just sharing with you an article by J.S.
i am so proud of our surfvivor series! i wish i was in the philippines when the first surfvivor challenge was held........ i was one of the "pasimuno" of surfvivor (and was the one who named it as such) and seeing it boomed this big is really really heart warming! i love my partners talaga! i just have one wish though that my name would be mentioned someday (and not misspelled as mareen, or gawd knows whatelse, hmpf), hahaha........ ang KSP ko talaga, lol............ but leia and tyx deserve all the credit because they do all the dirty work kaya mwah! mwah! i love you two talaga!
anyway, i'm getting carried away again.............. here's the article....... feel free to re-post this, we need all the exposure we could get so we could come up with another Surfvivor Challenge........
LA UNION: SURFING SHAKEN AND STIRRED
TRAVEL FACTOR & POSERS (The Philippine Organization of Surfers)
in cooperation with SANUK and STOKED Inc.
present
THE SURFVIVOR CHALLENGE @
THE BILLABONG SURF SCHOOL (La Union)
by J.S.
The combustible ingredients to a witch's brew of surf enchantment?
Take two chartered tourist buses, 5 vans, 25 SUVs, 51 cars, 257 surfers and aspiring surfers…
Vigorously mix it with an arsenal of surfboards enough to take over the Philippine coastline, balearic beats coupled with alternative rock, plus a sneaky pinch of Tom Jones…
Seductively stir it up with 78 Sanuk sidewalk surfer sandals, 97 Billabong boardshorts, Seven Thousand One Hundred and One shots of Antonov Vodka, 6 lost bikini tops, 23 lapdances…
and shake it up with a pumping swell at the Bacnotan surf break in La Union…
and Voila!
Take a delectable bite of the supercool surf lifestyle concoction as SANUK with TRAVEL FACTOR & POSERS (The Philippine Organization of Surfers) presented The SURFVIVOR Challenge @ The BILLABONG Surf School (La Union)!
Ripped surfers in the latest boardshorts, tanned bikini-clad babes, beach party music soaring through the sea air, and a colourful quiver of surfboards appeared like a supernova starburst along the La Union coastline for a weekend of wave-riding fun put together by SANUK and Travel Factor. Hundreds of surfers and wannabes descended on the beach town of San Juan to try out surfing, win heaps of surf-related items, and just have an obscenely great time away from the city. "It's the first time we directly took part in a surf event of this caliber," reveals Vangie Chua, marketing director for Sanuk. "After all, our surf-lifestyle inspired sandals are worn by the most exciting international surf figures including surfer-celebrity Shane Dorian and surfer-musician Donovan Frankenreiter. Sanuk's are fun, cool, and utterly comfortable. We're definitely inspired to be right here in the thick of the surf action."
The weekend's event was bigger than everyone expected. Even the sponsors and organizers were surprised at the record turnout. " The SurfVivor Challenge has turned out to be an exciting travel experience that runs in perfect correlation to the aspirational and healthy lifestyle our product embodies. We've gone beyond expectations. We're absolutely thrilled to have Sanuk make its entry into the surf and beach scene together with POSERS and Travel Factor," Vangie proclaims. "SurfVivor has been a remarkable adventure, and Sanuk will play a major role in the adventure tour scene. We're driven to positively impact on the Philippine surf theater in many years to come."
Equally excited was the biggest surf company in the world, Billabong, as it firmed up its commitment on the back of the local surf scene's eruption. "Billabong recently took the helm of the Siargao international surf competition proving our sheer resolve in promoting Philippine surfing," states JV Borromeo, Stoked Inc.'s young CEO and exclusive distributor of Billabong. "Surf events crafted by proficient collaborations such as surf organization POSERS with Travel Factor will catapult that giant leap in growth for surfing all over the Philippine islands. Working with them on their chosen projects is something in which Stoked Inc will significantly participate. We are happy to see everyone so stoked and joyful over this wonderful sport and lifestyle. We're even happier on how well it's helped out the local communities. It's a positive thing all told. Stoked Inc. and Billabong will charge with unparalleled commitment onto the Philippine surf scene starting now," assures JV.
Surf lessons, courtesy of The BILLABONG Surf School, with head instructor and Stoked Inc. chief team rider Luke Landrigan, were given to a contingent of aspiring surfers who wanted to try the magic of wave-riding at sunrise. Surfers from Manila, Germany, even Denmark, took to the sea and got hooked on the surf feeling by midday. The professional staff of Billabong Surf School instructors ensured that everyone had a terrific and safe time in the ocean; battered enough to realize the energy of surfing, yet stoked enough to enjoy the beach party at night. "There's nothing more exhilarating for us then witnessing the unabashed glee, bliss, and 1000-kilowatt silly smiles lighting up our students faces when they taste that first ride of the surf," chuckles Luke Landrigan. "It's heartwarming to know the experience is as rewarding for them as it is for us here at the BillabongSurf School."
