Australians protest planned shark culling

SYDNEY -- Thousands of people rallied across Australia Saturday against a controversial shark culling policy designed to prevent attacks, saying killing the marine animals was the not the answer.

The controversial policy to catch and kill sharks off popular west coast beaches was given the green light last month after six fatal attacks in the past two years.

It is aimed at reducing the risks to water users and allows baited drum lines with hooks designed to capture large sharks to be set one kilometer offshore at busy Western Australian beaches for a trial period until April 30.

Any shark longer than three meters (10 feet) snagged by the lines and deemed to be a threat -- including great white, bull and tiger sharks -- will be destroyed, with the first casualty reported last week.

The move has angered conservationists and rallies were held at sites around the country, including at least 2,000 people at Manly Beach in Sydney and 6,000 expected at Cottesloe Beach in Perth.

Opponents claim the trial flies in the face of international obligations to protect the great white shark.

Anthony Joyce, who was attacked by a shark off a Sydney beach last October, once shared the Western Australian government's views on culling the animals, but after doing extensive research he now disagrees.

"The amount of sharks they are going to kill is going to make no difference in the scheme of things," he told reporters at Manly.

After speaking with shark experts and marine biologists, he now believes greater government support for marine biology programs and shark education in schools is the way to go.

Another protestor in Manly, Katherine Cook, said she was outraged at the shark killings.

"I'm really angry and incensed that we can't co-exist with anything," she said.

"We are going into their (sharks) environment. Why can't we co-exist?"

At Cottesloe, a female activist chained herself to a fisheries boat to prevent it leaving to set and monitor baited hooks off the coast, the ABC reported.

While sharks are common in Australian waters, deadly attacks are rare, with only one of the average 15 incidents a year typically proving fatal.

But experts say attacks are increasing in line with population growth and the popularity of water sports.

source: interaksyon.com

Three surfing tips from the champs of the 8th Manila Surfers Cup

The best thing about the Philippines, says a girl to a Canadian at a seaside hostel, is that there’s always a bus headed to a beach somewhere. The foreigner has to agree. He himself is there to catch a few waves over the weekend.

This is exactly what surfers like to take advantage of as frequently as possible. While weekdays are for the daily grind inside concrete and steel offices, weekends are solely for the sand and sea.

At the 8th Manila Surfers Cup held last February 23 to 24 by the Manila Surfers Association in San Juan, La Union, pros Nikki dela Paz, Buji Libarnes, and Lui Tortuya revealed a few nuggets of wisdom for anyone who wants a piece of the action, too.




1. There are no epiphanies in surfing. One doesn’t figure it out in a single day, said Tortuya, who took the crown at the men’s shortboard invitational division.

“You don’t say, ‘I’m gonna learn to surf this weekend,’” he said. There are hundreds of minor adjustments and tiny movements one’s body learns to make over time, he added.

Tortuya has been surfing for some 20 years, having started when he was 13 back in California, where he grew up. Meanwhile, dela Paz and Libarnes have been in the game for ten and 13 years, respectively.

2. Always prioritize your safety. Dela Paz, who was the champion at the wahine shortboard invitational division, recalled the how she got hooked on surfing on her first try.

“When learning to surf, your instructor will push you into the water. I was done for. With that first push, I knew I would be back.”

While a thrilling experience, she emphasized that surfers should only go on waves they know they can handle. Injury and drowning are very real possibilities.

3. Don’t be ashamed to ride a big board. “Foam is fun,” said Libarnes, who brought home the bacon at the men’s longboard invitational division.

Most surfers from Manila are averse to the longboard, he observed. This is a no-no, as they don’t get to learn the basics in style, gliding, and the like when they immediately use a shortboard.

One gets to catch more waves with a bigger board. If beginners go on shortboards and don’t catch waves, they can get frustrated. Worse, they no longer want to pursue surfing. With a bigger board, said Libarnes, one can improve faster and attain a better form.

He had been longboarding for eight years before he transitioned to shortboarding.

