SURF-EXCEL: INDIA AIM TO MAKE WAVES

With Chennai recently hosting the World Surfing League, Kalyani Mangale takes a look at the rise of surfing in India, the work gone behind the scenes, plans to grow the sport to qualify for Olympics and more...

- Kalyani Mangale

THERE is something about surfing,' Stephanie Gilmore's eyes lit up instantly. "It's a lifestyle. There are not a lot of athletes who choose to do their sport for leisure, and surfing crosses over so easily," the eight-time World Surfing League champion told the Olympics Surfing YouTube channel.

Why wouldn't it be? The sport that attracts lifestyle brands in the world like Vans and Red Bull and even inspired the invention of the 'Go-Pro' action cameras has to be among the list of 'coolest sports'. It is that 'sit back and relax' beach sport adored around the world. And it was Arun Vasu, president of the Surfing Federation of India, who decided to bring the sport to Indian shores. "I have always been into water sports," Vasu, told this daily in Mamallapuram, which recently hosted the first-ever Tamil Nadu International Surf Open. "I am mostly a windsurfer (a combination of sailing and surfing). I started when I was 13 and competed for four years. I got into surfing much later. Mostly because of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Kovalam. The main goal was to give them a different means to earn something rather than fishing, which is tough," he added.

Kovalam, a small fishing village near Chennai, has been the hub for the surfing community of the state. With the 12 surfing schools in Kovalam producing-several international-level players, the humble beginnings are finally reaping the rewards. "The idea was to create Kovalam as a tourism spot. For 10 years now, we have held surfing events in Kovalam, but for the last 2-3 years, as the Surfing Federation of India, we have been looking to grow the game and promote athletes. And the interest has peaked since the game's introduction in the Olympics," the SFI head said.