Ace surfer Saddam Faraon dreams big for the rest of the Baler Boys

Posted at 8:02 pm April 14, 2011

Tags: Surfing, Water Sports and Activities

SHARE YOUR STORIES

Got a similar Story? Share it here

See list of businesses related to Surfing

See list of businesses related to Water Sports and Activities

By Marjorie Gorospe

BALER, AURORA – He is no bearded dude like his namesake but Wilson Faraon is a “terror” when it comes to riding Baler’s waves.

Nicknamed “Saddam” by his dad after being born when the Gulf War erupted, the 20-year old Baler native is acknowledged as one of the most promising local surfers today.

He picked up surfing when he was 15, already a late bloomer by Baler standards since most boys here learn to surf before going to school.

Saddam tells his story: One day a foreigner fell on his surfboard. Swimming nearby, he went after the board, stood on it and rode the waves.

“That foreigner happened to like what I did and after a month, he sent me a brand new surf board and I started joining contest and the rest is history,” he shares.

Saddam went on to win various surfing competitions. He was voted Surfer of the Year last January at the Mahalo Awards conducted by Aloha Boardsports.

He is the second Baler native – after Rommel “Okoy” Rojo, another celebrated surfer- to get sponsored by Aloha Boardsports. (Watch this video on how Saddam spends a typical day juggling surfing and school.)

Saddam has traveled to different surf spots in the country for competitions. He admits having declined offers to compete abroad because of his studies – he is currently taking up BS in Information Technology at the Aurora State College of Technology.

“There had been many offers for me to compete outside the country but I would have to leave the school for a month and that’s not possible,” he says, adding surfing for him is a hobby while school remains a priority.

“We will come to that when it’s the right time,” he adds.

Although not yet a veteran surfer, he wishes that through him, more surfers from Baler would get noticed and also get sponsored so they too can compete outside of their hometown.

“We have so many competitive surfers here waiting to be discovered and all of us just continue to do our best,” says Saddam, who comes from a family of fishermen like most surfers in Baler.

Saddam also spends his spare time as an instructor at Mahdox Surf, owned by Okoy. “There are a lot of equally talented surfers here and we always wish to share what we know so just come over and you can learn easily.”

Asked what’s his favorite surf spot in Baler, Saddam picks Cemento Reef. The waves there, though, are not recommended for beginners.

“Surfing on the majestic waves is the purest moment on earth for me, it’s one thing I always look up to everyday,” he says.

Get more information about Mahdox Surf Shop and School