“There is a proper board for every type of wave,” he said. The shortboard is appropriate for big waves, while the longboard is suited for knee-high waves.



Dancing in the ocean

“Dancing in the ocean” is how Tortuya calls it, and whether it be the boogie or the ballet, it is what separates the good surfers from the best.

Libarnes, who is Mr. Style himself, says surfing is “the best feeling.” The architect goes to the beach at least twice a month to get a natural high, spending up to five hours straight in the water to get his fill.

“Wala akong kain (I don’t even have to eat)!” he said. “It’s just you, the ocean, and a couple of friends enjoying nature. You feel like kids again.”

It is here that he finds his escape. There are no problems out in the sea. It never gets tiring, either, as each wave is special.

At the very least, Dela Paz joked, surfing beats going to the gym. One doesn’t break out in a sweat even though it is a form of exercise.

Also an architect, she advised that beginners shouldn’t be discouraged if they wipe out. Falling of the board is normal. One just has to keep going back to try and catch another wave.

She wishes more girls would begin surfing, although their numbers have swelled over the years.

Meanwhile, Libarnes extends the invite to everyone.

“It’s life-changing. You see the world differently. You’d want life to be simpler, to be less materialistic,” he explained.

source: interaksyon.com

Attention, ladies! In time for summer, learn to surf at the Billabong all-girls camp

The waves are calling, but not everyone is brave enough to answer.

This is why Billabong, the world’s go-to brand of boardshorts and bikinis for beach lovers and surf enthusiasts, is hosting its second all-girls surf camp in San Juan, La Union, from March 15 to 17.

Professional surfer and Billabong Asia athlete Luke Landrigan will show the ladies the ropes, just like he did for an intimate group of 20 last year, which included teenagers and mothers alike.

This is the ideal place to be for those who have always wanted to surf, but were too intimidated to do so. At the all-girls camp, everyone is on the same page, and at the same skill level. They won’t have to feel pressured to immediately coast the waves like they had already been doing so for years.

Aside from learning how to make their way through the breaks safely, participants will also get to know the man who emerged the first runner-up in the longboard division of last year’s Quiksilver Open West Java in Indonesia, and 2009 champ at the Aurora Surf Cup Challenge in Baler and the Nike 6.0 and Global Surf Industries Longboard Pro Invitationals in La Union.

But it’s not only riding the waves and doing some hard work during your stay. By sunset, sweet beats will be provided by DJs Joey Santos and Niki Rojas, who are regulars at party scene and music fests such as last year’s Aloha Boardsports Surf and Music Festival in La Union, Manila Music Festival, and Tagaytay Electronica Festival. Last year they obliged a participant who was into spinning and taught her how to DJ.

Ladies can look forward to Franco as well, who will be making music at the camp.

Fifty participants will be accommodated this year at the Billabong All-Girls Camp. Sign up at www.alohaboardsports.com, e-mail billabongsurfcampgirls@gmail.com, or call 0917-928-4583 for more information.

source: interaksyon.com

LGU hosts 5th Cantilan National Surfing Competition

Cantilan, Surigao del Sur—Local and national surfers will converge in the town of Cantilan on November 19-23, 2012, for the 5th Cantilan National Surfing Competition. The surfing contest will be held in two venues: first in Baybay II beach and the second at Ayoke Island, with junior and open categories for the competition.For the first time, the local government unit of Cantilan will spearhead the surfing competition with the goal of sealing the town as one of the country’s top surfing destinations.

Cantilan Mayor Genito Guardo, said they are now partnering with the original organizer of the previous surfing event.

“We came to the decision of taking part in this surfing event to help promote our town as an eco-tourism destination. Our hope is that with this competition, Cantilan would be considered as one of the country’s surfing destinations,” said Mayor Guardo.

In time, the Cantilan mayor adds, he hopes that Cantilan will also be recognized as a surfing destination just like its neighboring towns of Lanuza and Siargao. “We can’t claim it away from our neighbors, the town of Lanuza and especially with that of Siargao, but to be considered as an alternative destination is good enough for us. We are still in the infant stage in tourism promotion compared to other towns but this would be a great start and would show what we’ve got.”

