‘Surf House’ to promote Phuket surfing

PHUKET: Phuket surfing culture got a boost today with a major retailer opening a “surfing center” at Jungceylon shopping mall in Patong.

Quiksilver Surf House opened today to promote the upcoming Quiksilver Thailand Surf Competition 2011 and to grow Phuket’s surfing culture, Quiksilver Retail (Thailand) Ltd General Manager Surached Mungthong said.

“I would like to help expand the surfing community in Phuket and enable more tourists to experience surfing here. Surf House staff will suggest places and times to surf, as well as help beginners join a surf school in Patong,” Mr Surached said.

Staff will also give out information about the 3rd Quiksilver Thailand Surf Competition 2011 to be held in Patong from September 21-24 in front of Phuket Graceland resort.

This year, the event will become one of six ranked competitions in the ASEAN Surfing Championship held in Thailand, Taiwan, Korea, Indonesia and Malaysia.

The event will also include a “surfing festival” with fashion, music and sports activities.

“This year we are holding the competition in Patong because I would like to send out the message that you can surf at any beach in Phuket, not only at Kata,” Mr Surached said.

“I would also like to have more people take part in the fun activities like a surf show by a famous international surfer, surf clinic and games on the beach. On the last night, we will have a live concert on the beach,” he said.

There are already more than 100 surfers registered for the competition, he said. Overall, about 300 surfers are expected to compete in the games which include four classes: long board, short board, women and master (for surfers over 35 years old), he said.

“Surfers will come from many countries: USA, Australia, South Africa, Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philipines, Singapore and so on. These people will help boost the local economy during the low season,” he added.

Quiksilver will also co-operate with the Phuket Marine and Coastal Resources Conservation Center to organize a sea grass planting event for the surfers near Pa Khlok.

To register for the competition or for more information, visit: w.quiksilverthailand.com, w.thaisurfrider.com and w.surfingthailand.org.

The Phuket Gazette and PGTV are proud to sponsor of this event.

The Surf House is on the ground floor of Jungceylon near the entrance to Silang Blvd Hall and will be open until the end of September.

— Pimwara Choksakulpan