Bagasbas’ low waves and shallow waters are perfect for newbie surfers

Nothing spells beach awesomeness more than riding swell waves in front of awed spectators who are watching (with bated breath) by the shore. Frankly, those killer rips on gnarly waves aren’t exactly the easiest stunts to do.

For the longest time, surfing in the Philippines has been exclusive to foreign tourists and local professional surfers. But with the increasing popularity of the sport to beach enthusiasts and water sport aficionados, surfing, just like any hot commodity in the market, has become easier and budget-friendly.
 
Beginner waves

Recently, the sleepy town of Daet, Camarines Norte was livened up when over 500 amateur surfers gathered at the sprawling shoreline of Bagasbas Beach for the 3rd Bagasbas Summer Surf Festival.
The event, which was presented by the Province of Camarines Norte, Department of Tourism (DoT) Office of Product Research and Development (OPRD), DoT Region 5, Canon, and MOJO Slippers and Sandals, treated beginner surfers with a  one-on-one surfing lesson inclusive of board rental and surfing instructor for a registration fee of P500.00.

”If you really want to learn surfing, you should do it here in Bagasbas beach,” said Joey Cuerdo, event organizer, Bagasbas Summer Surf Festival.

The mile long beach, low waves, and shallow waters of Bagasbas are perfect for neophytes in the sport. Cuervo added that unlike other surfing destinations in the Philippines, the waves come year-round in Bagasbas which gives students a higher chance of getting the lessons in a shorter amount of time.

“Surfing is a very unique sport where the surfer’s aim is to merely follow the flow rather than to control the situation,” explained Cuerdo.

For beginners who are anxious for not being good swimmers and are reluctant to try a rather intimidating sport, Cuerdo affirms that surfing, like any sport, is learned through time and patience.

“I went into surfing pretty late, compared to others who at 10 years old, are now weaving through the waves. As a surfer residing in Manila, it took me around three years to get comfortable in catching a wave and another three years to control the board. Despite this though, from day one, I felt the stoke. I didn’t learn how to surf on my first day, but I was given a peek on how it was to seemingly walk on water. For those who are wary about wipeouts and swimming skills, surfing lessons are taught in shallow waters, only three feet deep. There really is nothing to worry about,” assures Cuerdo.

Safe shores

Bagasbas has very good safety management, with regular posting of lifeguards and the surf instructors having undergone accreditation from the Academy of Surfing Instructors, as spearheaded by the DoT OPRD. The DoT Region 5 also prepared the beach with a lot of surfboards making sure that there are enough facilities to accommodate the participants.

“Part of the big market of this event is the students on summer break along with young professionals making the most of the long weekend,” said Cuerdo.

There are a number of hotels, inns, and lodge houses near the beach, for those who couldn’t find rooms near the beach. The local government provided a secured area for campers where they can pitch their tents and sleep to the sound of soft crashing waves.

During the festival, Bagasbas’ two kilometer beach shore also hosted Frisbee, beach volleyball, and wall climbing competitions.

“Besides the surfing and other sports events, this festival is all about local travel. For us to see and appreciate the beauty of what lies in our own backyard, and in the process help establish tourism arrivals in Daet which will eventually translate to more jobs for the locals,” added Cuerdo.

The next surfing destination

Unlike the more popular surfing hubs like La Union and Siargao, Daet is yet to mature as a full blown surfing destination. And part of Camarines Norte’s aggressive promotion plan is to educate the younger tourist market on how to conveniently reach the province without booking a flight.

“Since we are targeting a younger market, it’s best to give them cheaper alternatives for them to keep coming back to Bagasbas,” said Cuerdo.

According to Cuerdo, the best way to travel to Daet is by bus. The trip takes six to eight hours depending on the bus you take. The fare ranges from P500.00 to P700.00. It’s best to take the night trips so passengers can simply sleep through the long drive and arrive in Daet early in the morning.

Surfing lessons in Bagasbas are available almost year-round since their waves are consistently good from summer to the “ber” months (starting in Septem-ber). Regular surfing clinics will cost around P200 per hour for the instructor plus another P200 rental for the surf boards.

“Veteran surfers here in Daet have been riding their surfboards since the late '80s. If the tourist influx picks up, a lot of our local surfers will have more jobs especially if we hold regular surfing competitions and clinics,” said Ryan Vito, president of the Bagasbas Unified Surfers’ Association.

As of now, tourism in Camarines Norte barely matches the robust tourism growth of CamSur. But with Bagasbas’ huge potential in the surfing circuit and Camarines Nortes’ stunning unspoiled Islands, it wouldn’t be long until local and foreign tourists start veering their way towards the northern side of the Bicol region.