Siargao’s surf champ John Mark “Marama” Tokong is carried off by his fellow Filipino professional surfers Philmar Alipay (left) and Noah Arkfeld (right) as they celebrate his victory in the 2024 La Union International Pro QS 3000. Photo courtesy of WSL/ABDEL ELECHO
BUTUAN CITY (MindaNews / 26 January) – Siargao’s surfing sensation John Mark “Marama” Tokong once again asserted his wave mastery by clinching the championship at the 2024 La Union International Pro World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 3000 in the men’s shortboard category at Urbiztondo Beach in San Juan, La Union, on Thursday.
The homegrown surfer and back-to-back champion in the 2023 Siargao International Surfing Cup, bested Sweden’s Kian Martin by securing 17.90 total points against Martin’s 13.25 points. This led to a margin of 4.65 points in favor of Tokong in the finals.
Tokong started strong with a score of 7.25 out of 10, but he didn’t stop there. Quickly stepping up his game, he caught an even better wave, earning an impressive 8.50.
This put Martin in a tough spot, needing two scores that added up to 15.76 out of 20 to catch up.
Martin, though, showed his skills by breaking the required combination with a solid 8.00 of his own. The competition stayed intense as both surfers pulled off dynamic and impressive moves above the wave’s lip.
“It didn’t take long for Tokong to raise the level once again however, posting the highest single wave score of the event, a 9.40, to bring his heat total to an event-high 17.90, which Martin was unable to come close to cracking,” WSL said in a press release.
It may be recalled that Tokong competed against Martin in the Siargao International Surfing Cup in late October 2023.
Both surfers were in the same heat during the elimination round and advanced to the quarterfinals. However, Martin’s tournament came to an end in the quarterfinals after losing to a Japanese surfer.
“To be honest, I didn’t really expect that I’m gonna win (here) because all the athletes are from Japan, Indonesia, like around the world. Like what I’ve said earlier, I really can’t describe what I’m feeling. I’m so happy, I’m so stoked right now because everyone here is supporting me. I’m not just doing this for myself, I’m doing this for my family, for the Philippines,” Tokong said in a press interview.
Tokong’s victory in La Union marked his sixth win in the QS, the fifth being in the Philippines and the first outside of his homebase in Siargao.
In addition to the 3000 points, Tokong also earned 5,600 US dollars.
According to WSL, the result has propelled him eight places up the rankings to No. Six, as he strives to qualify for the 2024 Challenger Series.
Tokong made history in 2023 by becoming the first Filipino surfer to qualify for the WSL Challenger Series, a series of top-tier QS events providing athletes with enhanced opportunities to qualify for the WSL Championship Tour.
In the women’s heat, Kana Nakashio of Japan secured the victory over compatriot Sara Wakita.
Organized by the United Philippine Surfing Association and sanctioned by WSL, the La Union International Pro features QS 3000 and Longboard Qualifying Series events. Running until Jan. 28, it will help in determining the WSL-Asia Region’s representatives for the 2024 Challenger Series and Longboard Tour.
The event drew over 100 surfers from different countries, including Japan, Sweden, China, Indonesia, and Australia. Among the participants, 41 were Filipinos, with 28 coming from La Union, seven from Siargao, four from Baler, Aurora and two from Zambales. (Ivy Marie Mangadlao/MindaNews)
