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Matt Spencer of Mudjimba, Queensland, Australia takes on the Phillipines:
After two days of
travelling between planes, buses, boats and bikes it was a relief to get to
Siargao Island- the home of Cloud 9. The surf was small but fun with local
kids enjoying every minute, the water temp a warm change from the winter I'd
spent in South Australia.
Cloud 9 can be the best surf trip ever or the worst. Like every spot I guess
- it depends on the swell. For the first week of the trip it was small and
fun, getting a couple of surfs a day depending on the tide. After every day
I just wished it would be bigger. The right at Cloud 9 has perfect shape -
even when it's small, and it was possible to squeeze into a couple of tubes
at two foot! The left seems shorter but just as round and intense.
Eventually it happened, after promising maps every night on satellite TV,
the swell picked up. Paddling out at dawn to beat the kids I copped a wide
set on the head unlike any I'd seen any other day. I was stoked. As it got
lighter I realised it was, I guess, about 4 foot and perfect. It was
relatively easy to backdoor the takeoff and get barrelled every wave, I
reckon if you could stand up you could get tubed, no shit. With just a
couple of locals and another travelling surfer like myself, I couldn't have
been happier.
After the third surf that day, and countless tubes, I was exhausted and
stoked. The trip was already worth it.
The next day saw the swell a bit bigger and better! The local kids were
ripping and after hearing stories about how they couldn't surf anything over
two foot I was surprised at how good they really were. That afternoon I
managed to get a boat out to Rock Island, just off the coast from Cloud 9
and scored some more right hand perfection. A bit smaller than Cloud 9, with
more walls, as well as tubes! Another night exhausted, stoked and content
with a few San Miguels before hitting the sack.
The following morning with yet again bigger swell and a bit of wind found me
on another boat up the coast to a lefthander called Pacifico. A long left
reef setup with big walls and occasional tube, it was nice to get waves
again on my backhand.
There are so many waves in the Philippines - so many islands, 7107 in fact,
it is definitely the place for the exploring surfer. Unfortunately due to
the current world situation, it makes it harder and more dangerous than your
average surf trip up or down the coast. After scoring for about two weeks
straight the swell left as quick as it came. I had surfed myself out and it
was time to go home anyway - another journey in itself. I couldn't have
asked for a better surf trip. I guess it comes down to timing, and if the
times right the Philippines is a good place to be. Good luck!
By Matt Spencer. |
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