The World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) event has been upgraded to a QS3,000 this year and has attracted its biggest and best field to date.

A huge crowd along with national dignitaries gathered at the famous Cloud 9 boardwalk to officially open the event this afternoon. The importance of this event was obvious with highly ranked political figures onboard to open one of the Philippines biggest annual sporting events.

Having won the event in 2015, local favourite John Mark-Tokong (PHL) will be one to watch when the competition gets underway. Tokong knows Cloud 9 better than most and his stellar record at the event is evidence. Although he will be surfing against higher rated competitors than usual, his technique and poise in the tube at his home-break will test the best surfers on the planet.

“It’s amazing to have the Siargao International Surfing Cup back,” Tokong said. “it’s always amazing to see the internationals come and surf Cloud 9. With the event being upgraded to a QS3,000 the field is looking really strong. I’m always confident here but it will be harder than ever to win this event this year. I can’t wait for it to start and hopefully get some amazing surf.”


Portugal’s Nic Von Rupp (PRT) has been competing on the QS for a number of years now but names Cloud 9 as one of the best locations he’s come to compete at. Known for his prowess in the barrel, Von Rupp will be hoping that Cloud 9 delivers on his first trip to the Philippines.

“Surfing perfect reef break waves in the tropics for a QS is pretty unheard of for me,” Von Rupp said. “This is my first here in the Philippines and it is amazing, really beautiful and so much potential for waves. I don’t think I have ever been barreled in a QS so that’s why I came here, I’m really pumped.”

One of the events top seeds Matthew McGillivray (ZAF) is another surfer who has come to the Philippines for the first time. The young South African has been impressed with what he has seen so far and is hungry for a solid result at Cloud 9.

“This place is pretty much a perfect tropical paradise,” McGillivray said. “The swell has been small the last few days but you can see the potential of the wave.  I have not been to a QS at a more idyllic location we are really lucky to be here. The fact that it has been upgraded to a QS3,000 made it an easy decision to come.”

In 2016, 16-year-old Australian Sandon Whittaker (AUS) took out the Siargao Cloud 9 Surfing Cup in what was undoubtedly the win of his career. In 2017 the razor-sharp goofy foot is back and keen to take home the top honours again.

“It’s amazing to be back in the Philippines again,” Whitaker said, The waves are always sick so it makes sense that the event has been upgraded to a QS3,000. It’s a much bigger field with some higher ranked guys this year so it will be tough to go back-to-back but I’m keen to have a good go at it.”


Mayor of General Luna Jamie Russilon is known as the ‘God Father’ of surfing in the Philippines due to his ongoing support of the Filipino surf industry and surfing events in the area. Seeing the Siargao Surfing Cup grow into the international event it is today is one of Mayor Russilon’s proudest achievements and he and the City of General Luna are excited for their idyllic home to be shown to the world.

“We are very happy and proud to be hosting this year’s QS here in General Luna at the famous Cloud 9 wave,” Mayor Russilon said. “We welcome all of the competitors here and hope that this event will help increase tourism and as a consequence brighten the future of our citizens and all of the people of the Philippines.”

The upgrade of the Siargao Cloud 9 Surfing Cup has also meant that the entire event will be broadcast live to the world.

The 2017 Siargao Cloud 9 Surfing Cup QS3000 will run from September 24 - 29.