Mayor Guardo also shared that Ayoke Island, for instance, has been a long-kept secret by foreign surfers who discovered its great surfing breaks more than eight years ago. Now, it has become a well-known spot among foreigners and local surfers alike.

Loanne Huelma, a member of the event committee secretariat, said that the event is all about promoting Cantilan and the sport of surfing while showing to everyone the rich eco-system the town has to offer.

“The competition will let everyone know that we also have good surfing spots here in our town and world class waves that will surely challenge skilled surfers. When we first started back in December 5, 2008, it was a competition between local surfers and friends, then it grew into a bigger event as the years went by,” said Huelma who also personally organized all the other four surfing competitions in Cantilan.

Huelma believes that this year more surfers will participate in the competition since the event is just a day after the more popular 2012 Lanuza Surfing Festival in the town of Lanuza, an hour and 45 minutes ride away from Cantilan.






Here are the event’s schedule of activities and venues:

November 19 (Monday), Baybay II
• Arrival of participants
• Registration
• Opening program at 3 p.m.
• Beach clean-up
• Tree planting activity

November 20 (Tuesday), Baybay II
• First day of surfing competition, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Start of photo contest
• Surf and Skim Clinic
• Live Band/ Beach Party/Disco, from 8 p.m. to 12 midnight

November 21 (Wednesday), Ayoke Island
• Second day of surfing competition, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Photo contest
• Surf and skim clinic

November 22 (Thursday), Ayoke Island
• Semi-Finals, from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Photo Contest
• Surf and Skim Clinic
• Beach clean-up
• Fire dance show

November 23 (Friday), Baybay II
• Finals, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Beach clean-up
• Awarding ceremony, 8 p.m.
• Photo contest awarding
• Beach Party/Live Band/Disco, from 8 p.m. to 12 midnight

• For inquiries and more details, contact Loanne Huelma through 0919-4733108 or e-mail cantilan_surf_association@yahoo.com.

source: interaksyon.com

World Surfers Conclude Siargao Competition

GENERAL LUNA, Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte – The finalists in the ongoing 2012 Women’s World Surfing Competition on this paradise island will try to outdo each other today in an effort to give honor to their respective countries.

Aside from emerging victorious, the participating women surfers from eight countries, including the Philippines, will also receive a substantial amount of cash prizes aside from trophies and other incentives, said local officials and organizers.

The big event is part of the Asian Surfing Championship (ASC).

The event organizer is the Philippine Surfing Federation (PSF) in cooperation with ROXY, the main sponsor and event organizers of the Asian Surfing Championship – involving participants from Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines, with “Cloud 9” of this town as the site of the international event.

The finalists competing for the championship in today’s final leg include contestants from Germany, the United States, Switzerland, Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, England, and the Philippines.

Local officials said surfers from the Philippines have a big chance in the Best-3 with its remaining 11 surfers, while the other seven remaining countries have only one or just two surfers each.

Meanwhile, the local government here prepared a big and momentous closing ceremony program today – intended to honor and entertain the participating women surfers from the various parts of the world, including foreign and local tourists.

A cultural show and sumptuous dinner are also prepared by the local government here for the participants and visitors.

The Siargao International Women’s Surfing Competition is the biggest surfing event in the Philippines that is held here every year, local officials said.

While the women’s surfing competition is already on its final day, the three-day 2012 Women’s Beach Volleyball Open will immediately start, while the 14th National Surfing Cup will take place from May 5 to 9, here at the “Cloud 9,” said General Luna Mayor Jaime Plaza Rusillon.

Aside from the local government here, the various events are also fully supported by the provincial government of Surigao del Norte and the Region-13 office of the Department of Tourism.

Various events are also sponsored by Surigao del Norte Representatives Francisco “Lalo” T. Matugas and Guillermo “Jun” A. Romarate Jr., and Governor Sol F. Matugas.

source: mb.com.ph