Surfing in India

    

The Surfing Federation of India (SFI) was founded in 2011 in response to the increased popularity of surfing in a country not usually associated with that sport.  It was formed by a group called the Mantra Surfing Club, whose members had been surfing together since 2001. The SFI is recognized by the International Surfing Association (ISA) as the National Governing Body (NGB) for Surfing in India.  The SFI fully supports the inclusion of surfing in the Olympics and works with other international surfing federations toward this goal.  India's first international surf competition, the Spice Coast Open, was held in 2013 with over 50 registered participants.  

SFI even has India's only Level 1 Surf Instructor course, using International Surfing Assoc. standards, so the sport is due to spread even further.  Students must reach a certain level of proficiency to take the course and there is a scholarship program based on financial need.  

   (Photo from their website.)

The most recent big event was the Covelong Point Surf and Music Festival 2014.  The winner of the men's division was Ismail Miglal, from the Maldives; women's winner was Suhasini Damian of India.  The next event was to be the India Open of Surfing, but SFI pulled out of organizing it on 21 May, 2015, stating on their website newsletter, "Unfortunately, the long bureaucratic process, never ending meetings, no release of funds and putting our associate partners at risk was some of the factors which made us to take this call."  Bureaucracy won this time, but maybe next year...

Here is a very nice four minute drone's-eye view of last year's Covelong surf and music (click to watch on Vimeo for a much larger view): 

               


A couple of Groms (under-16 contestants) at Covelong:

   (Photo from Redbull)  

More about the contest on the Redbull website.

Covelong Point Surf.kmz (955 B)