GENERAL LUNA, Siargao Island (MindaNews/10 April) — The country’s surfing capital will host the Siargao International Women’s Surfing Cup Qualifying Series 1,000, the much awaited event among surfing fanatics and enthusiasts on May 2 to 6 at Cloud 9, the country’s most sought after surfing haven.
General Luna Mayor Jaime P. Rusillon said Monday that this is the very first time that the International Women’s Surfing Competition Cup will be sanctioned by World Surf League (Qualifying Series), which means best females surfers around the world will vie for the points and trophies and prize pegged at $10,000 USD, the biggest for a women’s qualifying series 1,000.
The World Surf League (WSL), formerly the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP), is dedicated to celebrating the world’s best surfing on the world’s best waves through a variety of best-in-class audience platforms.
The WSL has been championing the world’s best surfing since 1976, running global events across the Men’s and Women’s Championship Tours, the Big Wave Tour, Qualifying Series, Junior and Longboard Championships, as well as the WSL Big Wave Awards. The League possesses a deep appreciation for the sport’s rich heritage while promoting progression, innovation and performance at the highest levels.
Mayor Rusillion, often referred to as the Godfather of Surfing in Siargao Island, has been a strong supporter of both men’s and women’s surfing at Cloud 9 for over 20 years, and this event will be the 9th women’s event under his patronage.
“Everything is being prepared and the waves will be ready,” he said.
“We are happy that our women’s event will now be sanctioned by the WSL and we can’t wait for the first Cloud 9 waves to be conquered by these brave women,” he said.
“We have the number one professional female surfer in Asia and current rank number 2 professional male in Asia declared by the Asian Surfing Championship,” Rusillon said, adding he is confident that with the inclusion of surfing in the Olympics in 2020, we can grab the gold medal.”
“WSL is thrilled to be taking the Women’s QS tour to the Philippines,” said WSL Asia Regional Manager Steve Roberson in a press statement sent to MindaNews on April 10.
“I know how much work it takes to make these events happen so I’d like to thank the people of Siargao and everyone else who has supported the event,” he said.
The WSL has had a great relationship with the Siargao surfing community for two decades and is pleased to see this relationship build and flourish in 2017 with the inclusion of a women’s QS event.
“It will be interesting to see whether the locals, who know the fine intricacies of the wave or the more experienced international surfers will take the win and the prize money,” he said.
Boasting a generous $10,000 USD prize purse, not to mention the lure of getting deeply barreled in this perfectly pitching righthander, of Cloud 9.
The Siargao International Women’s Cup has already attracted the attention of one of the best international female surfers, current QS number 8 ranked Philippa Anderson from Australia.
“It’s great to see the WSL getting on board for a women’s contest in the Philippines,” Anderson said. “Everyone knows how good the waves are, so to finally have a women’s QS event there is going to be great. I’ve been coming to the Philippines for a few years now and I love it. The vibe, the waves, the food, and of course the locals. It’s one of my favorite places in the world. The local surfers are so cool and now the level of surfing with the girls there is incredible.”
Philippa Anderson won the 8th Annual Siargao International Women’s Surfing Cup in 2015. She is currently sitting at No. 8 on the QS series.
Anderson won the event last time it was held as an ASC (Asian Surfing Championship) event in 2015. She will be looking for victory again when she returns.
“Coming back as champion from the last time I was there is really cool, but it would never be easy, it never is. With the standard getting better and better each year I’m excited to watch the local girls put on a great show like they always do.
Massive thanks to everyone involved with getting this event on the schedule. I can’t wait for warm water and pumping waves.” she added.
Nilbie Blancada, the reigning and defending 2016 Asian Surfing Champion who hails from this town said “it’s gonna be clash of titans, an epic battle among surfing queens around the world and I’ll do everything I could for the glory of our country,” she said. (Roel N. Catoto / MindaNews)