Mangaluru: The Tourism Department held a press meet at the DC office here, on May 6.
Addressing the mediapersons, Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim said that the Surfing Federation of India, in association with the Tourism Department, will be organizing a national-level surfing festival at the Panambur beach from May 29 to May 31. This is the first time that the Tourism Department is organizing such a competition. The DC also assured to make it an annual event and that a proposal to this effect would be sent to the state government.
The logo of the Surfing festival was unveiled by the Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim along with other dignitaries.
The vice president of Surfing Federation of India, Ram Mohan Parnajape, said, “The Tourism Department has whole heartedly agreed to hold the surfing festival at Panambur beach. The Tourism Department has also released Rs 24 lakh for the festival.”
He further said, “Mangaluru is the home of surfing. Our aim is to celebrate the festival in a grand manner. We will meet corporate companies for sponsorship. The three-day festival will include food festival, music and cultural programme so that the public can enjoy throughout the day. The surfing competition will start from 7.30 am. Suniel Shetty has consented to be present for the inaugural programme. The competition will be judged by judges from Indonesia and Thailand.”
The surfing competition will be held in 4 categories for men and women separately,
Under 16 year category
17 – 22 year juniors category
23 – 28 year seniors category
above 29 year masters category.
Winners will be awarded with cash prizes upto Rs 6 lakh. 20 surfers have already registered online. We are expecting more than 100 surfers from all over the country.
Anyone who would like to take part in the competition can log on to www.indiaopenofsurfing.com,” and register their names online. Or can contact:
Ram Mohan Paranjape +91 9980845767
ram@surfingfederationofindia.org
Kishor Kumar +91 9902433404
kishore@surfingfederationofindia.org
