Phl sports tourism rides Cloud 9’s giant waves

SIARGAO — A wave can put an island on the world map. For 10 days, one reef break will carry a whole community and a whole country onto the global stage.

From 30 October to 8 November, the World Surf League Philippines Pro Championship Tour, presented by the Philippine Sports Commission, brings 40 of the sport's elite to Cloud 9.

For Philippine sports tourism, this is the moment the island has been paddling toward with a lineup that sells a destination.

The field is a billboard no campaign could build. World No. 1 Yago Dora of Brazil, Italy's Leonardo Fioravanti, Japan's Kanoa Igarashi and Brazilian heavyweights Italo Ferreira, Miguel Pupo, Gabriel Medina and Filipe Toledo are showcased on the men’s side.

Equally impressive is the women’s side with Australia's top-ranked Molly Picklum, United States sensation Caroline Marks, rising talent Erin Brooks, Hawaii's Gabriela Bryan and veteran Lakey Peterson.