BUTUAN CITY (MindaNews / 22 Apr) – The 8th Women International Surfing competition is expected to be the biggest to date as top seeded international surfers will compete for a total cash price of US$7,000 on May 4 in General Luna, Siargao Island.
“As of the moment, this is the biggest total cash prize money for a women surfing competition in the Asian circuit,” said Gerry Degan, contest director. The champion will get US$3,000, while the runners-up will get $1,500, $1,000 and $500.
Degan explained that the competition, which will last until May 9 at Cloud 9, is part of the Asian Surfing Competition (ASC) circuit.
“The ASC circuit will give women surfers from all over the world a chance to get much needed points to help them push their international rankings. Siargao Island is one of those places, together with ASC sanctioned events in Taiwan, China and Indonesia,” said the Australian contest director.
Degan added that big names in the women international surfing circuit – from Australia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Switzerland and Hawaii – have already confirmed attendance to the event.
“One of the biggest names this year is Philippa Anderson from Australia, who has gained so much recognition in the international surfing circuit,” he added.
According to the World Surfing League (WSL) website, Anderson is currently ranked number 21.
Donna Grace Estrella, Siargao tourism coordinator, expressed her optimism for the upcoming event, adding that the local government unit in General Luna has closely coordinated with the provincial government of Surigao del Norte to ensure success.
“We estimate around 24 women surfers to compete this May. With the experience our local women competitors already have, I’m sure it will be a very interesting and challenging event for everyone,” she said.
The Siargao competition was first sanctioned to be part of the ASC in May 2012. This placed the Philippines in the surfing map of the multi-country, multi-event professional ASC. In that same event, Anderson, who was then ranked second in the world in the Junior Women division, competed against Siargao’s Nilbie Blancada. The latter won the competition, while Anderson placed third.