CALICOAN ISLAND, GUIUAN, EASTERN SAMAR – The national surfing tour returns to the shores of Calicoan for the 2nd leg of the 2023 NextGen Pilipinas Surfing National Tour. Samar’s premiere surf contest is a Grade 2 event sanctioned by the United Philippine Surfing Association (UPSA).
Now in its 13th year, the Calicoan Odyssey Waves is a surf gathering and music festival. Just like the first stop in Pagudpud, winners of this event will receive 750 points and P50,000.00 cash. UPSA upholds equality in sports so the points and cash prizes for Men and Women Divisions are the same.
The contest will be held at the renowned ABCD break, a wide-open reef with pounding left-handers. The spot got its catchy name from the Advance Base Construction Depot, which played a pivotal role in the operations of the air and naval bases of the Allied Forces in Calicoan and Guiuan during World War II.
By land travel, Calicoan is three hours away from Tacloban City and only two hours away from Borongan City, which will also host an upcoming leg of the national tour.
Going around Calicoan, visitors may also treat themselves to an easy trek to Linao Cave where one can swim in its cool, natural pools. Meanwhile, Sulangan Beach at the tip of Guiuan boasts a serene beach with a soothing sunset view.
Sulangan is also where you can visit the miraculous Sulangan Church or the Shrine of St. Anthony Padua, the Patron Saint of Lost Things. The church remained standing as Super Typhoon Yolanda, one of the strongest typhoons in history, flattened the island in 2013.
Don’t miss the second stop of the NextGen Pilipinas Surfing National Tour! Come to Eastern Samar and experience the warmth of the Visayan surf community as we crown new champions of the Calicoan Odyssey Waves.
The 2023 Calicoan Odyssey Waves is organized by the Municipality of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, the United Philippine Surfing Association, and the local surfing organizations of Calicoan Island and Eastern Samar: ABCD Surf, Calicoan Local Surfers, Samrayan Surfboards, The Backyard SURF CO. , Surfriders Club of Eastern Samar Inc.
Follow Us
Stay updated on the UPSA by following us on our official channels:
Facebook @official.upsa | Instagram @upsa.ph
About UPSA
The UPSA is the sole recognized National Sports Association (NSA) for developing and promoting surfing in the Philippines. This recognition was granted by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) through Republic Act 6847. As the national governing body for surfing in the Philippines recognized by the International Olympic Committee, UPSA continues to support and foster the growth of exceptional surf athletes like Jay-r Esquivel, Jr.
About Pilipinas Surfing
Pilipinas Surfing is the country’s premiere professional surfing championship tournaments with multiple competitions held at different regions around the Philippines. These events are sanctioned under your Local Government Unit (LGU) as part of the only national competitions in a unifying and collective series of national legs around the country.
