Mangaluru: The three-day surfing carnival has for sure unleashed the adventurous side of not just the participants, but also the locals, thereby strongly evincing that the adventure sport of surfing is soon going to getting pleasing momentum in the region.
The first of its kind event held in Karnataka – Indian Open Surfing Championship witnessed nearly 100 surfers across the country participating in the event and during the event, the credit of pioneering surfing in the coastal belt went to 70-year-old Jack Hebner, who is popularly known as ‘Surfing Swami’.
From starting Mantra Surf Club in 2002 in unheard locale of Kolachikambla in Mulky to inspiring and motivating youth to take up surfing, the Surfing Swami comes as a startling surprise for the enthusiasm and love that he has for this adventure sport even in his 70s.
“Surfing is gradually developing these days. States such as Tamilnadu and Karnataka are taking good initiatives regarding the sport and Karnataka is leading in this sport by holding such national-level competitions,|” Hebner told newskarnataka.com adding that with Minister for Tourism R V Deshpande spelling it out in clear words as to how dedicated the government is to promote the sport and that a part of Sasihithlu beach will be leased exclusively for surfing, Hebner feels surfing is all set to get a major fillip.
He says that India is now being looked at as a great surfing paradise because Hawaii, Bali, and some Australian islands popularly known as surfing pockets are heavily crowded with the surfers.
“Hence to enjoy their hobby many worldwide surfers are attracted towards India’s virgin beaches. Here, waves elevates at the height of six to 12 feet from May to September, which is thrilling and challenging to surfers,” he says adding that surfing can be a money-spinning career option.
Meanwhile Asia Surfing Championship General Manager Tim Hain feels that peninsular of India has great potential for growth of surfing.
“In countries like Australia and America, we can even see five-year-old kid surfing, because surfing is instilled in them just like Indians have cricket in their blood. Surfing has no age limit,” says 55-year-old Hain, who is an ardent surfer.
Hain says that the cleanliness that one sees on beaches of the coast of Karnataka is something that can work in advantage.
“Waste and litter is afloat in many surfing destinations across the world, but here the case is different. In Taiwan, Bali (Indonesia) and Sumatra, you can find waste merely 100 miles from the coast,” says Hain.
With the coast of Karnataka impressing surfers across the world and with most surfers giving thumbs up for the proposal to develop coastline of Karnataka into surfing hub, one may have to only wait and watch if the government will cash on the same.
