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SIARGAO ISLAND, Philippines (UPDATED) – Quarterfinalists were decided after Rounds 2 and 3 were completed in pulsing 3- to 4-foot Cloud 9 at the Siargao International Surfing Cup in Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte, on Saturday, September 27.
The expected increase in swell provided the international contestants with plenty of opportunities to pull into the world-renowned Cloud 9 barrels, as well as boosting airs and smashing big turns, with the Siargao crew clearly showing their local advantage in the face of the international contestants.
Out of the 8 quarterfinalists, 6 are local Siargao surfers, while the other two are the remaining international contestants – last year’s winner Putra Hermawan of Indonesia, and 16-year-old Australian Chris Zaffis.
“I’m pretty stoked to still be in it….Really I’m surprised to be one of the only international surfers left in the comp, but proud to be flying the flag for Australia,” said Zaffis.
He added: “I’m looking forward to a pumping morning of surf tomorrow, ‘coz I just want to get barreled and make it into the final!”
The Siargao locals in the quarterfinals are the usual suspects, a mix of previous event winners and Cloud 9 tube masters made up of “Piso” Alcala, “Osot” Alcala, “Dodo” Espijon, Philmar Alipayo, Carlito Nogalo, and “Marama” Tokong.
On sundown there were 4 to 6 foot sets blasting over the reef for the two dozen freesurfers enjoying a late session, the finale on Sunday, September 28, should see some better waves than on Saturday for an exciting finale to the event, the organizers said.
Day 1 recap
On Friday, September 26, the 20th Annual Siargao Cloud 9 Surfing Cup – an Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) 1-Star Qualifying Series (QS) event also sanctioned by the Asian Surfing Championships (ASC) – wrapped up Round 1 in building two- to 3-foot surf with both tubes and turn sections on offer.
After waiting two and half days for swell, competition commenced and the competitors turned it on in the fight for an all-important Round 2 berth.
Local surfer Nogalo, winner of the Siargao Cloud 9 Surfing Cup in 2012, started this year’s event with a bang, netting both a 7.50 and an 8.00 for a series of carves and barrel rides to easily advance into the next round.
“To qualify for this event I had to surf in the Nationals and the surf was really small,” Nogalo said. “So I’m glad the surf is picking up and we had some fun waves. There’s a lot of good Australian, Indonesian, and American surfers in this event, so I’m excited about making it into Round 2, because I think the surf will just get better.”
Indonesia’s Hermawan was mere seconds from missing his opening heat, paddling out as the siren sounded, but still managing to secure second position.
“I didn’t think they were going to run today,” Hermawan said. “I hadn’t watched the surf before my heat, I almost missed it, so I didn’t know what conditions to expect. I started with some bad waves but was lucky enough to get a couple of scores and make it through the heat.”
Alipayo (Philippines), who finished equal third at the ASP Cloud 9 Pro Junior in 2011 and third in this event last year, was again on point today. In Round 1, Alipayo posted a dominant heat win, with sharp backhand surfing on the rights and a big air-reverse on the left.
“I am feeling sick, so I’m glad to make it through the heat,” Alipayo said. “The surf is small so I just had to go out and start with some turns and once I had the lead I went for an air and it worked. Hopefully I’m feeling better and the surf is bigger tomorrow.”
John Talong (Philippines), 17-year-old Cloud 9 local, put on an aerial masterclass for his fellow competitors and the fans packing the tower wall-to-wall. Talong posted one of the highest heat totals of the opening day of competition for his technical and committed brand of surfing.
“I like it when the wind is like this because it’s good for airs,” Talong said. “I’m so happy to have a good heat in an ASP 1-Star QS event. It’s my first time in an event this big and it’s great. I want to stay focused and keep going in the event and get some barrels when it’s bigger.”
The 2014 Siargao Cloud 9 Surfing Cup will run from September 24 to 28, 2014, and boasts of a $15,000-prize money. It will be held in conjunction with the Philippines Surfing Federation. – Rappler.com
Visit aspworldtour.com for more information about the Association of Surfing Professionals and the Siargao Cloud 9 Surfing Cup.
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