who is riding high on his recent conquest of the West Sumbawa Pro 2016 in Bali, Indonesia.
The surfing sensations to watch out for are Israeli Yonoton Klien, and winners of the Championship Tour in Chris Zaffis and Sandon Whittiker.
Situated on the Pacific seaboard of Surigao del Norte, the Cloud 9 surfing spot is listed as eighth in the World’s Top 50 Best Surf Spots compiled by CNNGo, the travel news website of the Cable News Network.
Presented by the Department of Tourism in partnership with the Municipality of Gen. Luna, the Province of Surigao del Norte, and House of Representatives-Congressional Office, and co-presented by Siargao Bleu Resort and Spa, and Silangan Mining Corp., the tourney is the country’s most-awaited surfing event offering a total cash prize of $ 50,000.
Also supported by Globe, Kudosurf, Nature’s Spring, and Siargao Tourism Development Council, the sporting event kicked off Saturday with the Siargao Surf Break 2 Reggae Party.
It draws to a close on Thursday with the awarding ceremonies and the Go Surf Music Festival.
According to Siargao International Surfing Cup Contest Director Gerry Degan, this year’s edition will be again be a QS (Qualifying Series) 1500, the second level competition run by WSL, the sport’s global governing body.
The winner gains 1,500 points to move up in their international rankings en route to the top level competition—the Championship Tour.
The ASC gave the Cup a 6-star surfing ranking in 2014, making it one of the qualifying stops for the Asian Circuit, giving Siargao the rating of ASP- World Qualifying series 1 Star and ASC Grade 6, ASC tour’s highest rating.
Started in 1994, the Cup has made the island the mecca of surfing in the Philippines and a training ground for athletes to international tournaments, particularly the 2020 Tokyo Olympics when surfing becomes an official medal event.
