(PHOTO COURTESY)
TACLOBAN CITY – The final day of the 14th Calicoan Odyssey Waves at the renowned ABCD break on Calicoan Island in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, proved to be an exhilarating conclusion to the six-day event.
Surfers from Baler, Sorsogon, La Union, and Surigao showcased their skills, once again demonstrating their dominance in catching the waves.
In the Men’s Open Shortboard category, Neil Sanchez from Baler emerged victorious, defeating Eduardo Alciso of Surigao. Meanwhile, in the Women’s Open Shortboard, Vea Estrellado of Sorsogon clinched the title against Nilbie Blancada, also from Surigao.
King Villanueva of La Union took the top spot in the Men’s Open Longboard, besting John Kennedy Martinez.
In the Women’s Open Longboard, Ashlee Lopez, also from La Union, dominated her category.
Both the shortboard and longboard winners in the men’s and women’s categories received a cash prize of P130,000 each.
In the Junior Girls Shortboard, Mara Lopez from La Union showcased her talent, while Troy Espejon from Surigao won the Junior Boys Shortboard event. They each earned a cash prize of P43,000.
Guiuan town was the first to award equal prizes in both the men’s and women’s divisions for longboard and shortboard disciplines.
The 14th Calicoan Odyssey Waves is part of the annual national surfing competition sanctioned by the United Philippine Surfing Association (UPSA) and recognized by the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee.
The event is organized by the municipal government of Guiuan and local surfing organizations, with support from the provincial government of Eastern Samar and other sponsors.(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
