SAN JUAN, La Union — The surfing events of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games were postponed on Saturday after rough sea conditions forced organizers to suspend the matches. Athletes were sent back to their hotels for safety.
“This is normal in surf competitions — we call it a lay day,” said competition manager Kat Bolina. “The waves are actually good for professional surfers, but some of the women are finding it difficult. Conditions are expected to improve by Sunday with smaller waves, which will be better for everyone.”
Friday’s events were also postponed due to similar conditions. During one match, an Indonesian surfer’s leg rope broke. Fellow competitor Roger Casugay came to his rescue, highlighting the camaraderie among athletes.
National coach Luke Landrigan said the delay would allow athletes to rest ahead of the finals on Sunday.
“It’s good they get one more day to recover,” he said. “Tomorrow is the final battle. One of our athletes, Daisy Valdez, is competing in two divisions.”
Valdez will compete for bronze medals in both the shortboard and longboard categories. Meanwhile, teammate Jevy Mae Agudo is already guaranteed at least a silver medal in the women’s longboard event.
All seven members of the Philippine surfing team have advanced to the finals, ensuring strong representation in the closing matches of the competition.