Surfers ride the waves at KK Beach

By Olivia Miwil

olivia@nst.com.my

Pictures by Lano Lan

KOTA KINABALU: A group of French and Australian tourists, some with their young children, were seen learning surfing at Karambunai beach near here recently.

The waves, which went up to as high as 2.5 metres, gave beginner and amateur surfers joyous but safe rides when they were able to stand up on boards.

The lesson, offered at RM50 per person, was taught by local surfers during a two-day Borneo Surfer Festival.

Besides lessons, other highlights were competitions among 25 surfers from here, Sarawak and Federal Territory of Labuan.

A 32-year-old local participant Roy Marail shared about his exposure to the water activity five years ago.

“I was a resort beach inspector when I saw many patrons, particularly from Japan and Australia, would come to the beach with their own surf boards.

“The fun of riding the waves shown clearly on their faces that it lured me to try them myself,” he said, adding that since then he became friends with those tourists for lesson and tips.

Roy, who is from Kudat, had won in local surfing competitions held at Tuaran beach and Simpang Mengayau in Kudat last year.

Meanwhile, the festival organiser and Sabah Surf Club president Ivan Tan hoped that the inaugural event could further promote surfing activities in Sabah.

“During certain period between October and January is the good time for both tourists and locals to ride on the waves.

“In near future, we also hope to get surfing as one of the tourism products to be offered,” he said, adding that the beaches from Tanjung Aru, Tuaran and up to Kudat are suitable for the water-sport activity.