International surfing contest in Siargao

07/22/11 - SURIGAO CITY, Philippines – Preparations are under way for the 2011 World Junior Surfing Competition to be held at the famous Cloud 9 in General Luna, Siargao Island in Surigao del Norte, known also as “Paradise Island.”

Officials said at least 200 junior surfers coming from the 40 countries have already signified their intention to participate in the international surfing tourney in September this year.

Various committees have been mobilized for the success of this big international event.

The husband and wife team of Rep. Francisco T. Matugas (1st district) and Gov. Sol F. Matugas, jointly pooled their respective resources, along with the nine municipal mayors on the island, and the whole officialdom of the province for the preparation of several programs that can also entertain the international surfers, tourists, and guests during the four-day international competition.

Flights from Manila direct to Siargao Island and from Cebu to Siargao Island are already in place, including motor boat ride from this seaport city to Siargao Island.

Last year, the World Junior Surfing Competition was held in Brazil with a total of 171 out of the 276 surfers in the event competed in the intense 48 heats of the Under 18 and 16 Boys divisions.

The competition has two divisions — boys and girls under 18 and 16 years old

This year, preliminaries and elimination rounds of the World Junior surfing competition will be held in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Australia with the finals and championship rounds to be held at “Cloud 9”, General Luna in Siargao.

“This event will add another mark in the world tourism road map and will bring foreign and local tourists and international and local surfers to Siargao Island, the country’s surfing capital,” added Rep. Matugas.

Meanwhile, in preparation for the influx of tourists and motorists on Siargao Island, Region 13 DPWH Regional Director Danilo E. Versola ordered on Tuesday the Surigao del Norte’s 2nd District Engineering Office to improve the “surf-fishing” capital national roads which lead to various tourist destinations in the “Paradise Island” by paving, rehabilitating, widening and upgrading the roads. (Manila Bulletin)