The wave of surfing is surging in the Philippines and almost everyone is now literally jumping on board to experience this thrilling ride. It’s now safe to say the Philippine surfing industry has passed its infancy stage, with pretty much every major surf brand stores set up in most major malls in Metro Manila. Articles about surfing destinations are in every inflight magazine and, to top it off, Cloud 9, Siargao island’s world famous surfing spot ranked 9th as best surfing destination in the world on CNN.com.
Paolo Soler
Being at the forefront of this industry and contributing to the boom that we see today at the immensely crowded beaches of Real, San Juan, Baler, Zambales, Siargao, and Daet, just to name a few, the Philippine Surfing Academy (PSA) focused its corsair on the aspiring surfers of Metro Manila with the goal of providing a more convenient and safer way of learning the sport.
Together with Club Manila East (CME) in Taytay, Rizal situated just at the foot of Antipolo, PSA has innovated the use of the resort’s wavepools as the ultimate training ground for land locked surfers in the city. Since 2008, PSA has trained over 10,000 surfers in this facility including the likes of Lorraine Lapus, Sam Pinto, Daiana Menezes, Gwen Zamora, Maggie Wilson-Consuji, Mylene Dizon, Paloma Esmeria, Mark Lapid, and Carlos Celdran.
Sam Pinto
With things getting out of control, PSA has developed an intensive training program for beginner to intermediate level surfers that focuses not only on the basics to intermediate fundamentals of surfing but, most importantly, surf safety. In accord with the guidelines and standards set by the Academy of Surfing Instructors Australia, the global organization that accredited PSA was created—Surfcuit Training.
Here’s a peek into the Surfcuit fun:
Surfcuit Intensive Training is the ultimate boot camp for beginner to intermediate level surfers to boost their surfing ability and fitness. PSA designed this program specifically for surfers who are land locked in Metro Manila hours away from the closest natural surfing destination.
A typical Surfcuit session goes for at least 4 hours and is scheduled for 6 consecutive days, held once a week. This break between training days allows ample time for the students to heal before the next grueling session.
Each session begins with a different cross training exercise like survival swimming, underwater rock racing, yoga, and poi that are all invaluable and complementary to surfing.
Students are then given a lecture focusing on basic to intermediate level surfing fundamentals that progress with each training day.
Gwen Zamora
These focus lectures are delivered correspondingly in this order:
- DAY 1: Back to Basics: Surf & Safety
- DAY 2: Surfvivor Skills: Swim, Tread and Float
- DAY 3: Paddle Power Up: Wave Catching, Timing and Takeoffs
- DAY 4: Your Turn to Step it Up: Trimming, Turning and Cross Stepping
- DAY 5: Ocean Intro: Surf Culture & Etiquette – Rips & Currents
- DAY 6: Go Shorter: Intro to Shortboard and Duckdiving
Carlos Celdran
After the lectures, the training goes practical and is moved to the wavepool. This is where the actual surfing and wave riding happens during 20 minute cycles. This is also where the intense paddle drills are conducted during the breaks.
The wavepools at CME have proven to be the safest and most effective surf training facility to date. It functions in a way that perfectly sized and identically shaped waves are generated every 1.5 seconds in 20 minute cycles with 10 minute breaks in between.
Daiana Menezes
Constant communication persists during the training sessions in the pool delivering an “in your face” surf coaching system, which only possible in the wavepools. With such consistent attention, students are made to ride at least 40 to 60 waves and accomplish at least 800 meters of paddle drills amounting to a total paddling distance of at least 2 kilometers in every Surfcuit session!
Being equipped with these facilities and combining them with professional training methods have made the learning curve of surfing so much faster, convenient, and affordable.
Mylene Dizon
Upon completion of the course, students are also given freebies and discounts from sponsors. Surfcuit graduates are also given a Certificate of Completion, which entitles them to discounts for wavepool surfing, discounts to Skwala custom surfboards, and registration at any of the Surfcuit surfing competitions held at natural surfing locations around the Philippines.
Surfcuit is a program that will improve your surfing whether your skill level is absolute beginner or advanced.
PHILIPPINE SURFING ACADEMY
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/philippinesurfingacademy
Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/1618783735005278
Instagram: @philippinesurfingacademy
For inquiries and bookings please call or text +63917 894 67 67
Directions to CME: https://on.fb.me/1cvbwgK
