Top caliber bets start arriving for 2015 World Surfing Cup in Siargao
SURIGAO CITY – The best surfers from around the world have started to arrive at Cloud 9 in General Luna town, Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte for the 2015 World Surfing Cup slated September 24 to 29.
Competitors from Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, USA and Europe will be joining local bets in this $20,000 meet.
Officials of the provincial government of Surigao del Norte, led by Gov. Sol F. Matugas, said this 21st Siargao Surfing Cup at Cloud 9, which is located in the so-called “Paradise Island of Siargao,” has been upgraded to pose more challenges to the growing number of international participants in this fiveday competition slated.
This year's event has been upgraded to hold a QS 1,500 rating and will be co-sanctioned by the Asian Surfing Championship Tour (ASC), Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) and World Qualifying Semis (WQS).
Philippine pride Edito “Piso” Alcala topped the event last year in classic conditions in the event's 20th staging. He brandished world-class tube riding skills in asserting his mastery at his home break and will be returning to gun for back-to-back titles as the event.
"I was so happy to win last year and, hopefully, I can achieve the same results this year,” Alcala said, who picked up his first surfboard at Cloud 9 as a youngster.
Surigao del Norte Rep. Francisco T. Matugas and General Luna town Mayor Jaime Rusillion have been coordinating with the Department of Tourism (DOT) and provincial government of Surigao del Norte for the success of this biggest event in the history of surfing in Siargao.
Matugas and Rusillon are the acknowledged godfathers of surfing in Siargao.
Siargao is the only place in the Philippines that hosts two annual international events. Aside from surfing, it also hosts the international game fishing tournament in nearby Pilar town.
“We will try to stage a bigger event this year to make a mark in the world map of tourism. All committees are ready to also entertain not only our surfers from around the globe but also big number of tourists, both foreign and domestic, as we are already preparing some programs to entertain our guests,” Matugas told Manila Bulletin yesterday. Tourism Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez, Jr., thru DOT 13 Regional Director Leticia DC Tan, is also closely coordinating with the provincial government for the success of this big event.