On Call

The summer season drives frothing surfers mad -- during these months, most of the country's spots go flat, and if you don't have anything better to do, you'll be stuck browsing over the past season's photos just to keep the stoke flowing.
 
Before, I get antsy and irritable during the flat spell, but for the past couple of years I have managed to find a "light at the end of the tunnel." Now, I am more relaxed,and actually a tad bit excited because I know that the Habagat season is just around the corner. I am content with the fact that when the South Swell season arrives, one of my favorite places in the PI will come alive.



Pagudpud is located at the northern tip of the country, and during the typhoon season, it is exposed to the raw energy generated by passing typhoons. So when a cyclone with a good track pops up on the charts, we round up the crew and head up north to Kapuluan Vista Resort (KVR).

It's a 10-12 hour trip but hey, we don't care because we know that we are about to score some good, uncrowded waves. Couple that with the rustic beauty of KVR, and man oh man, it'll surely be another one of those epic surf trips.

Here are more pictures (and a video) from our recent trip, the waves courtesy of typhoon Huaning. Enjoy, and see you in the lineup soon. :)

     Leo Maralit

          Fruzzy Annawwuzzy

           Ede Virata

             Video and Edit by Pom (Andromeda) and Del.

                                          KVR July 2013 from Andromeda on Vimeo.

A New Home

It's not just because we've migrated to Blogspot (not that there was much written from where we came from) but because I have found a new home. A new home break, that is.

I first learned to surf in what used to be a peaceful, uncrowded beach break in Baler, Aurora.

It's also where Del and I first paddled out together.

It's where we also decided to keep paddling out together.

It turns out though, that dozens of other surfers out there decided to make Baler their special place too. Who can blame them? The place just really loves you back.

So while I still do love Baler,  I have found a new love way up north. Faaaarther north.

Pagudpud.

It wasn't my first time in the place. When I was around 13 to 14 years old, I spent summer-long vacations there. The Blue Lagoon did not have its row of resorts then. The Pebble Beach still had pebbles.

I often wonder how many people knew of the palm-sized pebbles in that beach in Bangui way before it became famous for those windmills. I  wonder if they even knew it was called Pebble Beach.

Anyway.

Enduring a 10-hour trip to greet Typhoon Huaning was worth the tailbone trauma.

We were saluted by overhead waves that arched with perfect glory.

Check it out.

I know what you're thinking--where the hell is everyone?!

Here's our friend, Ede, taking a wave.

Drei "Frus Annaw" heading out.

Delfin "Del" de Luna charging.

Del and I heading out <3

       I shall leave the technical explanation of that perfect wave to Del. He's the one fluent in swellspeak. 

Drei took a photo of our friend Leo's singe-fin board--but it was definitely not a day for coasting.

As if the uncrowded reef break wasn't enough, the resort where we stayed was another reason why I fell in love with the place.

Kapuluan Vista Resort set the ideal place for turning in after a serious surf sesh. 

Sans an alarm clock, and the pumping surf, we would have waken up early anyway to Ilocos longganisa and beautiful sunrises.

Thank you, Pagudpud.  

I look forward to coming home soon.