The wait is over, tomorrow 25th of September. The 2019 Philippine Surfing Championship Tour will kick off with its first leg in Siargao, the undeniable surfing capital of the Philippines. The event will run from the 25th until the 30th of September with 112 surfers joining form all over the country, from La Union in the north to Palawan in the west.
This year’s competition is dedicated to the godfather of the Philippine Surfing, Honorable Mayor Jaime Plaza Rusillon, who passed away the last 20th of April. Mayor Rusillon supported the surf industry since the mid-’90s. He was the first to support surfing, paving the way for both national and international surfing competitions to become a reality in Cloud 9. Thus, Mayor Rusillon did not stop until Siargao became recognized worldwide as a surf paradise and last year was awarded as the best island in Asia.
Surfers from all over the Philippines have travelled to Siargao to participate in what is one of the most exciting legs of the PSCT tour. Local knowledge plays a big role in Cloud 9, a fast and powerful right-hand wave which offers mind-blowing barrels when the swell picks up. For the past two years, the Siargaonon surfers have claimed the crown, Philmar Alipayo in 2017 and John Mark Tokong in 2018, but as we’ve seen in surfing, anything can happen as long as the heat is still on.
During last year’s competition, Cloud 9 offered constant 4-5 foot waves that allowed our riders to perform and showcase their best that gave the judges and crowd non-stop action. The categories for the third year of the PSCT tour are Men’s Open Shortboard and Juniors Division, with a total prize of PHP 331,000 between both categories.
With surfing being now an Olympic Sport, PSCT is the platform where surfers from all over the country can grow throughout our tour and win a spot in the national surfing team. Last year’s top winners, have recently travelled to the ISA World Surfing Games in Japan to represent the Philippines and competed with world champions.
As the tour takes us around various surf spots in the Philippines, our competing surfers will be tried against varying spots and wave conditions. Surfers who garner the highest points at the end of the tour will be the PSCT Grand Champions.
PSCT President and Head Judge Luke Landrigan is thrilled to see the growth of Philippine surfing—the surfers’ skills and the increasing support and interest that comes from various places across the Philippines and around the world. “It’s a great year for surfing and for surfers everywhere especially as it’s now recognized in the Olympics,” Landrigan says.
The 21st Siargao National Surfing Cup is fully supported by VANS Philippines and hosted by the Municipal Government of General Luna. PSCT also thanks its sponsors: the Philippine Sports Commission, the Province of Surigao del Norte, Maui and Sons, Congressman Matugas and with sponsors Gwapitos, Cebu Pacific, Kermit Siargao, House of Representatives, ABS-CBN Sports and Action, CNN Philippines, Kudo Surf, Fat Lips Surf Shop, ANCx, Be Siargao Magazine, Harana Surf Resort, Inquirer.net, Metro Channel, Inq Pop, Binggo Ride, Olas Banditos, Seawadeeka, Siargao Corner Cafe, Siargao Wakepark, My Life on Board, Beach Hut, SOS Gym, Shaka Cafes, Fluidsurf, Zicatela, Etaka, Cantilan Bank, Greenhouse Siargao, Fili Beans Espresso, DWIZ, Pacific Cross, PAGCOR, Siargao Island Surfing Association, SEA Movement, Vissla, Loose Keys Moto Culture, Barangay Catangnan and Heineken.
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