SURIGAO CITY (MindaNews/16 Nov) — Around 100 surfers will ride the right-hand barrel waves as they will vie for the Lanuza Surfing Competition Nov. 16- 21 in Doot Poctoy, Lanuza, Surigao del Sur.
This quaint town situated in the coastal area in the northeastern part of Mindanao will be the hotspot for local and international surfers as they flaunt their talents for the tilt every November.
The event is organized by the local government of Lanuza, Philippine Surfing Federation (PSF), office of the congressman of the 1st District, Department of Tourism and the provincial government of Surigao del Sur.
PSF secretary general Zeny Pallugna said around 100 men and women, some of them foreigners, will be joining the competition as P300,000 (approximately $6,800) is up for grabs for the winners.
The tournament site is Lanuza’s Doot Poctoy, a powerful right hander with long ride (300 meters rolling, mellow waves as high as 3-4 feet) and strong current inside that has been hailed as one of the best waves by Australian long boarders and short boarders who joined the 1st Lanuza International Surfing Tournament in 2006.
Pallugna added that the tournament has four divisions: Men’s Open (18 and above), Wahine or Women’s Division, Junior Division (14-18 years old), and Grommets Division (9-13 years old). This tournament is open to both local and foreign surfers at P200 fee per participant.
Aside from the surfing tournament, Mayor Salvacion Azarcon reveals that the festival will feature activities such as Panaw sa Kinaijahan (Walk for the Environment), hip-hop dance contest, coastal clean-up, volleyball games, agro-agri ecotourism trade, baywalk cultural show, nightly band entertainment, motocross, beauty pageant, and mangrove planting.
A surfing clinic is also being offered by the Philippine Surfing Federation.
The Lanuza 2010 surfing festival is being supported by Fluid Surf, Brick, San Miguel Corporation, Rep. Philip Pichay Sr., Mayor Salvacion Azarcon, Gov. Johnny Pimentel and Surigao Development Corporation. (Roel N. Catoto / MindaNews)