3 May
2012, Siargao Island - Philippines: 19 year old Siargao local Nilbie Blancada took
down Australian past world tour surfer Kim Wooldridge today in a tightly
contested 30 minute final to the delight and cheers of the excited Filipino
spectators gathered in the iconic Cloud 9 tower.
On
the third day of the Roxy Siargao International Women’s Surfing Cup that
started on May 1st, held at the world class surf destination of
Cloud 9 in the Philippines, Blancada first downed one of Australia’s top Pro
Junior surfers Philippa Anderson in the first semi-final before showing off
skills and patience beyond her years to win her first ever surfing competition
over Wooldridge and bring home a huge winner’s check of $2,500 USD (PHP
120,000).
Blancada
has only been surfing for four years and was an obvious standout throughout the
entire competition, during the final patiently waiting out the back for the
best-shaped waves and then putting together great combinations of
maneuvers. Wooldridge was also
impressive on her backhand, throwing up big turns and going deep trying to
score a barrel ride, but failed to find the wave that would allow her the high
score with to overtake Blancada.
“I’m
so happy, so really happy” gushed the excited Blancada back in the tower
surrounded by her admiring friends and spectators. “I was so nervous out there, as I’ve never really surfed
with just one other surfer in the water.
But it was good because I knew I just had to find the good waves. So that’s what I tried to do.”
When
asked what she was going to do with her winnings, she replied, “I’m going to
buy a motorbike! Then I’m going to
share the other money with my family.”
Blancada comes from a family with 10 children, and says she learned to
surf from her sister Nildie and brother Nickie.
Kim
Wooldridge was smiling and happy as well, saying, “This was so much fun, much
different that when I was competing on the world tour. Back then when I would put on the
contest jersey I would feel the pressure and have to force myself to try and relax. Here it was so different, I was able to
just go out there and have fun.
I’m so happy for Nilbie, she has a great style and was ripping out there,
and for her to win here is awesome!”
When
Wooldridge heard that the event was happening again this year she immediately
booked her ticket and began contacting the friends she made on her first trip
her to the 2009 event. Her friend
Daisy Valdez from the Northern Philippines wanted to come but was short of
cash, so Wooldridge and 2009 event winner Serena Brook sent her the necessary
funds so she could come and compete in the event. Valdez lost to Blancada in the quarterfinals, but at least
receives $350 for her efforts.
An
amazing event with great waves and an exciting finish, Roxy’s Marketing
Executive for SEA Holly Monkman was delighted and impressed with the event and
the level of surfing displayed by the local girls, saying “The level of surfing
I’ve seen in this event was by far the best I’ve seen in South East Asia, and
given a more opportunities I would say that they would soon be competitive at
the international level. It’s rare
to see such a unique and beautiful women’s surfing community anywhere, let
alone on a small island in Asia, and I can’t wait to come back and surf here again
next year.”
A
total of 21 women from Australia, England, Germany, Indonesia, Thailand,
Switzerland, and the USA competed in the Roxy Siargao International Women’s Surfing
Cup from May 1-3, and the event was an absolute success according to the Primer
Group of Companies Brand Manager for Roxy, Quiksilver and DC Shoes Dino
Gilladoga.
“First
off, we are really grateful to be part of this opportunity to help and support
the women’s surfing scene here in the Philippines,” he said. “And we couldn’t have done this without
the support of the Department of Tourism, the House of Representatives, the
Province of Surigao Del Norte, the Tourism Infrastructure, Enterprise Zone
Authority, the Municipality of General Luna, the Philippine Surfing Federation
and Asian Surfing Championships.”
“We’re
really stoked how the event turned out considering we had less than two months
to prepare. This whole trip to Siargao showed us that there is so much
potential from our local girls with Nilbie Blancada winning against tough
competition. We can’t wait to come back and perhaps do something for
Quiksilver next time” he added.
Roxy Siargao International
Women’s Surfing Cup Results:
1.
Nilbie Blancada (Philippines) $2,500 USD (PHP 120,000)
2.
Kim Wooldridge (Australia) $1,500 USD (PHP 60,000)
Equal
3rd: Manette
Alcala (Philippines) $750 USD (PHP 30,000)
Philippa
Anderson (Australia) $750 USD (PHP 30,000)
See more photos, videos, and
more on Facebook in the next couple of days: Look up Quiksilver Philippines, MyLife on Board, Surfista
Travels – Philippines, and Asian Surfing Championship (ASC) !
This
historic event has the distinction of being both the first-ever Asian Surfing
Championship event to be held in the Philippines and the first to receive the
top Ultima rating for its PHP 300,000 (approximately $7,000 USD) prize purse in
Women’s Division competition.
The
Roxy Siargao International Women’s Surfing Cup was supported by the Philippine
Department of Tourism, the House of Representatives, the Province of Surigao
Del Norte, the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority and the
Municipality of General Luna, organized by the Philippine Surfing Federation,
and with sponsorship from the Primer Group of Companies, Rockstar Energy Drink,
the San Miguel Corporation, and media support by Thirty Six-O Media.
Press
and photos courtesy of the Asian Surfing Championships - photos are
rights free but not for commercial use. For high resolution photos
contact tim@isctour.
For
more information please contact:
Philippine Surfing
Federation
Zeny
Pallugna – Secretary General
Phone:
+639296721508
Email:
zenpallugna@yahoo.com.ph
Asian Surfing Championships
Michaela
Partin – Tour Manager
Phone:
+6281805584486
Email:
marketing@isctour.com
Quiksilver Philippines
Dino Gilladoga –
Brand Manager for Quiksilver, Roxy, and DC Shoes
Phone: +63(2)303
1234: 567 0611
Email: dino.gilladoga@primergrp.com
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