Surf’s up in Olympics

MANILA, Philippines — After the Philippines’ impressive showing on the waves of Urbiztondo Beach in San Juan, La Union, at the recent Southeast Asian Games, United Philippine Surfing Association (UPSA) president Dr. Jose Raul (George) Canlas said yesterday the goal is now to qualify at least one athlete for the Tokyo Olympics next year.

Surfing will make its Olympic debut at Shidashita Beach, 40 miles outside of Tokyo in Chiba. Two gold medals will be at stake in shortboard for men and women. There will be 20 men and 20 women participating in the two-day competition. The window for surfing will be from July 26 to Aug. 2 with the exact two-day schedule dependent on wave conditions. 

Japan, as host nation, has automatic slots for one man and one woman. Each country can qualify up to two men and two women. The top 10 men and top eight women in the World Surf League Championship Tour rankings were awarded automatic tickets. The top finishers of each continent, except the Americas, from the 2019 World Surfing Games also qualified. The top four men and top six women in next year’s World Surfing Games will advance to Tokyo. If a country has qualified more than two men and two women, slots will be given to the highest ranking athletes from other countries.

Canlas made good on his promise to deliver an outstanding performance at the SEA Games with a squad of seven surfers. “Surfing will do very well,” he said before the SEA Games. “I expect at least a couple of golds.” Canlas was right on target. The Philippines claimed a gold each from Roger Casugay in men’s longboard and Nilbie Blancada in women’s shortboard, a silver each from Jay-R Esquivel in men’s longboard and Ikit Agudo in women’s longboard and a bronze each from John Mark Tokong in men’s shortboard and Daisy Valdez in women’s shortboard and longboard. 

“We’re working on qualifications for the Olympics,” said Canlas. “Hopefully, we get one in. We need to send them out to earn points. Surfing in the Olympics was initially scheduled in Enoshima where the World Surfing Games were held last year. The current is stronger and surfers have to paddle out farther but the waves are similar to La Union as it’s a beach break.”

The competition in the SEA Games was highlighted by Casugay’s heroic gesture of abandoning his pursuit of gold to save Indonesian Arip Nurhidayat who was in danger of being swept by raging waves after his ankle leash snapped. Casugay brought Arip back to shore. A few days later, organizers staged a replay and Casugay wound up bagging the gold and Arip, a bronze.

“Because of the SEA Games, Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar formed surfing associations,” said Canlas. “They were impressed with how we held the event and we formed a Southeast Asian surfing association. That’s together with the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand. We plan to invite Vietnam so surfing will be in the next SEA Games. Brunei has also reached out. It was a task to include surfing in the SEA Games but it was worth it. The local government of La Union from the governor to the mayor was so supportive and that’s why it was so successful.”

Canlas said Casugay didn’t think twice about saving Arip and in the process, giving up his lead. “Roger even downplayed it when interviewed at the Senate,” he said. “There was a Senate commendation for Roger. Sen. Bong Go initiated it. Sen. Binay had a resolution. Senators Bato, Joel, Migz and Dick were some of the senators who spoke up for Roger and the surfing team. Senators Manny, Sonny, Pia, Risa, Tito, Villar, Imee, Gathcalian, Revilla and others congratulated them. Sen. Sonny (Angara) has supported the Philippine Surfing Tour so he’s close to the team. Then, the team went to Malacañang where they had dinner and met President Duterte.” That night, the team went to the MOA Arena to watch the Philippine men’s basketball team play for gold and it was a fitting cap to a hectic day of celebration.

UPSA vice president Luke Landrigan said Casugay received the Lapu-Lapu award at the Senate and was personally congratulated by the President at the Palace. Landrigan noted that the last leg of the Philippine Surfing Tour started last Sunday and ends Friday in Borongan, Eastern Samar, with the top finishers to vie for Olympic qualification.