Siargao bounces back to host surfing tilt

FILE / STOCK

SIARGAO — After a two-year hiatus, the Siargao International Surfing Cup returned and has gathered professional surfers, mostly from the Asia-Pacific region.

For the first time in history, the event ran as a men’s and women’s combined event from October 15 to 21.

Over the weekend event, it was all sunny, but the waves at Cloud 9 in General Luna reached as high as six feet.

Emerging as a champion for the men’s event is John Mark Tokong of the Philippines after defeating Oney Anwar of Indonesia in the Final Heat last Monday, October 17.

Tokong got a combined score of 15.8 points as against Anwar’s 14.15 in the finals.

For the women’s event, the Philippines’ Nilbie Blancada emerged as champion after defeating Anon Matsuoka of Japan in the Final Heat yesterday, October 17.

Blancada got a combined score of 11.50, while Matsuoka got 10.35 points.

For the organizers and the people of Siargao, it is more than just a competition but a celebration that the island is back on its feet after the devastation from both the COVID-19 pandemic and Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai) in December 2021.

Sanctioned by the World Surf League (WSL), the organization of professional surfers worldwide, delegates from Australia, Taiwan, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, Sweden, and the Philippines participated in the event.

Department of Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco was the guest of honor during the opening ceremonies, also attended by Presidential Son Vincent Marcos, a surfing enthusiast.

For the first time in two years, the hotels and resorts in Siargao were fully booked and there is already a shortage of accommodations over the weekend because of the event, according to Surigao Del Norte Representative Fransisco Jose “Bingo” Matugas.

The event at “Cloud 9” in General Luna town was staged on a still unfinished viewing deck, but the powerful waves in the area were enough for participants.

Odette destroyed the original viewing deck and some of its debris were laminated and used as trophies for the 26th Siargao International Surfing Cup.

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