Mangaluru (The Hindu) Conditions on the beach, and the local surfing talent, make Sasihitlu a potential venue for hosting international surfing events, said Steve Robertson, general manager of the World Surf League, Australia.

Mr. Robertson, who is in the city to oversee the Indian Open of Surfing event that will commence on Friday, said that surfing was expanding in a big way in Asia and he was scouting for new venues. He was greatly impressed with the surfing talent in Mangaluru and also of the quality of surfing boards made in India. “We are keen on having international surfing events here,” Mr. Robertson said.

Mr. Robertson said that surfing was catching up in India which now has a good number of confident surfers. He said that surfing will attract more number of youths in the days to come. Like in the Philippines and Taiwan, which he visited on surfing duties, Mr. Robertson said that the number of surfers in India will also increase. Surfing was a popular sport in Australia where there are around two million surfers.

Mr. Robertson has come here with his wife Olwyn, also a surfer, to watch the event.

Hectic preparations

Hectic preparations were on at the venue on Thursday. Structures, including flood lights and tents necessary for the event, were being put up. The district administration has repaired the bumpy 100-m road stretch leading to the beach. Vice-President of Surfing Federation of India Rammohan Paranjpe and Narasingh and Jayadeva, who are popular as surfing swamis, from the Mantra Surf Club, were also part of the preparations.

More than 80 surfers from India and other parts of the world are participating in the three-day event.

Minister for Tourism R.V. Deshpande will inaugurate the event.