LOCAL surfers from Siargao, Daet, Zambales and Baler, together with La Union’s own surfers converge on the beach cove of Urbiztondo, San Juan in this Northern province for the annual La Union Surfing Break event set Oct. 28 to 30.
Competition will be in the Open men’s long board and short board and women’s long board, with the local surfers enjoying the advantage of familiarity with the water conditions in the area.
“La Union has been known as a breeding ground for the country’s long board surfers and local surfers are the defending champions in the different categories. We will also have surfing clinics for the fun surfers, including a sprinkling for foreign tourists, who are expected to join this surfing festival,” said Jeff Ortega from the organizing group.
This event since 2013 has been dubbed as the Annual Poks Forever National Surf Competition in honor of local surfing legend Ronnie “Poks” Esquivel, who despite being born with only one leg, took to the sport,attracted attention worldwide from surfers and made his hometown famous.
Esquivel died of heart attack last July 21, 2012
“The ‘ber’ months are the best months for surfing with the Amihan winds causing the Northern swells that surfers love. The La Union Surfing Break has been recognized several times as one of the best sports tourism event in the country and we again expect a big crowd for this week-end,” said DOT Regional Director Martin Valera.
The organizers have also introduced a Corporate Social Responsibility component in the festival as only surfing and swimming will be allowed in the beach area.
“This is to avoid the resulting trash afterwards and based on records, Pawikan hatching has been going down the past years even as our 37 kilometer long shoreline remains a favorite nesting ground for giant turtles,” added Ortega.