Longa set to ride Tupira’s waves

SURFING has been part of Marianne Longa’s life in the border village of Lido in Vanimo, Sandaun.
Longa cannot wait to take on visiting surfers during this week’s Kumul World Longboard Surfing Championships in Tupira village, Bogia, Madang.
Speaking from Lido, the 46-year-old mother-of-five told The National that she was looking forward to the challenge.
“I am very excited as this is my first world championship and it’s at home too,” Longa said. “I will be out there to give my best against visiting surfers,” she said.
Longa said her interest in sports started after seeing visitors coming into Vanimo, in particularly Lido beach, to surf.
“I have no regret as surfing has taken me overseas for qualifying tournaments in Australia for championships,” Longa said.
Longa, who is the current PNG longboard champion, said competing against the best in the world would hopefully bring out the best in her.
Longa said her aim for the championships was to finish in the top-three.
“I am the current PNG champion, and I will be surfing against some of the best in the world like Tory (Gilkerson) from America,” she said. Longa is familiar with the waves off Tupira, where she defended her national title.
The Sandaun woman said she would use her local knowledge of Tupira to give her an edge over the visitors but admitted it would not be easy.
“I surfed there before and I know where to pick up the waves,” she said over the phone from Lido.
A member of Sunset Surf Club, Longa is excited and ready to leave for Madang for the championships.
“I’m representing the country so I’ll give me best at this championship.”