2008 Billabong National Surfing Cup winners bared

General Luna, Siargao Island (September 19) — The national winners of the 2008 Billabong surfing cup were honored during the awarding ceremonies held Thursday (September 18) in this town.

As expected, local surfers from this town dominated both in juniors and seniors category where Dionisio Espejon led the seniors category, winning P30,000 in cash, while the Alipayo brothers composed of Peter Paul and Paul John were declared 1st and 2nd runners-up, respectively, getting home with P10,000 and P7,500 in cash.

Runners-up in the seniors’ category are Zaldy Coldura, Luke Landregan, and Martin Taniegra. They each receive P20,000, P15,000, and P10,000, respectively.

Meanwhile, Danny Coldura was declared champion in the Juniors’ category, winning P15,000 while Mark Canon grabbed the 2nd runner-up position, receiving P5,000.

Four semifinalists both from the two categories also received cash prizes. For the Seniors’ category, the qualifiers received P5,000 each while P1,500 were given to each who qualified in the Juniors category.

Also, the eight participants who made in the quarter finals each received cash prize of P2,5000 for the seniors’ category and P1,000 for the juniors.

A total of P166,500 cash prize were given to winners in this competition. Tomorrow (September 20), the 14th Siargao International Surfing Cup will commence at Cloud 9.

As of press time, 48 confirmed participants including the winners in the national level and from other countries including Australia, Hawaii, Bali Indonesia, Israel, and Japan will vie for the most coveted title as this year’s international surfing champion where US$20,000 cash prize is at stake. (PIA-Caraga)

All set for 14th Siargao Int’l Surfing Cup

General Luna, Siargao Island (September 19) — Preparations for the 14th Siargao International Surfing Cup is set to be finalized this evening as delegates from other countries started to arrive here to compete and vie for the championship prize amounting to US$20,000.

As of press time, 48 surfers are set to participate in this annual event that was given more impetus with the incumbency of former Governor Robert Lyndon Barbers of the province of Surigao del Norte.

An official competitor’s briefing is set to be conducted this evening to inform the participants of the mechanics of the competition.

Tomorrow, Saturday (September 20), Opening Ceremonies will be conducted at Cloud 9 – the contest venue at 10:00 in the morning. Afterwhich, a welcome lunch for guests and international competitors will be hosted by the provincial government of Surigao del Norte.

Aside from the surfing competition, the 2008 Search for Binibining General Luna will be conducted on Sunday (Sept. 21) in time with the celebration of the annual Tikyabang Festival of this town.

Moreover, the annual Gov. Robert Ace Barbers Open Chess Tournament will be also featured as one of the highlights of the activity, as well as the inter-school Modern Dance (Hip-Hop) competition.

The week-long international surfing competition will end on Friday (September 26) in a reception and farewell dinner that will also showcase the Awarding Ceremonies.

It can be recalled that last year, Billabong became the main presentor of this event. During this year, Gov. Barbers signed a memorandum of partnership for three years with the Australian-based firm. From a local surfing event in 1995, the surfing cup has evolved into an internationally competed event now known as the “Billabong Cloud 9 Invitational Surfing Cup”. (PIA-Caraga)

48 surfers expected in Cloud 9 for 2008 Billabong Surfing Championship

Surigao del Norte (18 September) — Some 48 confirmed participants are set to arrive in Gen. Luna, Siargao Island, in this province for the 2008 Billabong Cloud 9 Invitational Surfing Championships that will run on September 20-26, 2008.

As reported by billabong.com, leading the charge in the prestigious tournament includes the defending event champion Australian surfing star Wade Goodall (Caloundra) and some of the world’s most prolific tube riders, including 2006 Pipeline Master Jamie O’Brien (Hawaii) and professional big wave rider Makua Rothman (Hawaii), as well as fearless Australian chargers Laurie Towner (Yamba, NSW, Aus) and Dylan Longbottom (Coolangatta, Qld, Aus).

This desirable event with a special cash prize of $20,000 will commence at 10:00 am on Saturday, September 20 at Cloud 9, Gen. Luna, Siargao island, followed by a welcome lunch for guests and international competitors.

The tournament contest location is in ‘Cloud 9’, a powerful hollow right-hander that has been hailed as one of the ten best waves in the world and has been frequently compared to the renowned surf of Hawaii and Indonesia.

The Billabong Cloud 9 Invitational is supported by the Provincial Government of Surigao Del Norte with the support from the Department of Tourism. (PIA-Surigao del Norte)

Australian Wade Goodall Gunning For Consecutive Crowns At 2008 Billabong Cloud 9 Invitational

AUSTRALIAN surfer Wade Goodall (Caloundra, Qld, Aus) will be gunning for back-to-back Billabong Cloud 9 Invitational crowns when the second annual tournament gets underway at the remote, island jewel of Siargao in the Philippines this weekend.

The Sunshine Coast ace rode barrel after faultless barrel to topple a talented-stacked field following three days of absolute perfection during the inaugural tournament in 2007.

Cloud 9, once nominated as one of the ten best waves in the world, will once again set the scene for a tube-riding showdown with an international field of surfers confirmed to compete in the world’s premier tube-riding tournament scheduled for September 20-26, 2008.

Reigning title holder Goodall, who beat Gold Coast goofy-footer Nick Vasicek in ideal 1.5-2-metre tubes, is excited about the prospect of again surfing perfect barrels in this year’s tournament.

