Top surfer Villaran surprised by Sri Lankan talent
Top international surfer Gabriel Villaran, who is presently at the Sri Lankan surf hotspot of Arugam Bay as part of an initiative to hone
Above: Gabriel Villaran demonstrating a manouver to a local surfer on the waters of Arugam Bay. Below: Villaran conducting his second workshop at Okanda yesterday. - Pix by Amila Gamage
and identify top local prospects in the sport, expressed astonishment and excitement over the abundant supply of talented he has so far encountered.
“I thought there was going to be one or two good surfers but when I got here I met eight people who surf really good. It’s really interesting coming to a place where there is not much support but then you find these really good surfers,” Villaran commented.
He added that since his first visit to the country back in 2010 during an officially-sanctioned surfing competition, the standard of the sport in Sri Lanka has risen dramatically and was capable of even steeper progress if more support was channeled towards it by government sports officials.
Villaran, who hails from the Peruvian capital of Lima and rests in world surfing’s upper berth due to an inimitable style embellished with artistry and aggression, has been shepherded to Arugam Bay through the inaugural Red Bull Local Hero Tour.
Running from October 3 to 7 on the beaches of Arugam Bay, the event sees 30 young Lankan surfers from Pottuvil, Peanut Farm, Okanda and Arugam Bay engaged in a series of workshops as well as several rounds of surfing competition which will be judged by Villaran. After the number of competitors has been whittled down to six, a final round of action will see each man try to pull off their best moves and tricks in an attempt to be crowned the county’s maiden Local Hero. In addition to this title, the winner will also travel with Villaran to the Maldives as part of his Local Hero tour.
The workshops interspersing each round of action focused on technical aspects of surfing as well as the importance and methods of adequate physical and mental preparation.
comments powered by Disqus