- WSL
- WSL
Cloud 9 Cloud 9 Perfection. - WSL

The WSL's Asia region is proud to announce that the Siargao International Surfing Cup in the Philippines this September has been ungraded to a QS3,000 event.

Upgrading from a QS1,500 to a QS3,000 will mean not only more qualifying points on offer for competitors but increased prize money and a larger field that will all be broadcast live on the WSL website. With this in mind, there will no doubt be a hungry pack of QS surfers heading to the famed peak of Cloud 9 for this year's event.

Having taken out the event last year at only 16-years-old, Central Coast chargerSandon Whittaker Sandon Whittaker will return to Cloud 9 in 2017 to defend his title. The goofy-footer is all too aware of the work he has a head as higher seed surfers will be joining him in paradise this year.

223404 Sandon Whittaker will return to Cloud 9 to defend his title 2017. - WSL / Bennett

"I'm stoked the Siargao Surfing Cup is going to be a QS3,000 this year," Whittaker said. "I can't wait to get back there it is an amazing place. Cloud 9 is an incredible place and is so much fun to surf in all conditions which makes it great for a contest. Siargao is a tropical paradise, the waters warm, it's really clean, the food is so good and the waves are epic, plus the locals are really friendly and helpful. It's going to be a great contest."

Mayor of General Luna Jamie Russilon is known as the ‘God Father' of surfing in the Philippines due to his ongoing support of the Filipino surf industry and surfing events in the area. Seeing the Siargao Surfing Cup grow into the international event it is today is one of Mayor Russilon's proudest achievements and he and the City of General Luna are excited for their idyllic home to be shown to the world.

"We are very happy and proud to be hosting this year's QS here in General Luna at the famous Cloud 9 wave," Mayor Russilon said. "We welcome all of the competitors here and hope that this event will help increase tourism and as a consequence brighten the future of our citizens and all of the people of the Philippines."

"We are proud to host a breakthrough event this year. This is the biggest surfing competition ever and we are positive that this will enable us to reap benefits for the good of the local tourism industry and national tourism program as well" - Added Sol F. Matugas, Provincial Governor.

Former event winner and local standout Piso Alcala (PHL) is always one to watch when the waves turn on at Cloud 9 as he has an ability to read its tube like no other. With the Siargao International Surfing Cup being upgraded in 2017 and attracting its best field to date, the internationals will no doubt be nervous about the prospect of meeting Alcala in a heat as he and the other locals will be tough to overcome in their backyard.

Piso Piso Alcala is likely to do some damage in his backyard when the QS comnes to town this September. - WSL / Bennett

  "I'm excited for this event especially this will be in my home break," Alcala said. "It's always good to see competitors come in from all over the world to surf Cloud 9. With it being upgraded to a QS3,000, this year the field will be the best one yet. I have begun my preparation for the event already and just hope that the waves cooperate for us. It's amazing how much support the locals get from the Siargao people; it really does help to build my confidence when coming up against the world's best."  

The 2017 Siargao Surfing Cup QS3000 will run from September 24 - 29. Tune in to watch it live on the WSL site.

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