A-frame

Aaberg, Denny

Aaberg, Kemp

Abberton, Koby

Abbruzzi, Sid

Abellira, Reno

Abubo, Megan

academia and surfing

Adler, Tom

advertising and surfing

Aeder, Erik

aerial

Aguerre, Fernando

Aichner, Scott

Aikau, Clyde

Aikau, Eddie

Aipa, Ben

air-drop

airbrush

Airshow

Ala Moana

Alabama

alaia board

Alaska

alcohol and surfing

Alexander, Kala

Allen, Chuck

Alms, Paige

aloha shirt

Alter, Hobie

Alvarez, Pepe

Ancell, Kevin

Andaman Islands

Andersen, Lisa

Anderson, Craig

Anderson, Simon

Andino, Kolohe

Angel, Jose

angle

Angola

Angourie

Antarctica

Apocalypse Now

Arabian Sea

Aragon, Janice

Arakawa, Eric

Archbold, Matt

Arena, Eduardo

Ashton, Juan

Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP)

Atlantic Ocean

August, Robert

Aurness, Rolf

Auster, Ken

Australia

Avalon, Frankie

Azores

backdoor

backside

backside attack, Pipeline

backwash

bail out

Bain, Rob

Baja California

Baker, Bernie

Baker, Grant “Twiggy”

Baker, Tim

Bali

Ball, John “Doc”

Ballard, Bill

Ballard, Rochelle

balsa

Baltic Sea

Banks, Jim

Barbados

Barilotti, Steve

Barland, Michel

Barreda, Sergio “Gordo”

Barry, Michael

Bartholomew, Wayne

Baxter, Jackie

Bay of Bengal

Beach Boys, The

Beacham, Debbie

beachboys

beachbreak

Beachcomber Bills Grand Prix

Beachley, Layne

beavertail

Becker, Phil

Bedford-Brown, Stuart

Belgium

Bells Beach

Bendall, Ma and Pa

Bennett, Barry

Benson, Becky

Benson, Blanche

Benson, Linda

Bermuda

Bertlemann, Larry

The tropical and mountainous Philippines consists of more than 7,000 islands (900 inhabited) and is home to dozens of first-rate but fickle reefbreaks. The Philippine surf is generated by strong but sporadic typhoons, which in turn are influenced by the tropical monsoon season: the November-to- April northeast monsoon sends waves to the west side of the islands in the South China Sea, while the May-to-October southwest monsoon provides waves to the east side in the Pacific Ocean. The Philippines are divided into three main surfing areas: 1) Luzon, the large northernmost island, has the greatest number of surfers and surf breaks, including Charlie's Point, a reef wave made famous in the 1978 film Apocalypse Now. 2) Catanduanes, a small island just south of Luzon, features the speedy right-breaking wave called Majestics—the Philippines' first internationally known break. 3) Siargao, a small wave-filled island in the southeastern part of the archipelago, is home to Cloud Nine, often described as the country's best wave. There are hundreds of other breaks scattered across the Philippine island chain, but difficult access and lack of consistent swells—a typical season produces 15 to 20 typhoons, each bringing between two to 10 days of head-high or larger surf—have kept many spots undiscovered. Water and air temperatures both range between the high 70s and low 80s. Sharp, shallow reefs are the primary surfing hazard, and many of the breaks are well removed from any kind of medical facility. The Philippines are also struck by an average of five typhoons per year, more than any other country. The Philippines were first surfed by American servicemen stationed in Subic Bay on the island of Luzon in the early '60s. Photographs of the Philippine waves began turning up in surf magazines as early as 1980, but the country wasn't really noticed until a 1993 Surfer story featured California pros Evan Slater and Taylor Knox pulling into the flawless right- breaking tubes at Cloud Nine. (American-born surf explorer and convicted drug smuggler Mike Boyum had discovered the break four years earlier, and died on a nearby beach after a 45-day fast.) Four surf camps opened in the Philippines in the mid-'80s. By 2003, the country was home to roughly 15 surf camps and five makeshift surf shops, as well as a native-born surfing population of about 1,200. The annual Siargao International Cup, an Australian- administered pro surf contest ran in 1996 and 1997. The Philippine waves are featured in a small number of surf videos, including Overdrive (1993) and Surf Adventures (1990); Catandvanes area surf breaks are detailed in The World Stormrider Guide (2001). See also: Cloud Nine.

Philippines

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Encyclopedia of Surfing

Encyclopedia of Surfing