Surfing Cup returns to Siargao
It’s September and the waves are picking up!
The Siargao Cloud 9 Surfing Cup Men’s Qualifying Series (QS) 3000 event will return to the picturesque peak of Cloud 9 in Siargao from Sept. 28 to Oct. 4.
The event will see over 100 of the world’s best surfers descend on the island of Siargao for the biggest annual sporting event in the Philippines. Expect to see some high caliber surfing at Cloud 9 and lots of fun activities surrounding the competition.
Also known as the WSL (World Surfing League) Men’s Qualifying Series, a QS 3000 rating means that some of surfing’s biggest and upcoming stars will be in attendance as they look to solidify themselves a spot on the elite Championship Tour.
The competition will be broadcast live to the world at worldsurfleague.com, giving surf fans a front row seat to an incredible show of tube-riding and performance surfing.
“In line with everything we are doing in the Asia Region, the Siargao Cloud 9 Surfing Cup 2018 is a magnificent event,” WSL Asia general manager Steve Robertson said on the WSL website. “One of the world’s classic waves and as a QS 3000, this event attracts a superb international field of surfers who come to the Philippines to score amazing barrels and surf for essential QS points and prize money – a live broadcast that is a must for the fans.”
For his part, General Luna city Mayor Jamie Russilon, known as the “godfather” of surfing in the Philippines due to his continuing support for the local surf industry, said: “We are very happy and proud to be hosting this year’s QS here in General Luna at the famous Cloud 9 wave. We welcome all of the competitors and hope that this event will help increase tourism and as a consequence brighten the future of our citizens and all of the people of the Philippines.”
Last year, on its first year as a QS 3000 event, Cloud 9 didn’t disappoint with great waves on offer all week, including the final day when competitors had clean 2- to 3-foot performance waves to show their stuff. The finals saw Brazilian Raoni Monteiro, a former elite Championship Tour competitor, narrowly edge out Costa Rica’s Tomas King in an exciting 35-minute battle.
“Right at the end when I saw that wave come, I knew it as the one and I knew I could do it,” Monteiro said, adding, “It is my first time here in the Philippines and the waves have been so good, we have all been really spoiled with the waves we got and everyone was ripping, so I feel really lucky to come out on top.”
Runner-up King had this to say: “This is the best place I’ve been in my life. It is beautiful and the waves are sick. I’ve had an amazing week.”
2016 winner Australian professional surfer Sandon Whittaker said on the WSL website: “Cloud 9 is an incredible place and is so much fun to surf in all conditions which makes it great for a contest. Siargao is a tropical paradise, the waters warm, it’s really clean, the food is so good and the waves are epic, plus the locals are really friendly and helpful.”
Expect great waves, great surfing, great food and great fun when the 23rd Siargao Cloud 9 Surfing Cup 2018 gets going later this month at the incredible Cloud 9 in Siargao.