Sri Lanka is a year-round surfing destination. Sri Lanka has been recognised by the international surfing community for some time now, with the east coast's ARUGAMBAY boasting an annual international surfing competition and HIKKADUWA hosting National Champitionship of the Japanese Pro Surfers Association in early November.
So whether you're an expert or a beginner looking to ride the white stuff for the first time, there's something for everyone! Sri Lanka’s Top Two Surfers, Milan and Asanka – Wild Cards into the 2010 Sri Lankan Airlines Pro ASP WQS Six Star Men’s Event at Arugam Bay. (Photo: Aiya Surf Photography)
Sri Lanka’s finest surfers were out in force to compete in the WQS Sri Lanka Surf Trials. The event held over two days, 16th and 17th June, saw a tight affair between a number of surfers. The top eight battled it out under ASP Australasia jurisdiction on the 18th June following the opening ceremony held out on Main Point, Arugam Bay. Asanka blasted his way through the first semi-final, truly showing why he has predominately held the No.1 spot in Sri Lanka for the past few years. The young pretenders, Milan, Sril and Pranith from Arugam Bay, were joined in the last eight by the long, blond haired, Natheen of Hikkaduwa, Asanka’s young cousin, Pranjis from Komari, Sril’s younger brother Chanu, Aatha from the Main Point and Arugam Bay’s colourful legend Susanthan. They were out to knock Asanka off his thrown. Alas, it was not to be! Milan continues to improve by the day, showing the potential recognised in last years 2009 UK Pro Surf Tour Event. Leading up to the competition it was Sril and Pranith who were showing awesome fire power on one of the world’s finest right hand point breaks. It was however, Milan’s day as well as Asanka’s. Both were blasting a series of manoeuvres on surfboards donated by the Devon Organisation, Paddle4Relief, back in April this year and showing the rest of the world how much natural talent can be found on the tear drop tropical isle known as Sri Lanka. The East coast of Sri Lanka may well not be a rich, developed area of the world but it sure has a richness that money cannot buy
All of our global surf adventure tours will have one community service element to benefit one of the local communities in some of the remote areas we will explore.
Indola Sports sponsored the very first WQS Sri Lanka Trials Surfing Event held in Arugam Bay, on the 16th and 17th June 2010. Indola Sports’ Sales Manager, Rebecca Palmer, attended the competition that was organised by the Arugam Bay Surf Club in association with the Surfing Federation of Sri Lanka. It had been a request of ASP Australasia Tour Manager, Dane Jordan, who visited Arugam Bay in April this year, for the local surf club to organise the closely fought Sri Lanka event. Dane was extremely impressed with Arugam Bay’s surfers, and identified their motivation and enthusiasm for the sport as being invaluable to the main Sri Lankan Airlines Pro sponsored ASP WQS 6 Star contest. The trials saw more than thirty Sri Lankan surfers from all over the island compete for the coveted two Wild Card places. In the end it was Arugam Bay’s Asanka and Milan winning the coveted Wild Card entries, and with it $500 each. Arugam Bay club officials Fawas, Krish and Sril headed an enthusiastic team of surfers who worked hard throughout both the trials and main event. Indola Sports are the first Sri Lankan business to offer direct support to the proposed Sri lanka Surfing Federation. The company realises the importance of the sport to Sri Lanka, both for the economy and to the individuals who surf. The sport offers individuals a healthy balance in their lives when combined with their work, study and family commitments. Indola Sports provided the surfers and officials with 100 limited edition t-shirts. The surplus t-shirts from the event, of which there are only a few, can be purchased from Arugam Bay Surf Club. A huge thanks must go to Indola Sports for having the vision to recognise and support the goal of the majority of Sri Lankan Surfers.
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