It was an awesome day at the beach with surfers, body-boarders and skim-boarders coming together to support the inaugural "Terengganu Go Surfing Day".
The aim of this event was to promote surfing and create awareness in the state of Kuala Terengganu. This 2 days exposure event covered basic surfing skills, safety and surfing etiquette targeted at the general public and children.
To participate in the event, all they had to do was show up, and sign up! All participants received free meals throughout the course of the event alongside goodies. Games were also held for the participants and spectators.
The first day was incredible, seeing surfers from all over the country as well as Singapore flooding onto Batu Buruk beach.
The number of participants was overwhelming with a total of 60 participants, more than double of the 30 we initially predicted. The workshop began by introducing the surf instructors, beach marshals, fire and rescue personnel to the 30 participants aged between 11 and 45 years old.
Through the course of the day, the participants learnt about the nature of the ocean, the rips and currents, reading waves, warming up and cooling down, basic surfing skills, equipment, etiquette on the ocean, water hazards and safety.
On it’s tremendous final day, with the low tide and the wind howling offshore. I remember one participant saying, "It’s such a waste that this is not a contest day, what awesome waves for a contest".
The level of surfing amazed the spectators as this was the first time seeing surfers throwing big sprays, tucking into barrels and landing aerials as demonstrated by the local talent such as the Malaysia Billabong Team Riders.
This was something new for the local spectators as usually, everyone stays away from the water during the monsoon season. Irrational beliefs about the ocean, thinking that its more dangerous.
Due to the overwhelming success of the workshop, we have been given the green light by the Tourism of Malaysia to hand in a proposal for the first surfing contest in Batu Buruk Beach scheduled for next year.
We Would like to thank our sponsors for this event - Rip Curl Bali, Rip Curl Malaysia, Surfer Girl Bali, ISC Indonesia, Quiksilver Malaysia, Tourism Malaysia, Bigfoot Industries, Satusuku Surf, Padang Surf, Marang Village & Spa and other respective sponsors. Last but not least, would like to Thank everyone involved in the event!!!
- Kak Mey (All Management & Event Co-ordinations)
- Kak Ani & Dilla (for all the event co-ordinations)
- Fairus (our MC and DJ of the event)
- Aman Kuantan (All Print Artwork & Printing)
- Aie Kuantan (Poster Design)
- Waqi & all the cool bodyboarders from Kuantan (Bodyboard Demo)
- Am & the geng from Penang (Skimboard Demo)
- Mamat, Yen, Didaqt & all the Cherating crews (Surfing Demo)
- Mamat, Leh, Taka, Shahir, JC (for instructing all the participant)
- Aril (Photography)
- Ayen, Mamood, Gazi, Muizz, Doje, and the rest of the Kuala Terengganu Surfing Crews ( U guys ROCK!!!)
- Jan & Dan (for supporting us)
- Pulau Redang Surfers, Johor Surfers, KL Surfers, Cherating Surfers, Penang Surfers and all the surfers that come all the way to supports this event!!
- Tim Hain of ISC Indonesia for making all the sponsoring possible for us.
- All the Fire Dept. Crews
- All the spectators and the supporters...finally the PARTICIPANT!!!
THANK YOU EVERYONE
SEE U GUYS NEXT YEAR DECEMBER 2011