“Cloud 9’s tubes were the best waves I have ever had in a contest and just to have the opportunity to go there again is a real treat,” said Goodall.

“The place is really special to me. I turned 21 on the barge on the way over to the inaugural tournament and the last three days of competition were just full of perfect barrels. Hopefully, we’ll get similar conditions for this year’s event.”
An ultra perfect right hander located on the southeast coast of the Philippines, the Cloud 9 event has attracted confirmation from some of the world’s most prolific tube riders, including 2006 Pipeline Master Jamie O’Brien (Hawaii) and professional big wave rider Makua Rothman (Hawaii), as well as fearless Australian chargers Laurie Towner (Yamba, NSW, Aus) and Dylan Longbottom (Coolangatta, Qld, Aus).
48 surfers from Hawaii , Japan , Australia , Indonesia , Israel and 12 local wildcards will compete in a specialised format, which culminates in man on man heats. What separates the Billabong Cloud 9 Invitational from standard competitive surfing is that invited contestants are involved in deciding what conditions they will surf in.

With only two full days required to finalise the competition and a seven-day competition window, organisers have the luxury to wait for ideal conditions in which to run the event during Cloud 9’s prime swell period.
Bolstering to the tournament’s already premier line-up of surfers is the inclusion of 2006 event champion Ryan Hipwood (Mermaid Beach, Qld, Aus) and renowned aerialist Dave Reardon-Smith (Yaroomba, Qld, Aus), along with a host of Hawaiians including Jason Shibata, TJ Barron, Dustin Cuizon, Charlie Carroll, Granger Larsen and Mikala Jones.
Renowned Balinese surfers Rahtu Suargita, Lee Wilson, Marlon Gerber, Wyan ‘Kopling’ Wirtima, Made ‘Raditya’ Rhondi, Mustofa Jeksen and Tipi Jabrik will also travel to the neighbouring Philippines to contest the specialty event and will no doubt push the performance levels of the international field.

Due to Siargao’s proximity to the Philippines , big swells from the Pacific Ocean roll in from the second deepest stretch of water in the world to create flawlessly hollow waves.

The Billabong Cloud 9 Invitational is proudly supported by the Provincial Government of Surigao Del Norte with support from the Department of Tourism Philippines .

Official Entry List:

1) Ryan Hipwood (Aus)
2) Made ‘Raditya’ Rhondi ( Bali )
3) Wyan ‘Kopling’ Wirtima ( Bali )
4) Steven Walsh (Aus)
5) TJ Barron (Haw)
6) Dave Reardon-Smith (Aus)
7) Jason Shibata (Haw)
8) Lee Wilson ( Bali )
9) Tipi Jabrik ( Bali )
10) Wade Goodall (Aus)
11) Damien Wills (Aus)
12) Dustin Cuizon (Haw)
13) Makua Rothman (Haw)
14) Jamie O’Brien (Haw)
15) Charlie Carroll (Haw)
16) Dylan Longbottom (Aus)
17) Michael Brennan (Aus)
18) Laurie Towner (Aus)
19) Mikala Jones (Haw)
20) Made Adi ‘Bol’ Putra ( Bali )
21) Marlon Gerber ( Bali )
22) Shinpei Horguchi ( Japan )
23) Granger Larson (Haw)
24) Michael Hopkins (Aus)
25) Mark Visser (Aus)
26) Yonatan Klein ( Israel )
27) Gil Zilkha ( Israel )
28) Rahtu Suargita ( Bali )
29) Mustofa Jeksen ( Bali )
30) Adam Bennetts (Aus)
+ 6 riders TBC
+12 Philippines Wildcards

Coop office sa Surigao Norte misuporta sa trade fair exhibit sa sa General Luna

Ubos sa programa ni Gov. Ace Barbers sa pagpausbaw sa panginabuhian sa katawhan pinaagi sa pagpaila sa mga nagkadaiyang produkto sa atong probinsya, ang Provincial Cooperative Office miawhag sa mga nagkalain-laing mga coop members sa pagsalmut sa Trade Fair and Exhibit sa General Luna atol sa ika 14th International Surfing Cup, sugod September 14-27, 2008.

Ang mga kooperatiba nga misalmot naglakip na sa Nickel Island Women Multi-Purpose Cooperative nga nagbaligya sa mga fashion accessories, Mabua Fish Vendors & Housekeepers Multi-purpose Cooperative-Bamboo Craft, Gigaquit Agra Multi-Purpose Cooperative-Gigaquit Rum, Cabugao Fish Farmers Agra Consumers MPC-Vinegar, Provincial Jail Inmates-Souvenir Items, Rural Improvement Club of Mabua-Banana & Cassava Chips ug ang Western Coconut Producers & Marketing Cooperative (WESCOPROMACO), Malimono-Fashion Accessories, Coco Coir ug Orchid Bell.

Dako ang pasalamat sa mga kooperatiba sa higayon nga gihatag kanila ni Gov. Barbers, diin makapakita ug makabaligya sila sa ilang mga nagkadaiyang produkto. Sila nagpadayag nga dako kayo kini ug tabang para sa kalamboan sa ilang tagsa-tagsa nga trabaho ug panginabuhian.

Samtang gisugdan usab ang Agro-Fair nga gihimo gihapon sa General Luna niadtong Sept. 1-15, 2008. (PGO-Media Affairs)