Arugam Bay Information

Surf Culture

Group seeks to make better surfing future for all men and women in Sri Lanka

Arugam Bay: photo by Testemale

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 9 March, 2010 : – - Long known for its world class waves, tropical seascapes and easy-going people, Sri Lanka has been on the global surfers’ itinerary for over 30 years. Recently, local surfers and surf clubs decided to band together and commence the journey towards making a better surfing future for all men and women in Sri Lanka.

Following years of turmoil in the country due to a civil war, tsunami and economic hardtimes, the surfers from Arugam Bay and Hikkaduwa have formed the Surfing Federation of Sri Lanka (SFSL). The mission of the SFSL is clear – to create a national body that will direct, govern, control and guide the sport in the country for the first time.

The Surfing Federation will take in charge the future development of surfing for all Sri Lankans and both encourage and foster a platform of national surfing competitions, improved water safety, plus environmental protection and conservation of the coastal surfing resources of the country. The decision is welcomed and supported by the Sri Lankan Olympic Committee Vice President Joseph Kenny and the local government Sports Ministry who saw the need for organising the rapidly growing sport.

Under the guidance of Australian marketing wizard, surf artist and one time state title surfer Peter Rob-o, the SFSL will become a force in surfing to be reckoned with in years to come. Continuing a lifelong passion with surfing in Sri Lanka, Peter has helped to gather all of the necessary elements together to make a long overdue dream come true. Overwhelmingly proclaimed as the new SFSL Chief Advisor by all the local surfers at a recent meeting, Rob-o is clear about his mission:

“When I first came here there were no local surfers at all, but after a short time they started to realize what they had here and started to get on it and go okay on the old and often broken surfboards left behind by foreign travellers.

Aasannka at the point : photo Philamonica

Not many of the original surfers from back then (70’s) are stll around or surfing. Dunstan is still at Hikkaduwa surfing and making surf clothes whilst his best mate Ranjin (ex President of the A Bay Surf Club) died not long ago in a surfing incident at Arugam Bay. His accident shocked the local surfing community and highlighted the desperate need to get organised as surfers and create a culture of first aid and water safety that until now has been lacking.”

“The young surfres here possess an incredible talent, motivation and surfing level in spite of the poor quality of surfing equipment available to them and the complete lack of national organisation for surfing here. The SFSL intends to rectify all of this soon. The spirit of the local surfers, their hardworking nature to get on despite difficult circumstances plus their willingness to create a better surfing future for all generations here and safeguard the coastal environment is why I’m involved with them.

They motivate and impress me everyday I’m around them. I’m actually re-learning things in life from them and in a way they are my teachers. I couldn’t be more stoked to help these guys achieve their goals. They make me very proud to be involved and that’s why I’m helping them to organise the Surfing Federation of Sri Lanka.”

The objectives of the new surfing federation in the next 12 months will be aimed at 1.) Creating the first national surfing competition series, develop the existing surf clubs along the coast and encourage membership to the SFSL. 2.) Encourage government and business recognition, support and sponsorship of surfing. 3.) Gain inclusion in the worldwide surfing community and become a member nation of the International Surfing Association (ISA). 4.) Prepare a national team equipped to compete at international level. 5.) Provide a pathway for the local surfers to excel and give them a voice in the future of world surfing.

Alain Riou : photo Testemale

In a country with several cultures, religions and languages it will not be an easy task but one which is well worth the effort. According to Chief Fundraiser of the SFSL and longtime supporter of Arugam Bay surfing, Tim Taunton, whose charity organisation Paddle 4 Relief back in the UK has provided assistance to this area for years, “these young guys are the salt of the earth and deserve a chance to make something of their lives”.

Tim has coordinated coastal community improvement programs such as the provision of clean drinking water, books for local schools, water safety and swimming courses for local kids and regular Beach Clean Up activities. Tim is legend to these people after more than 10 years of selfless efforts for them.

Arugam Bay will soon host the first international surfing event ever staged here on these shores in June 2010. The Sri Lankan Airlines Pro 6 Star WQS event has finally flown proudly home to Sri Lanka after years of successful exile in the Maldives due to the civil unrest in Sri Lanka ( the war has now finished in 2009).

