A surfer athlete participating in the qualifying series of the World Surf League powers across high waves in San Juan town, La Union province. (Photo courtesy of United Philippine Surfing Association)
LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte—The Asia Region 2023 season of the World Surf League (WSL)-Asia Pacific (APAC) is heading to the country’s premier surfing destination in San Juan town in La Union province, with at least 250 international professional surfers set to compete from Jan. 20 until 26.
“We’re starting 2023 strong with a WSL Qualifying Series event at the famed point of the longboarding capital of the Philippines, La Union,” said the United Philippine Surfing Association in a statement on Thursday, Jan. 19.
The Point at Urbiztondo Beach in the town will serve as the location for the men’s and women’s qualifying series 3,000 and the longboard qualifying series 1,000. The town also hosted surfing competitions during the 30th SEA Games in 2019.
Tour Manager Ty Sorati said in an earlier statement that La Union as a venue “is incredible with plenty of options for waves as well as a picturesque coastline.”
Sorati noted that the competitions will “play a super important role in deciding the Asia region’s representative on both the World Longboard Tour and Challenger series for 2023.”
SEA Games gold medalist Roger Casugay, who hails from San Fernando City, La Union, is also expected to compete and represent the country alongside at least 50 other surfers from Siargao, La Union, Aurora, and Sorsogon in the WSF APAC competitions, according to the San Juan tourism office.
Aside from giving the country’s first gold in surfing at the SEA Games, Casugay was also the first Filipino to receive the prestigious Pierre de Coubertin Act of Fair Play Award from the Comite International du Fair-Play (CIFP, or International Fair Play Committee).
The award was bestowed on him in 2020 for his heroic deed of ditching a gold medal to save Indonesian competitor Arip Nurhidayat from drowning during the 30th SEA Games longboard semifinals.
Sorati noted that they expected “a solid contingent of international surfers to attend, which is exciting for the La Union area.”
La Union has gained popularity for being one of the country’s top surfing destinations, with surfing spots in San Juan, Caba, Agoo, and Bacnotan towns. INQ
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