Surfing champ to defend title

The National Sports

By HENRY MORABANG
WORLD longboard surfing champion Tory Gilkerson is looking forward to defending her title at the upcoming championship in Bogia, Madang, from March 18-25.
The American will be out to the test a brand new and exciting location on the world circuit.
“Coming to PNG for a World Longboard Championship event is such a privilege and a really exciting experience for us all,” Gilkerson said.
“This year will be the hopeful start for multiple events on the WLC and to kick it off with a new venue is so exciting.
“PNG looks amazing, with crystal blue water, epic waves, and thriving local communities,” the California native said.
“PNG will be a nice change of surf conditions — I can’t wait!”
Gilkerson is one of 18 women who will take part in the championship which will see a total of 54 of the world’s best longboarders from Australia, Peru, South Africa, France, Great Britain, USA, Brazil, Japan, and hosts Papua New Guinea, take part.
The event is hosted by the Tupira Surfing Club.
The championship will be televised to an estimated 120 million viewers worldwide and would also be seen on EMTV and KunduTV.
According to World Surfing League Australia-Oceania regional manager Will Hayden-Smith, the body is thrilled to enter a new region of the world where surfing is relatively new and to be able to provide more opportunities for the world’s best longboarders to compete for the world title.
“The World Surf League would like to thank Surfing Association PNG, Kumul Holdings and the people of PNG for supporting this event and the important messages that we will be promoting,” Hayden-Smith said.
“PNG is a beautiful country, with beautiful people and a whole lot of world-class surf breaks.
“We’re excited to see the world’s best longboarders come here this month and broadcast to the world what PNG has to offer.”
PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said he was pleased the global surfing community recognised PNG as a destination to host such a prestigious event.
“Papua New Guinea is looking forward to hosting the World Surf League Longboard Championship in Tupira, Madang,” O’Neill said.  “I am glad that people around the world are discovering that PNG is a great surfing destination, with challenging waves in pristine waters on beautiful beaches.
“I hope all competitors and spectators have an enjoyable time at the first international surfing event in PNG.”