Local, national and foreign surfers throng Sasihithlu

Participants say the beach is good for surfing

About 125 surfers from different parts of the country and abroad are taking part in the All Cargo Indian Open of Surfing, the first national surfing event in the state which was inaugurated at Sasihithlu Beach here on Friday.

There were a good number of participants from the district as well. Partha Varanasi, originally from Adyanadka, Puttur and a member of Mantra Surf Club, told Deccan Herald that surfing is close to nature. It keeps one younger and helps in maintaining good health, he added.

He said he is also active in Puttur Surfing Club. Earlier, he has taken part in Australian Open Surfing event and national surfing events in Mahabalipuram, Kovalam and so on. He is engaged in surfing from the last six years. He is the grandson of Campco Founder President Varanasi Subraya Bhat.

Dhruva from Kolachekambla, Mulki and member of  the same surf club, said that he has been surfing from the last seven years. In the event, he is taking part in Under 22 category. He also trains people in surfing.

Dharani from Kovalam, Chennai, who took part in the senior category, said the Sasihithlu Beach is clean and has speedy waves, which are suitable for surfing.

He has been a national champion for four times. He is a member of Kovalam Point Surfing Club and has come to take part in the event with 11 other members.

Sri Krishna Mysuru from Stoked Surf Club in Mangaluru said the competition was really tough with competitors from many parts of the country and abroad. The Sasihithlu Beach is now clean and safe. It is a good place to learn surfing, he said and added that he has been surfing from the last 10 years. Youth should take up surfing, he recommended.

Chinmaya, a surfer, said she has come down to Mangaluru from Dubai on vacation. She said she has been surfing for the last two years.

She originally belongs to Udupi. During her vacation, she said she usually goes to Kodibengre and Gokarna for surfing.

“The Sasihithlu beach has strong currents and is good for surfing. This is my first surfing competition ever,” she said.

For Luca from France too it was the first National surfing event. It is good that the surfers of different countries get to meet each other, he said. India, with a large coast line, has a great surfing potential, he added.