Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam   

Ride the crest of mighty waves

Photo: K.R. Deepak

Way to go: Lebahian Sebastian sea surfing at the coaching camp at Rushikonda in Visakhapatnam on Thursday. —

VISAKHAPATNAM: How does it feel to ride on the majestic waves and feel the high of surfing in the blue waters of the Bay of Bengal? Ask Lebahian Sebastian, who effortlessly tames the choppy waves of the sea with his skilful manoeuvring.

After receiving an overwhelming response to the weeklong free sea surfing camp organised three months ago, he is back here from the Reunion Island, a French province, to conduct coaching camps off the coast at Rushikonda.

It was the beautiful stretch of beaches and the relatively safer seawaters that tempted Mr. Lebahian and his friend Erick Pinault to explore possibilities of starting a sea surfing camp with the help of some adventure enthusiasts in the city. The French team has identified the beaches at Mangamaripeta and Rushikonda as suitable places for sea surfing.

“The beach here is one of the most ideal ones to enjoy sea surfing. Due to the clean surface and suitable length of waves, it makes surfing easier and enjoyable. Besides, it’s much safer than many other places since there are no sharks in the area or any rocky surfaces and sharp edges,” says Mr. Lebahian, who also runs the Oxbow Surf School in the island. He is so charmed by the beaches and the natural pristine settings of Vizag that he plans to settle down here by next year and encourage the sport in a much bugger way.

Under his guidance, a group of adventure freaks has mastered the skill of sea surfing and recently formed a club called the Surfing Association of Vizag to promote the water sport in the region.

“The thrill and fun to ride the mighty waves is simply unmatched. You feel like you are flying above the waters!” he adds. One has to know swimming and be prepared for some thrill and action to hit the waves with the surfboard. The surfer has to first peddle inside the sea and then wait the bigger wave to ride on it. Normally, the 11th or the 12th wave has the power to carry the surfer to the shore.

“Sea surfing is much cheaper than yachting or any other water sports. If the response is good, we plan to hold such camps at regular intervals for the public,” says Richard Irwin of Surfing Association of Vizag. The coaching camp is on at Rushikonda till July 6 and organisers are charging Rs.500 for a five-day training session.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Keep away from habit-forming drugs: CP
Concern over drug abuse among youth
Ride the crest of mighty waves
AIDWA organises rally against price rise
PF adalat
AU teacher helps top-ranker
VARWA charges official with misleading people on BPS
Visakhapatnam Today

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu