Surfin’ USA! Kudla Surfer Girl Tanvi to Represent India in NC-USA
Surfin’ USA! Kudla Surfer Girl Tanvi Jagadish to represent India at the surfing event at Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, USA. on April 19, 2017. (Read more about Tanvi in the exclusive article below, Link– (http://www.mangalorean.com/kudla-super-girl-tanvi-jagadish-trippin-surfin-fiji/)
Mangaluru: “If everybody had an ocean, Across the U. S. A., Then everybody be surfin’; We’ll all be planning that route, We’re gonna take real soon, We can’t wait for, We’ll all be gone for the summer, We’re on surfari to stay, Tell the teacher we’re surfin’, Everybody’s gone surfin’, Surfin’ U.S. A., Surfin’ U. S. A.” – these lyrics from the famous surfing song by The Beach Boys is the perfect song for anyone going Surfin’! And for that matter, Tanvi Jagadish, aged 17, is one lucky girl selected to represent India at a Surfing Event on one of the best beaches in North Carolina, USA- “Wrightsville Beach”.
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 Paddleboard 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- India’s first 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. Kodailbail, 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 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 sanga – 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.
About her future, Tanvi says, “I want to get into the defence services, complete my education and also surf. 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 laughs. “I am also sure that there 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”
During an exclusive interview with Tanvi last year, a couple of hours before she left to Fiji, she told Team Mangalorean, ” I began surfing when I was around 14 years old. I would visit the beaches with my grandfather and watch people surf, even though I didn’t know how to swim. I loved the water. I had known about surfing for a long time, in fact, I was introduced to surfing when I was only 8 years old but since my parents did not support me I couldn’t start surfing then. I was introduced to the Mantra Surf Club by my grandfather – I am extremely grateful to him for that. It was hard to get into surfing as a girl. The family would get worried that I would get tanned, society didn’t approve of girls wearing shorts or swimsuits and getting into the ocean. All in all, surfing was not considered to be a sport for girls. As a matter of fact, it still isn’t in the larger part of India.”
“But I didn’t give up. I had seen surfing, I had seen how the members of Mantra Surf Club were riding those waves and I knew I had to try it. I knew I would love it. So, I strived hard to get into it. I had to fight with my family, I had to fight with society, but in the end, I am happy to say that I made it. After 6 years I finally did start surfing and within two years I have found my passion and I am pursuing it against all odds. It has taken a lot of effort from my side and my trainers at Mantra Surf Club, who spent a lot of time training me and in both surfing and SUP (Stand Up Paddling) and convinced my parents that this could actually work – that a girl could actually surf and it would be totally fine!”
“It was a passion and a hobby for me about Surfing. When many people told me that surfing was for boys, I asked them “If everything is for boys, then what is for girls?” I had a great aim and intention to beat the boys and will do it someday. I remember having a competition right before my board exams and how I juggled everything. I attribute my good grades to my “mental strength”. When I enrolled for my first competition in Covelong-Chennai I participated in the women’s open category for both surfing and SUP. When my coach told me, “The waves will punch you,” I retorted, “I will punch them back!” added Tanvi.
Speaking to Team Mangalorean about her selection for the forthcoming surfing event in North Carolina, USA, Tanvi said, ” It’s an indeed a great honor for me to represent India in the West Marine Carolina Cup 2017, happening at Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, USA. Even though the event commences on April 19, I will be going there quite a few days ahead, so that I may get used to the weather and water conditions. I also feel proud to say that I am the only (one) female surfer from India representing the event and will be participating in the under-17 category. I am anxiously looking forward to taking part in this event, since this competition is very important for me, as it will give me more experience and good training for my next venture at the ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship to be held in Denmark. I know that the competition in NC will be a tough one since experienced participants from all over the world will be competing, but I will try to do my best. Wish me luck”
With the only challenge Tanvi faces is finding sponsorship, given how expensive surfing is — board costs between Rs. 80,000 to 90,000, and also the travel and other expenses abroad, she says, “I am very thankful to my parents who have always supported and financed my foreign surfing event trips. Apart from the help from my parents, and also from the Dakshina Kannada District Administration, I am also trying to raise funds through Ketto (Crowd-funding, https://www.ketto.org). Surfing and SUP are wonderful sports! We should really stop being judgemental about who can and cannot take part in them. Had I listened to my parents and society back then, I still wouldn’t have known what my passion in life is and would have had to be content just knowing and dreaming about surfing. I hope such prejudice will stop and more girls will be able to get into surfing! A whole new world awaits them!”
Team Mangalorean wishes Tanvi Jagadish all success in the forthcoming surfing event that will take place in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, USA. Best of luck and success galore. You Go Girl!
Also, Read Related Articles Below:
Kudla SUPer Girl Tanvi Jagadish ‘Trippin’ and Surfin’ in Fiji
The Surfing Swami Propagates ‘Live to Give’ Philosophy
Let’s Go ‘Trippin’ while ‘Surfin’ at Sasihithlu!
Come Walkin on Water and try Surfing – The New Sport Soon to Boom in India
After you have mastered the early Basics of Surfing – Part 1
After you have mastered the early Basics of Surfing – Part 2
Surfing is a 13 Billion Dollar Industry in the World
