Breaking the surfing board to open the competition are DOT Caraga director Leticia Tan; General Luna Mayor Felipe Espejon; Director Cynthia Lazo, DOT Office of Sports and Wellness; Andrew Stark, 14th Invitational International Surfing Cup contest director. (RICHMOND HINAYON, ABS-CBN Butuan)

GENERAL LUNA, Siargao -- International surfers and tourists flocked Surigao del Norte Saturday for the formal opening of the 14th International Surfing Cup.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) Caraga and local government of General Luna led the ceremonial breaking of a surfing board to signal the opening of the event.

The event attracted 48 foreign surfers who travelled all the way to General Luna to compete in the magnificent waves of Cloud 9 in Siargao Island.

Among the participants are International Surfing defending champion Wade Goodall of Australia and some of the world’s most prolific tube riders including 2006 Pipeline master James o’Brien and professional big wave rider Makua Rothman, both from Hawaii. Also present in the event are fearless Australian chargers Laurie Towner and Dylan Longbottom.

The participants will be competing for the tournament’s $20,000 top prize.

DOT Caraga Regional Director Leticia Tan said this year’s participants are smaller in number compared to last year’s 56.

She, however, clarified that is has nothing to do with the travel advisory issued by the British embassy regarding the armed conflict in Lanao.