General Luna, Siargao Island —- The town of General Luna where the world-class surf break Cloud 9 is located will be hosting this year’s Siargao Surfing Festival which will take place from September 17 to October 03. This year’s festival will have three major components, namely, the: 1) 13th Siargao National Surfing Cup – September 17 to 20; 2) Billabong Pro Junior Asia – September 21 to 28; and the 17th Siargao International Surfing Cup – September 29 to October 3.
Siargao Surfing Festival 2011
Billabong Pro Junior Asia.
Although the festivity will kick-off on September 17, the festival’s highlight is on the 20th when eighty surfers from Australia, Japan, Hawaii, Europe, Brazil, South America, Indonesia, Malaysia, United States of America, and the Philippines will convene at Cloud 9 for the first ever 5-star rated ASP or Association of Surfing Professionals event dubbed as Billabong Pro Junior Asia.
Mayor Jaime Rusillon of General Luna revealed that this Billabong Pro Junior Asia has made his dream a reality. Cloud 9 has finally carved or sealed its name in the world’s surfing map.
ASP Australasia General Manager Dane Jordan is excited to make this a landmark event for the region. The ASP and the surfers will show the world what Cloud 9 has to offer. “ASP Australasia in conjunction with ASP Japan is very pleased to sanction the Billabong Pro Junior Asia.” Jordan said that “The world class waves of Cloud 9 in the Philippines have long been lauded as the perfect venue for an ASP Event and thank you to Billabong for helping this become a reality.”
“Billabong paved the way for the creation of the Pro Junior series and is again leading the way by staging the Billabong Pro Junior Asia to showcase the best junior surfers in one of the world’s best waves,” Jordan added. Billabong Asia’s Brand Manager, Peter Thew cannot wait to see the world’s best junior surfers take to the Cloud 9 lineup.
“We could not be happier with the new home for our Billabong Pro Junior Asia event, being at such an iconic break like Cloud 9,” Thew said. He further said that “the wave is literally perfect and the fact that this event will launch both the ASP Japan and Australasian series, should make for some pretty exciting competition.”
The dynamic leaders of Surigao del Norte, Congressman Francisco Matugas and Governor Sol Matugas, on the other hand, are delighted to inked partnership with Billabong International Limited to hold and sponsor for two consecutive years (2011/2012) a high profile international surfing event in Siargao that offers a total prize-money of US$25,000 or approximately 1.075 Million pesos plus trophies.
They said that this event is just a stepping stone for more private-public partnership projects in the future to boost the tourism industry in the island of Siargao. They further said that “this is just one of the major surfing competitions that we will be highlighted for this year’s Siargao Surfing Festival that will run from September 17 to October 03.
13th Siargao National Surfing Cup
Prior to Billabong Pro Junior Asia event, qualifying-rounds for all-Filipino surfers (known as 13th Siargao National Surfing Cup) will be staged to identify the best Filipino surfers who will officially represent the Philippines for the Billabong Pro Junior Asia and the 17th Siargao International Surfing Cup. Filipino surfers from Baler, Aurora, Camarines, Samar, La Union, General Luna, Lanuza and other parts of the country are expected to compete. Philippines’ top 12 surfers will be chosen to become the official representatives of the 17th Siargao International Surfing Cup. A total of two hundred thousand pesos (Php200,000) is up for grabs by the Filipino surfers for both open and junior categories while the top Filipino junior surfers (ages 20 and below) will officially represent the country for the Billabong Pro Junior Asia.
17th Siargao International Surfing Cup
This international surfing event is the Philippines’ longest-running surfing competition making the country popular among the world’s sought after surf destinations. This men’s open event will pit the skills of the country’s top Filipino surfers against those of foreign competitors. Already confirmed to fly in for the event are surfers from Australia, Indonesia and Japan who will be vying for a total prize-money of US$10,000 plus trophies.
Other Activities
This year, Siargao’s event will continue to infuse the contest with other activities to make it more festive and appealing to both local and foreign surfing enthusiasts and beach lovers. Aside from the top-level surfing competition, the festival will also feature a street dancing festival, agri-aqua trade fair and exhibits, neo-ethnic dance competition, fashion show, San Miguel Corporation’s street parties, Women’s Beach Volleyball and other sports activities.
Cloud 9 has been recognized as one of the surfers dream breaks in the Pacific Region and considered as the Surfing Capital of the Philippines. For the past seventeen years, Cloud 9 is the venue of the annual Siargao international surfing event called, “Siargao International Surfing Cup.” Through this event, the surfing industry in the Philippines is growing and gaining so much popularity in the global market.
Governor Matugas announced that she has invited President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to grace the grand opening of this festival. She further said that this year’s event will continue to infuse the contest with other activities to make it more festive and appealing to both local and foreign surfing enthusiasts and beach lovers. Aside from the top-level surfing competition, the festival will also feature a street dancing festival, agri-aqua trade fair and exhibits, neo-ethnic dance competition, fashion show, Ms. Siargao beauty pageant, San Miguel Corporation’s street parties, Women’s Beach Volleyball and other sports activities.
The Siargao Surfing Festival is organized by the House of Representatives for the First District of Surigao del Norte, the Provincial Government of Surigao Del Norte, the Philippine Surfing Federation, and Philippine Department of Tourism. The supporting sponsors include Smart Communications Philippines, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority or TIEZA, Air Asia, Nixon, Von Zipper, Free Surf, and San Miguel Corporation.
Cloud 9 sits to the north of the town of General Luna on the pacific side of Siargao Island in Surigao del Norte. It is recognized as one of the surfers dream breaks in the Pacific Region and considered as the Surfing Capital of the Philippines. For the past seventeen years, Cloud 9 is the venue of the annual Siargao international surfing event called, “Siargao International Surfing Cup”, which is considered as the first and longest running surfing competition in the country. Through this event, the surfing industry in the Philippines is growing and gaining so much popularity in the global market.
Siargao, a small island off Mindanao’s north-eastern tip, is 800 kilometers southeast of Manila. It can be reached by plane from Manila to Siargao via Cebu (every Fridays and Mondays). There is also a direct flight from Manila/Cebu to Surigao City (four-times-a-week), which is the jump-off point to Siargao Island. Taking a daily flight from Manila to Butuan City is another option. But from Butuan City, you have to take a three-hour passenger bus or van to Surigao City. From there, there is a regular passenger ferry or RORO (Roll-On/Roll-Off) boat that will take you to the island in approximately two to four hours. For queries or more details about the event, you may contact the Secretary General of the Philippine Surfing Federation, Zeny Pallugna, at +63 9296721508 (mobile) or zenpallugna@yahoo.com.ph (email).
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