Mangaluru: Indian surfing scene will reach great heights, says Steve Robertson

Mangaluru, May 28: Surfing as a sport is catching up in India which now has a good number of confident surfers, World Surf League Australia General Manager Stephen Robertson said.

Talking to reporters here, Robertson, who was here in connection with the Indian Open of Surfing event that began yesterday, said surfing was expanding in a big way in Asia and he was looking for new venues.

Namma Kudla and Sasihitlu, venues of the maiden India Open of Surfing, were suitable for such events, he said. Conditions on the beach and the local surfing talent, make Sasihitlu a potential venue for hosting international events.

He appreciated the infrastructure put in place by Mantra Surf club in association with Kanara Surfing and Water Sports Commission who organised the event.

It has also got recognition from International Surfing Association and Surfing Federation of India as part of Karnataka surfing festival. Surfing was a mature sport and a lifestyle in Australia, he said adding up to 200 surfers out at the beach as early as 5 am on a normal day was a common sight.

The estimated worldwide community of surfers is around 30 million and around two million were in Australia, he said.

He expressed the view that countries like India and the Philippines would soon spread the popularity of the sport. More than 80 surfers from India and other parts of the world are participating in the three-day event here, the organisers said.