On Friday, 11th April, the International Surfing Festival kicked off at the Edava Point break in Varkala, Kerala. The event marks the beginning of India’s Qualifying Series, where rankings will play a crucial role in determining the national champion at the end of the East Coast Pro.
In the Groms final, Harish P and Som Sethi paddled out with serious intent. Harish set the tone early, throwing down a good 5.67 before landing the highest wave score of the day — a crisp 8.17. Som stayed in the mix, but Harish’s 13.84 total sealed it. A statement win from the young gun.
Right after the Groms final, it was the women’s turn. Kamali Moorthy and Sugar Shanti Banarse surfed their way into the finals after solid semi-final wins earlier that morning. In a close heat, Sugar edged past Kamali with a total of 8.83, landing a clean 4.00 followed by a clutch 4.83. Kamali was just 1.63 short — a narrow finish in shifting conditions.
One of the most anticipated heats — and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser — was the Men’s Final. Reigning national champ Ramesh Budhihal faced off against Kishore Kumar, one of the most promising surfers on the Indian team. The semis, held earlier that morning, featured strong showings from Sanjay Selvamani and Srikanth D, but it was Ramesh and Kishore who advanced. Kishore posted a 13.00 heat total to take the win, with Ramesh falling short by just two points.
After an exhilarating final, the international competition wrapped up with the first-ever Aloha Cup, where each team invited three surfers to join the mix. Team Percy, named after the team captain, won with a solid 17.37 total. This year also saw the highest number of women participants to date, with 12 surfers in the draw — a strong sign of where the sport is headed. The next event will be the Indian Open of Surfing in Mangalore this May.