This inaugral event is bound to ignite the flame for Sri Lankan surfing and will hopefully be the first of many to be staged in the country. The British Pro Surfing Tour has also come to A Bay previously whilst the Japanese Surfing Association has staged longboard events sometimes at Hikkaduwa on the other coast.

The first Annual General Meeting of the Surfing Federation of Sri Lanka will coincide with the prestigious WQS event and be convened at the same time in A Bay from 14 to 20 June. All Sri Lankan surfers, sporting and government officials and potential sponsors wishing to contribute to the AGM are welcome to attend.

A new website for the SFSL is being prepared and should be ready for surfing soon with all the local and international news, events, photos, videos, environmental programs, national team profiles and membership details. The website will be found at surfingsrilanka.com. In the meantime, anyone interested in contacting the Surfing Federation regarding donations to the cause, sponsorships, general enquiries or news updates on the progress of the Birth of a Surfing Nation Project can do so at: surfingsrilanka@gmail.com.

www.surfingsrilanka.com

source:

http://www.globalsurfnews.com/news.asp?Id_news=45694

Thank you, Horst & Tina! Arugam Bay’s German supporters.
Also a special Thank you!
To all the contributing photographers!

Kite Surf Sri Lanka writes, in his blog and on his web site:

Master Dilsiri in action

Been on this island for 28 years and have travelled a lot but Arugam Bay still remains the best and most exciting place on this island paradise.
Jungle beaches with amazing breaks, winds in the afternoon for some kitesurfing amongst the surfers, the crocodiles and ruines, nights under the stars and food….oh, how I long to head to Arugam Bay again.

Arugam Bay,
That’s where I want to be
Arugam Bay.
That’s where I want to stay

Kite Surfing. A great sport and play with elements and nature

http://kitesurfsrilanka.blogspot.com/2010/02/oh-how-i-long-to-head-to-arugam-bay.html

ArugAmBay credits to:  Six Surf, UK
http://rollingsixes.co.uk/sixsurf/?p=1412

Arugam Bay 'City' Centre and view to Main Surf Point

This is a rare photo taken from a new Telecom Tower.
(Credits to Alex – Facebook)
Shown is Arugam Bay’s ‘City’  Centre.
The #50 SVH can be seen in front
The sand bank behind and lagoon formation is an annual event.
And has since disappeared.
Main Surf Point is shown in the top rhd corner

Arugam.info hopes to have a permanent Surf/Weather Web Cam installed on this brilliant viewpoint location

The Saudi Gazette reports on Arugam Bay

Saudi Gazette

Sri Lanka is studded with sunny beaches. If you want to enjoy a beautiful sunset, sipping a drink made of tropical fruits on the sandy beaches, listening to the music of rising and falling waves lapping on to beaches, Sri Lanka offers all that and much more.
One is sure to get enthralled by the serenity and the tranquility of beaches of Sri Lanka. Arugam beach of Sri Lanka also features as one of the most fascinating beaches of the country.
Arugam Bay is located about 314 km from Colombo, a beautiful bay with good surfing opportunities. The East coast offers infinite possibilities for all kinds of water sports and underwater photography.
Underneath the Bay lie the many ship-wrecks of the coast which pose a tempting challenge to the diver. If you are interested in water sport activity and surfing then Arugam Bay is definitely the place for all wind surfers. Arugam Bay is on the list of the top ten surf points in the world. Situated on the South East side of Sri Lanka, Arugam Bay receives the same Antarctic winter swell’s that hit Indonesia in the middle of the year. The best time of the year to visit this exquisite beach is between May and November when the predominant wind is offshore for at least the first half of the day. At this time favorable conditions are found for surfing.
Arugam Bay also has a Continue reading ‘Arugam beach A surfer’s delight (Saudi article)’

ARAGUM = Aussi speak for ARUGAM Bay

Some distinctly average surfing by middle aged bald blokes on completely mediocre waves.
Even the wipeouts are laid back. The sound track is very nice though…

During long weekends, Arugam Bay attracts many local tourists. Day Trippers, who have never been on the East Coast before.

Paddle4Relief update, published 19thJanuary, 2010:

UK Fund Raising Group

The surfers of Arugam Bay, members of the Arugam Bay Surf Club, have managed to fund a project where they took the initiative and made and erected signs for their beach. Since the end of the civil war, back in May 2009, the beach in Arugam Bay has seen countless more visitors, and with it, rubbish!

