The All Cargo Indian Open of Surfing is one of the first ever surfing tournaments to take place in Karnataka and will mark the beginning of a new era for the sport in the country and on the west coast of India, with there being a sizeable amount of prize money at stake as well.
The surfing festival will take place at Sasihithlu Beach, Mangalore, which is thought of as the home of surfing in India, where Jack Hebner, the man also known as Surfing Swami, who is a world renowned surfer, established the first ever surfing school/ club of India, called the Mantra Surf Club.
The Mantra Surf Club is also the headquarters of Surfing Federation of India, the National Governing Body of Surfing in India who are organizing the Indian Open, dedicated to developing the sport of surfing in India.
The IOS has a very interesting schedule, with a lot in store for the crowds. The 3-day National Surfing and SUP Championship starts on the 27th of May, and carries on till the 29th. It will be held at the Sasithithlu Beach, Mangalore, and will be Karnataka’s first ever surfing event, dedicated to promoting the beaches of the state as a popular surfing and adventure destination.
Participation for the event will feature surfers from across the east and west coasts of India, and the competition is expected to be intense. With international athletes also participating in the open category, the event will definitely be one to remember.
The Indian Open of Surfing will have some great events being conducted, including, 3 days of National Surfing Championships, a Stand Up Paddle Race and a Bodyboarding competition and Kitesurfing demo depending on wind conditions.
Since surfing is a sport which is entirely dependent on various natural factors such as swell, wind and tides, it is imperative to ensure that the competitions start early and make use of the best conditions for the surfing contest.
With more than 7000 kilometers of coastline in India, and about 320 kms of coastline in Karnataka itself, the Indian Open of Surfing could potentially open the doors to a great source of revenue and tourism opportunities for the state in future.
Karnataka also offers a great blend of adventure tourism with a good dose of culture, and the IOS will hopefully help to develop and cultivate a good following of the sport in India.
What shows how focused the event is the fact that international judges & ISA officials will overlook the event. The event will also set a platform to many talented surfers to be noticed by brands like RedBull for further training and enhancement programs.
With a movie screening session also being planned, apart from great music and delicious seafood, all the participants are in for a whale of a time, with interactions between athletes from across the world helping build a strong community.
You can follow the event details here, visit the Surfing Federation of India page here and find out more about the Mantra Surf Club here. Follow the event on Twitter and Instagram here and here, respectively.
