Contest Director Olin Duaso gives the competitors a briefing on the rules of the event.

Registration was on Feb 16 and 42 surfers competed in the event. Class categories were the Open Class (Age 20 and above), the Junior Class (age 16 to 19) and the Grommet Class (Below 16). Most of the surfers came from the province of La Union. Other provinces represented are Daet-Camarines Norte, Baguio City, Cebu, and Manila.

The eliminations was on Feb 16 at Baler's Sabang Beach right in front of Bay's Inn, presentor sponsor of the event. Conditions were not perfect with the northeast monsoon blowing onshore with full force. Sand was flying and the waves were mushy. Boards that were leaning on the fence rail were being blown down. In spite of the conditions which would have been ideal for windsurfing, Olin Duaso, contest director, completed the elimination heats on the first day.

Australian surfer and contest judge Graham Smith, a retired Cathay Pacific pilot who plans to reside in Baler said, "It is hard work for the guys out there in the surf. Considering the conditions, the standard of surfing is pretty good. Although there are no outstanding rides simply because of the difficult existing conditions at the moment."

The Finals
As predicted by Marvin, the winds shifted for the entire morning, blowing off shore, creating perfect barrels in Cemento. I was on the boat with the judges where they had a great view of the surfers. We were just a few meters from this beautiful yet deadly wave and many times, we'd tell the boat captain, "Aren't we too close to the break?" But the captain has had many years of steering the boat for the judges so he knew exactly where to anchor the boat.

"Horror!", was how Edmund Mendoza, 1997 and 2000 defending champion, described the surf conditions in Cemento just before his Open Class finals. "Look at that reef, it's like its grinning at you... waiting to bash you into its cement-hard bottom." Sure enough, as the wave receded, you could see the flat shallow gaping reef. "Cemento is big today, bigger than it was in last year's finals. But I have seen Cemento bigger and deadlier. Right now, it is low tide so there is an increased degree of danger."

"I voluntarily dropped out of the heat," said Ian Saguan of La Union, Open Class champion of the January 2001 La UNion Longboard Open. "Cemento was dangerous, tide was low, and I'd rather not take the risk. Anyway, it's all La Union surfers that are competing in the finals."
The Winners
Open Class
Champion: (AUR) Edmund Mendoza
1st runner-up: (AUR) Rommel Postor
2nd runner-up: (AUR) Joel Faraon
3rd runner-up: (LU) Anthony Valdez

Junior Class
Champion: (LU) Luke Landrigan
1st runner-up: (LU) Jun Fietas
2nd runner-up: (LU) Anthony Leuben
3rd runner-up: (LU) Junior Ventura

Grommet Class
Champion: (AUR) Alvin Ritual
1st runner-up: (AUR) Lorenzo Rojo
2nd runner-up: (AUR) Jayson dela Torre
3rd runner-up: (AUR) Smith dela Torre

Airshow winner: (AUR) Rommel Rojo

Surfers Profile
There was one female participant, 13-year old Daisy Valdez, who is the country's No. 1 female surfer to date. Since there was no ladies class, Daisy competed in the Grommets Division with the boys.

Daisy began surfing in October 1999 and learned in the waves of San Juan, La Union. In Sep 2000 she became the beginners class provincial champion. She was also the ladies champion in the 2nd Billabong Surfing competition held in La Union last October 2000. When I asked her what was her dream, she answered with no hesitation, "To be a professional surfer." Daisy is the 5th child of 7 siblings. Her brother Anthony is also a surfer and won 4th place in the Open class of the 5th Aurora Surfing Cup. Daisy's trip to Baler was sponsored by Billabong. She is currently in Grade 6 and also competes in gymnastics. Australian Shane Dorian is her surfing idol.

Another interesting surfer is Ronnie Esquivel, the one-leg surfer from La Union. I saw him last in 1997 during the Quiksilver contest in La Union. Ronnie competed in the Junior class, placing first in his eliminations heat and making it all the way to the Semi-finals which was to be surfed in Cemento. At this point, he backed out of his heat more for safety concerns. Ronnie has lost his left leg, just below the knee. When he surfs, he bends his right leg and puts his hand on the board to give him more balance. It is amazing that his handicap has not deterred him from surfing.

Daisy said, "It was Ronnie who inspired me to learn to surf. I told myself, if a one-leg person can do it, I should be able to do it, too."

Alan Cabanela.

Registration fee was pegged at P450 (approx US$9)
per surfer. This included participation to the event,
an event tee shirt, and breakfast, lunch, and
dinner throughout the 4-day event. There were
parties every night including a live band composed
of all Baler surfers. Venue for all the activities
except the Awards Night Dinner was at the Bay's
Inn Resort on Sabang Beach.