AbaY Surf Club members & Paddle4Relief erected four signs on Arugam Bay beach

The young surfers are very much aware of the importance of protecting their natural playground. The sea and beach is not just a playground though, its a way of life, its where they fish to earn the money to support their families.
So with the help of travelling surfers and Paddle4Relief, the boys raised enough money to purchase materials to make four signs. The local surfers were concerned Continue reading ‘Arugam Bay Beach Litter signs!’

Sri Lanka, A Country in Transition

After 12 hours in a dilapidated bus, cramped by suitcases and boardbags and 25 others, there is only one thing preventing us from our destination: a young soldier thumbing through our passports, the trigger of his gun close enough for me to touch. He eyes us carefully and motions to another soldier to search our luggage. We nervously hold our breaths as they begin to pull out our carefully constructed wall of suitcases from the back of the bus. This could take hours. At some point though, the soldiers decide no additional searching is necessary and send us on our way.

Tea for two in Sri Lanka, the emerald isle with the sunshine coast

By Jenny Coad

Sleeping in the back of a Sri Lankan taxi is no easy task. Buses roar into view, their smiling drivers beeping blithely. Bicycles ignore cars brushing their backsides, pedestrians saunter across the road and dogs lie in the middle.

Exotic: The beach at Unawatuna, near Galle, Ski Lanka

A bus aptly emblazoned with, ‘Jesus save us’ passes within a whisker. But the hair-raising driving is not the only reason to stay awake.

The ever-changing scenery provides more thrill than fear, from congested Kandy with its temples, great white Buddha and daring tuktuks, to the textured tea plantations in the Bogawantalawa Valley, a quilted landscape with sheer drops, lush vegetation and barrow loads of king coconuts.

I was last in Sri Lanka in 2002 with my friend Jess, who was studying in Kandy. We surfed in Arugam Bay, cycled the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, took long bus journeys and drank lots of milky tea (a ‘hug in a mug’). The people and the place left an impression. Continue reading ‘Tea for Two at AbaY’

Indomitable spirit

...The Laya Project does not dwell on the tsunami itself, nor is any footage on the DVD of it included.

Project takes a fascinating musical journey across tsunami-affected communities

The 2004 tsunami caused havoc across Asia, affecting many coastal communities from the Maldives in the Indian Ocean to the Indonesian archipelago. We know of the horrors of this tragic event from the news media which showed the awful devastation. But what of those who survived? How have they survived?

The Laya Project shows the incredible spirit and resilience of the coastal peoples.

A team of producers, filmmakers and musicians from the Chennai-based EarthSync music label travelled for two years across the tsunami-affected region, visiting coastal communities and recording the music each one played. The aim was to produce a part-documentary, part-music video and part-travelogue that would show the incredible spirit and resilience of these coastal peoples. The result is a wonderful package, the Laya Project, which includes two audio CDs of studio and field recordings, produced by Patrick Sebag and a film (DVD) directed by Harold Monfils. The film has already received worldwide airplay and has garnered many awards.

The Laya Project does not dwell on the tsunami itself, nor is any footage on the DVD of it included. Continue reading ‘…singing fishermen from Arugam Bay …’

Paddle 4 relief fundraisers

visited Pottuvil Temples, worked on School Book Project, went fishing and ate Banana Rice Pudding!
source:

http://www.paddle4relief.co.uk/blog/index.php/2009/11/visited-pottuvil-temples-work/

The kite surfers jumped in winds gusting at more than 40mph

Two kite surfers from West Sussex took advantage of strong winds on the south coast to realise an ambition to jump over Worthing pier.

Jake Scrace, 25, and Lewis Crathern, 24, had been planning Monday morning’s jump for three years but had to wait for perfect weather conditions.

They took off from ….. Continue reading ‘Two kite surfers jump over pier’

For an island surrounded by water, and well-known for it’s if not world-class, at least great-for-ameteurs surfing spots, its inhabitants are surprisingly lax at engaging in water sports.

Expense is probably a factor. But maybe not a big one. Sporting as a leisure activity is mostly only common with a country that has a growing mid-income class population. The poor tend to get their thrills out of their jobs itself and the rich are far too lazy most often to engage in active sports, and the proportion that do are far too small to figure. Continue reading ‘Water-Sporting Sri Lanka’