General Luna, Siargao Island —- Cloud 9, the world-class break in Siargao Island, will host for two consecutive years (2011/2012) the Billabong Pro Junior Asia presented by Sony Ericson. This first ever 5-star rated ASP or Association of Surfing Professionals event to run in the Philippines will take place from September 21 to 28.
Billabong Pro Junior Asia Surfing
Eighty surfers from Australia, Japan, Hawaii, Europe, Brazil, South America, Indonesia, Malaysia, United States of America, and the Philippines will be vying for the total prize-money of US$25,000 or approximately 1.075 Million pesos plus trophies.
Mayor Jaime Rusillon of General Luna revealed that this Billabong Pro Junior Asia has made his dream a reality. Cloud 9 has finally carved or sealed its name in the world’s surfing map.
ASP Australasia General Manager Dane Jordan is excited to make this a landmark event for the region. The ASP and the surfers will show the world what Cloud 9 has to offer. “ASP Australasia in conjunction with ASP Japan is very pleased to sanction the Billabong Pro Junior Asia.” Jordan said that “The world class waves of Cloud 9 in the Philippines have long been lauded as the perfect venue for an ASP Event and thank you to Billabong for helping this become a reality.”
“Billabong paved the way for the creation of the Pro Junior series and is again leading the way by staging the Billabong Pro Junior Asia to showcase the best junior surfers in one of the world’s best waves,” Jordan added. Billabong Asia’s Brand Manager, Peter Thew cannot wait to see the world’s best junior surfers take to the Cloud 9 lineup.
“We could not be happier with the new home for our Billabong Pro Junior Asia event, being at such an iconic break like Cloud 9,” Thew said. He further said that “the wave is literally perfect and the fact that this event will launch both the ASP Japan and Australasian series, should make for some pretty exciting competition.”
The dynamic leaders of Surigao del Norte, Congressman Francisco Matugas and Governor Sol Matugas are delighted to inked partnership with Billabong International Limited to hold and sponsor for two consecutive years a high profile international surfing event in Siargao. Billabong, an Australia-based company, is engaged in the wholesaling and retailing of surf, skate and snow apparel and accessories in more than 100 countries worldwide with approximately 11,000 branches including Philippines, Australia, North America, Europe, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa and Brazil. Philippines’ Cloud 9 is fortunate to be chosen as a venue for this high profile international surfing event.
They said that this event is just a stepping stone for more private-public partnership projects in the future to boost the tourism industry in the island of Siargao. They further said that “this is just one of the major surfing competitions that we will be highlighted for this year’s Siargao Surfing Festival that will run from September 17 to October 03.
Governor Matugas announced that she has invited President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to grace the grand opening of this festival. She further said that this year’s event will continue to infuse the contest with other activities to make it more festive and appealing to both local and foreign surfing enthusiasts and beach lovers. Aside from the top-level surfing competition, the festival will also feature a street dancing festival, agri-aqua trade fair and exhibits, neo-ethnic dance competition, fashion show, Ms. Siargao beauty pageant, San Miguel Corporation’s street parties, Women’s Beach Volleyball and other sports activities.
The Billabong Pro Junior Asia presented by Sony Ericsson is endorsed and hosted by the House of Representatives for the First District of Surigao del Norte, Provincial Government of Surigao Del Norte, Local Government of General Luna, Philippine Surfing Federation, and Philippine Department of Tourism. The supporting sponsors include Free Surf, Smart Communications Philippines, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority or TIEZA, Air Asia, Nixon, Von Zipper, Free Surf, and San Miguel Corporation.
Cloud 9 sits to the north of the town of General Luna on the pacific side of Siargao Island in Surigao del Norte. It is recognized as one of the surfers dream breaks in the Pacific Region and considered as the Surfing Capital of the Philippines. For the past seventeen years, Cloud 9 is the venue of the annual Siargao international surfing event called, “Siargao International Surfing Cup”, which is considered as the first and longest running surfing competition in the country. Through this event, the surfing industry in the Philippines is growing and gaining so much popularity in the global market.
Siargao, a small island off Mindanao’s north-eastern tip, is 800 kilometers southeast of Manila. It can be reached by plane from Manila to Siargao via Cebu (every Fridays and Mondays). There is also a direct flight from Manila/Cebu to Surigao City (four-times-a-week), which is the jump-off point to Siargao Island. Taking a daily flight from Manila to Butuan City is another option. But from Butuan City, you have to take a three-hour passenger bus or van to Surigao City. From there, there is a regular passenger ferry or RORO (Roll-On/Roll-Off) boat that will take you to the island in approximately two to four hours. For queries or more details about the event, you may contact the Secretary General of the Philippine Surfing Federation, Zeny Pallugna, at +63 9296721508 (mobile) or zenpallugna@yahoo.com.ph (email).
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