The afternoon gave way to the exciting surf competition for beginners with 19-year old Ateneo college student Isabel "Chabeli" Bengzon emerging victorious in a surf battle that stretched all the way till sunset. Thereafter, the novices with water marshals on hand to assist in pushing the boards had their own final by way of the tandem division: a surf student on board pushed by her instructor. Once again, the ladies took the grand prize with Glenn Abad winning the final. And what a moving sight it was in the idyllic Bacnotan surf break that sunset: a long line of surfers along the shore cheering on all the competitors. The stuff of surf reverie.
The evening festivities kicked-off with nothing less than a massive lechon buffet prior to the awarding ceremonies. Antonov Vodka with the J&S Surf Shop surprised the surf travellers by raffling of a brand new surfboard. Stoked Inc., Sanuk, and Aloha Boardsports provided ALL the prizes for the participants. The party and the music rocked the South China Sea from the evening till dawn.
The competition and surf tour weekend was a resounding success in large part because of Travel Factor and The POSERS surf organization working in close tandem. The partnership has become one of the most dynamic groups in the fast-growing Philippine surf scene today.
Operating efficiently out of a
multiply.com site (http://thetravelfactor.multiply.com/), Travel Factor is currently the biggest and best adventure tour company in the country. "We've brought over a thousand students to the Billabong Surf School in La Union in just one surf season. We're greatly impressed with the professionalism of the surf school's instructors. Most significantly, our client base always say they had a superb and unforgettable time. They're the ones that really matter to us, the ones we need to please, and our feedback from them is nothing less than a heapful of glowing accolades for Luke Landrigan and his charming instructors at The Billabong Surf School," exclaimed Travel Factor President Leia Nagal. "We brought two chartered buses and over 100 surf students to La Union this weekend alone. We've seen our client growth rise exponentially as surfing has exploded on a global and local level. We expect to introduce thousands of students to surfing at The Billabong Surf School in La Union and other surf destinations in 2008," Leia adds.
Travel Factor is presently looking into other surf spots in the Philippines and beyond. "We are constantly searching for numerous interesting and beautiful surf locales in the country that our clientele will enjoy," says Travel Factor Founder Tikoy Tan. "Currently, we're developing packages for surf tours in Baler and Siargao, plus we're definitely creating one for the paradise isle of Bali within the year."
Travel Factor's creativity and intrinsic naughtiness doesn't stop there. "We've also got a 'singles-only' tour currently in development! Only single guys and girls allowed on this one. Travel Factor will put together 50 to 100 singles on a surf tour or adventure weekend. What a great way to meet new people, perhaps even find a special someone," laughs Tikoy. "As with any Travel Factor tour package, we keep our rates affordable. Why? Because our surf tours are always priced with value-for-money in mind. We want it accessible for everyone. Our surf travels are definitely downright fun, awesome, and truly memorable. They're fantastic experiences you'd want to join again and again."
The POSERS (The Philippine Organization of Surfers) functions as the chosen umbrella organization for Travel Factor's surf travelers. "With our founders and board of directors comprised of Leia Nagal & Tikoy Tan of Travel Factor as well as Spencer Ty of the J&S Surf Shop, the POSERS organization have developed a systematic effort in which we can make our membership base grow on an extremely rapid scale. We expect this to result in the best consumer deals and the finest surf experience for our members. Through this organization, we intend to work with the friends we've made in the local surf communities and bring in the lucrative business for them and to them. We believe this will jumpstart the local economy, result in more jobs and commerce, and hopefully, improve their lives very much," says Joncy Sumulong, executive director for the POSERS surf organization. "Sharing the surf with them has been completely gratifying. We'd like to do our modest part in giving back."
The swift ascent of the surfing population is nothing short of impressive. "Presently, we have about 250 members and we expect to grow that membership to 5 thousand within this year alone," says POSERS President Paul Diaz. "The POSERS together with Travel Factor will be bringing them to La Union, Baler, Siargao, and perhaps Bali just to spice things up. With the surf scene growth accelerating at breakneck speed, we'll be bringing our membership to different surf spots that will open their eyes to a unique and amazing experience. This awareness will translate into a lot of business and commerce for the surf communities we visit. We're doing our part for Philippine tourism and bringing business to small local communities in a very fulfilling and fun way. In my belief, the local surfers are definitely the coolest people in the entire archipelago."
Spencer Ty, CEO of The J&S Surf Shop and founder of The POSERS reveals there's a lot more in store for POSERS members and Travel Factor clients. "Through Travel Factor and POSERS, we are efficiently and with purpose creating a massive database of potential surfers and recreational surfers. We encourage all the companies to tap into this immense consumer group. Surfers love to shop after all," says Spencer. "Going forward, we're tying up with formidable corporations and surf companies to organize more tours and events. A direct corollary of this will be discount cards for our members, cheaper ways to purchase equipment by buying in bulk, bigger events in which our members can participate in and win lots of cool surf gear, and above all, generate business opportunities for local surf communities with whom we are honored to work closely. We'll be joining a big environmental group that will be launched by a competent group of high-ranking professionals very soon. The POSERS and Travel Factor feel these are the magical components to having a very good surfie time."
0 comments:
Post a Comment