SIARGAO ISLAND -- A total of US$75,000 in prize money will be up for grabs in this year’s men’s Siargao International Surfing Cup, considered to be the biggest yet after its international Qualifying Series (QS) ranking was upgraded, drawing in more surfing competitors here for the event in September.
“This year the Siargao International Surfing Cup will be the biggest after it has been upgraded to a World QS3,000 with the total prize money of 75,000 US dollar to be given to the top winning surfers. So far we are expecting around 90 professional surfers from all over the globe to come and compete this year here in Cloud 9, General Luna, Siargao Island which will open on September 23, 2017,” said Gerry Degan, event director.
Degan, who has been the surfing competition director for the past 15 years, expressed his enthusiasm for this year’s event.
“Since the QS ranking has been upgraded, surfers are expecting more WQS points, and with more points we expect more big names from the international surfing circuit, as they will be going after the higher WQS ranking points. Everyone wants a slice of the points, the prize money is more of an added icing on the cake,” Degan said.
Degan said the top-8 local surfers who will compete for the national surfing competition will qualify for the international event.
“I do think three to four local surfers have the chance, they know the wave so very well and they are fantastic surfers. Who knows, with their knowledge of Cloud 9, they might be able to take home the top prize,” he said.
“We are looking to have professional surfers competing here in Cloud 9 from countries such as Australia, Japan, Mexican, mainland United States, Hawaii, New Zealand, Indonesia, South Africa, Spain, France, England and Tahiti,” he added.
Carlito Nogallo, one of the local professional surfers from Siargao Island, said he is confident going into the competition.
“I’m sure this year will be bigger, more exciting and with far better international surfers that will be competing as the competition has been upgraded to QS3,000 but this means that it will be harder for local surfers and we have to work extra harder just to get into the top spot,” Nogallo said.
Nogallo said it will be harder for them but said many of them are confident they will be able to read the waves properly and ride the big waves.
Mary Jean Camarin, officer in charge of the Department of Tourism (DOT) in Caraga Region revealed that the DOT has allocated 10,000 million pesos for the entire year with several events in Siargao Island.
“A total of 10,000 million pesos has been allocated by DOT for the entire 2017 for several events in Siargao Island. This includes the recently concluded the 1st Siargao International Marathon, which was done last July. Then we has the 10th Siargao International Game Fishing Tournament back in April, the 10th Siargao International Women’s Surfing Cup 2017 last May and then right before the Men’s International Surfing Cup with be the Men’s National Surfing Competition,” said Camarin.
Camarin explained further that the provincial government of Surigao del Norte has also been supportive in finding for local sponsors that would hopefully help out to further make the event bigger.
The World Surf League (WSL) announced on their website on August 15, 2017 that the Siargao International Surfing Cup on September has been upgraded to a QS3,000 event.
Australian professional surfer Sandon Whittaker who took the 2016-cup has expressed his eagerness to return to Siargao and defend his title on the WSL website.
"I'm stoked the Siargao Surfing Cup is going to be a QS3,000 this year. I can't wait to get back there it is an amazing place. Cloud 9 is an incredible place and is so much fun to surf in all conditions which makes it great for a contest. Siargao is a tropical paradise, the waters warm, it's really clean, the food is so good and the waves are epic, plus the locals are really friendly and helpful. It's going to be a great contest," said Whittaker on the WSL website.