Surf's up in Siargao

MANILA, Philippines - Surf’s up once more as the world’s top wave riders converge for the 18th Siargao International Surfing Cup on Sept. 23-29 in the town of Gen. Luna in Siargao Island.

Tahitian professional surfer Enrique Ariitu returns to defend his title against the best surfers from Australia, Indonesia Japan and the Philippines.

Local Siargao surfer Edito “Piso” Alcala will bank on his experience at the break to his advantage to try to grab this year’s crown from Ariitu, who beat him in the one-on-one 30-minute heat last year.

Local wave riders will naturally enjoy the advantage of local knowledge of the waves, along with the support of the hometown crowd.

With a total of $10,000 in prize money up for grabs, this international surfing event is the Philippines longest-running surfing competition.

Situated on the Pacific seaboard of Surigao del Norte, Cloud Nine surfing spot is listed as eighth in the World’s Top 50 Best Surf Spots compiled by CNNGo, the travel news website of CNN.

Set every third quarter of the year, the competition takes advantage of adrenaline-pumping huge waves which awe spectators and competitors alike.

 “This dramatic and powerful reef break, which crashes onto shallow razor-sharp coral, offers right and left death rides to those who dare. Those who do will experience a slice of paradise, or magic mushroom-like hallucinations, as the wave wraps over them like a Cornish pasty-shaped cocoon of water. Don’t slip, or your skin and bones will be ripped to shreds by the ocean bed,” writes Jade Bremmer in CNNGo about Siargao’s Cloud Nine.

The Cup will also feature fringe events such as the Siargao National Women’s Beach Volleyball Open from Sept. 24-27, live nightly musical performances, the Laro Ng Lahi, and the San Miguel Fashion Show on Sept. 29, which will be held at the Paseo de Cabutog.

Gen. Luna Mayor James Rosillon said the tournament will also showcase the unspoilt natural wonders of the town, as well as the neighboring municipalities in Siargao.

Organized by the Philippine Surfing Federation (PSF), the sporting event is supported by the Department of Tourism, San Miguel Corp., Cloud Nine Boardriders, Fluid Surf, Coca-Cola Bottler’s Company and My Life On Board.

For details, visit www.travelwithzen.blogspot.com.