89 FINISH SURFING COURSE UNDER U.S. VOLUNTEERS
Daet, Camarines Norte, Aug. 16, 1998 - A total of 89 participants have successfully completed the basic Daet, Camarines Norte, Aug. 16, 1998 - A total of 89 participants have successfully completed the basic surfing course at the Madison Nature's Club on Bagasbas Beach.
The course was conducted by 25 young American surfers from La Costa Canyon High School in San Diego, California who came to the Philippines on their own to share their love and knowledge of the sport with Filipino enthusiasts, particularly those with little or no access to formal sports training.
The course included tips on Swimming, lectures on the kinds of waves, types of boards used by surfers and hands-on training on how to mount and stand atop the boards when riding an incoming wave.
"Filipinos have the build to be good surfers. They just need to know the right basics on how to surf and practice diligently to be world-class surfers," noted Randy Guista, team manager and coach of the visiting Kalos Kagathos Foundation.
The visiting American junior surfers, all members of the foundation, alternated in teaching the participants, who were divided into two separate groups of students, teachers and out-of-school youths from Daet and nearby towns.
Highlight of the two-week visit of the young Californians is the 4th Daet Surfing Tournament, which ends Sunday, August 16. A unique feature is the one-day surfing tournament which pits the American teenagers against Filipino surfers, including a few who were their students in the past two weeks.
The American surfers are staying with prominent families in Daet, who have become their temporary adoptive parents for the duration of their stay. Daet officials are planning a big sentimental farewell and thank-you fiesta for the volunteers, who have been invited to return next year.
Most of them are high school students hurrying to return to the US next week to catch up with classes, which begin in two weeks.
Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 1998 by PHILIPPINE
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