Tags: Outdoor Sports, Surfing, Water Sports and Activities
By Marjorie Gorospe
DAET, CAMARINES NORTE — Looking for a perfect place to learn basic surfing this summer? Then maybe you can take your long board to Bagasbas Beach in Camarines Norte.
Bagasbas Beach is highly recommended by experts due to its consistent waves ranging from two to five feet tall — ideal for surfing beginners — while most of the extreme sports enthusiasts go to Baler and Siargao for its more challenging waves.
Aside from consistent waves, beginners also do not need to worry when jumping off the board because Bagasbas Beach is also blessed with pure sand bottom which translates to lesser risks of injury while getting into the basics of the sport.
Due to these reasons, the local government of Daet has capitalized on its strength to promote the town through conducting surfing festivals. So far it has succeeded in attracting tourists with a 30-percent participation increase since its beginning three years ago.
Every year, the local government conducts the Bagasbas Summer Surf Festival. The festival consists of surfing clinics, beach volleyball, ultimate frisbee and wall climbing. Last year was more successful than the first, and the 3rd Summer Surf Festival is expected to be held sometime in May, complete with reggae night celebration.
The clinic is headed by the Department of Tourism with Joey Cuerdo, owner of the Power Up gym, with the local full-time surfing gurus. The beginners are grouped per batch to accommodate all the participants.
Before heading out into the water, participants are taught how to paddle and how to balance properly. Every participant has his or her own local guide from the shore to the wave-waiting spot.
You can take your time to prepare yourself before you go along with the waves. Your guide will also teach you the perfect timing to execute the drill. Because there are many participants, there is a limit to the umber of trials you can take. Nonetheless, the guides still want every participant to be able to stand on board.
In my case, I was only able to stand for three seconds on my third trial but it’s true that I didn’t get hurt after dropping from the board because of the fine sand. I wasn’t worried about getting drowned either because I was able to spot a perfect wave even at the four-foot level.
My surfing batch mates and I may have had imperfect executions but as beginners, it was still a rewarding achievement.
The good thing about the Bagasbas Summer Surf Festival is having options after the surfing clinic. You can try rock climbing which also has stages for beginners and professionals, beach volleyball competition and Frisbee which is highly participated in by celebrities.
Last year, entrance for the clinic was at 500 pesos per head, so save up if you want to go to Bagasbas this summer.
Adventure Races Archery Basketball Biking Billiards and Snooker Boat Racing Boxing Climbing Cycling Extreme Sports Fitness Activities and Concerns Football Golf Martial Arts Mixed Martial Arts Motorsports NCAA Outdoor Sports Rugby Running sports Sports Activities and Competition Sports and Fitness Products Sports Events Sports News and Concerns Surfing UAAP Volleyball Water Sports and Activities Weightlifting World Cup
WP Cumulus Flash tag cloud by Roy Tanck and Luke Morton requires Flash Player 9 or better.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
