Kudla Surfer Tanvi Jagadish Recipient of Int’l ‘Grom of the Year’ Award
Mangaluru: Yet another proud moment for Mangaluru to know that Kudla Surfer Tanvi Jagadish, aged 17, a well-known female stand up paddler (SUP), has bagged the international award, the ‘Grom of the Year’. Grom or grommet or gremmie, is a young participant in extreme sports. Originally, a grommet was a surfer under the age of 16. In recent years, this has expanded to include other extreme sports, most notably skateboarding and snowboarding. This Award is given by SUP Connect, an organization based in San Diego-California-USA, which brings together stand-up paddle boarders around the world. Tanvi will travel to US next month (October) to receive this prestigious award. Her achievement in SUP has now incorporated Mangaluru on the Global Map, as one of the emerging surfing hub.
Tanvi Jagadish has been taking surfing to new heights in India and Internationally on being India’s youngest woman in Stand Up Paddle- last year in November, she was the first female surfer from India to participate in the 2016 Fiji ISA World SUP and Paddle-board Championship held from November 12-20, where contestants from over 40 countries took part. Surfing in India has never got the boost it deserves as a sport. Yet, there are many along the coast who compete and win laurels for India. Among these silent sportsmen stands this young girl, Tanvi Jagadish- India’s first Young woman Stand Up Paddler from Mangaluru. Stand Up Paddle surfing (SUP) is different from traditional surfing where the rider stays upright.
Born on 23 March 2000, to Jagadish and Kavitha, Tanvi is presently residing near NITK-Surathkal. She did her early school at Delhi Public School-MRPL-Panambur, and currently she is pursuing her studies in PUC ( PCMS) at Sharada Pre-University College-Mangaluru. Since she started surfing, Tanvi had participated in several national level events, and her first competition was in 2015 in Chennai. Since then she has trained hard and has won quite a few first place in SUP nationals- like 2015 SUP Nationals Covelong Point Surf Classic – First place; 2016 SUP Nationals Manapad Classic surf and sail festival – First Place; 2016 SUP Nationals Indian Open of Surfing (Presented by Karnataka Tourism) – First place; and 2016 Surfing Nationals Indian Open of Surfing – Third place. She was also the winner at the Surfing Competition held recently in Sasihithlu-DK.
She also got a wild card entry for the international competition in China for SUP. She is an active member Mantra Surf Club-Mulki, and Field Specialized in Surfing, SUP (Stand up Paddle). She has been felicitated by Ganiga sangha – Vishnumurthy Devasthana; and Yuvaka Mandala Sangha – Kaikamba Surathkal. Tanvi is also selected to take part in the Asian Cup in China, which will take place in October, 2017. Apart from being a SUP, she is also supporting and inspiring young women to seek their passion in surfing. At such a young age, she is also a trainer where she trains students including young NITK Engineering students, the techniques of surfing.
Tanvi began surfing when she was 14 years old, and used to visit the beaches with her grandfather and watch people surf, even though she didn’t know how to swim. She she was showing so much interest towards surfing, her Grandfather introduced her to the Mantra Surf Club in Mulky. Although it was hard for her to get into surfing as a girl, since her family would get worried that she would get tanned, and society wouldn’t approve of girls wearing shorts or swim suits and getting into the ocean. But overcoming all these odds, she did reached greater heights in surfing, and continues to be the top surfer .
Speaking to Team Mangalorean on being the recipient of “Grom of the Year” Award, Tanvi said, ” I am really overwhelmed on receiving this prestigious international award. This has given a ray of hope for girls to take up surfing as sporting activity to which there is always opposition from parents and society. I am lucky to be selected for this award online, since several SUP’s from across the world were shortlisted for the award. I have known that usually foreigners don’t vote for Indians but in my case they have liked me and voted for me generously. It’s not easy to pursue this sport as one needs lot of money to spend on training and equipment. I helped myself and other girls source funds through crowdfunding. Society mocked me saying it’s not girls’ sport but I was clear that ocean is for everybody.”
“I am also sure that there are plenty of other girls out there who wish to surf but haven’t found the support yet. My dream is to support them, we have many girl surfers in our club now and they have all taken to the sport very enthusiastically and have been the pioneers of young surf girls. Since I have completed a course with the International Surfing Association which sends representatives to countries to teach three categories, I will take up judging, SUP and surfing. Completing the course allows people to become trainers, and I have completed the course in SUP. Girls feel more comfortable with a female instructor. I will charge the boys more; they have enough opportunities already. Girls will get discounts,” she adds with laughs.
Team Mangalorean congratulates Tanvi Jagadish on bagging this prestigious International “Grom of the Year” Award. You Go Girl!
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Hang Out With The Waves at ‘Indian Open of Surfing 2017’ in Sasihithlu!
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