TANDAG, Surigao del Sur (MindaNews/11 November) — In a bid to promote sports tourism in Surigao del Sur, the province is now looking at holding a skimboarding contest beginning next year.
This was learned after Governor Johnny Pimentel sent local skimboarders and the assistant provincial tourism officer to Mati City, Davao Oriental where the Annual Skimboarding Challenge concluded in late September.
Assistant Provincial Tourism Officer Nicolas G. Sonsona said he is very optimistic that the province would initiate the event because it has potential skimboarding sites which could put it on the sports tourism map.
Sonsona said Tandag City and some neighboring coastal towns have ideal sites for skimboarding and surfing as well.
He added that aside from Lanuza town, where they hold an annual surfing event, the province is looking for another water sports event that may also develop local talents and promote other local tourism sites.
“Good to hear that we have more local skimboarders in Tandag City and other towns who train hard here to compete in other places and landed in the finals,” he said.
Sonsona said he was amazed by Tandag-born Aldon Pamugas, who was a finalist in the expert category in the Mati competition.
Pamugas, however, lost to the Skimboarding King of Mati Sonny Boy Aporbo.
“I’m very optimistic that this plan may push through next year,” Sonsona said.
Meanwhile, Australian Richard Matthews also known as “Swami Mandipo Bambooman,” a skim and surf board manufacturer based in Lanuza said that if Tandag will host the competition next year, he is willing to help in organizing and in providing technical know-how.
Bambooman builds environment-friendly skim and surf boards by using locally-produced materials such as bamboo and coconut fiber. (Roel N. Catoto/MindaNews)
