Arugam Bay Surfing
Add comment November 2nd, 2011
Sri Lanka’s 2011 Surfing Champion
Asanka - 2011 Sri Lanka National Champion
Asanka is yet again Sri Lanka’s Number 1 Surfer. He blitzed the field once again this year. Asanka, surfing a new board from Quiver, thanks to Guy @ The Board Barn and to Tim @ Paddle4relief. The 6-1 squash tail proved to be a suitable combination with the extremely talented 25 year old Arugam Bay resident.
Asanka plus a little spray
Add comment July 30th, 2011
Freedom Beach Cabanas
We have a website!
Thanks to one of our favourite guests, Freedom Beach Cabanas are happy to announce the arrival of a website! Jan Hanousek and his son, Nick, stayed late June into early july and scored waves every day! They also scored amazing hosts and amazing food. We organised transport to and from the airport and provided a tuk tuk to and from surf breaks further afield.
Thaththa’s Tuk Tuk - Surf Truck
Jan was so happy with the service and the mellow, relaxed and happy family run business that he produced a website within days of returning to the UK. What more of an advertisement and compliment is that!
Many thanks to Jan, from the Ariyasena Family, for helping them in their quest to rebuild the business destroyed by the tsunami and put on hold whilst they helped others.
Please check out - http://www.wix.com/arugambay/freedombeachcabanas
and don’t forget Freedom Beach Cabanas Facebook Page
Mellow Mellow Moons @ Freedom
Add comment July 30th, 2011
Freedom Beach Cabanas
These family run cabanas have recently been refurbished. They are sporting new tiled bathrooms, ceilings, mosquito nets and verandas. The garden now has grass and feels so good underfoot.
Come and enjoy a touch of family life in Arugam Bay. Beautiful home cooked traditional Sri Lankan food as well as western dishes for those desiring a touch of home. Sunday Roast on request. Party BBQ’s and Buffet Dinners for those wishing to celebrate a special occasion. Birthday Cakes made to order.
The family also provide Tuk Tuk Hire, Taxi Bookings, Wildlife Safari’s, Boat Trips, Surf Lessons and Surfboard Hire. This is truely a family run business by one of the original families from Arugam Bay. So remember Freedom Beach Cabanas, Samanthi’s Restaurant and Thaththa’s Tea Shop for all your holiday needs in Arugam Bay.
Email - FreedomBeachCabanas@hotmail.co.uk or FreedomBeachCabanas@gmail.com
Add comment May 18th, 2011
Super Moon 2011
The 2011 Super Moon as seen from Arugam Bay
This is what we could see from Arugam Bay in Sri Lanka. It is definitely the Moon and not a mountain of cheese Grommit. Shall we just sit here a while and gaze at it’s splendor? More cheese Grommit?
Add comment March 24th, 2011
Before and After!
Rock Fish Before!
An early morning fishing session in Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka, saw this beautifully marked Rock Fish come to the Dinner table @ Samanthi’s Restaurant. The fish was caught on a jointed plug that has proven to be successful in the coastal waters in Devon.
The fish had already escaped once, having broken the 4kg breaking strain line following a series of powerful dives into the sharp reef. Unfortunately for the big mouthed greedy fish, it chose to go for a second plug that had been quickly tied to the main line, this time with a short 70lb leader, and cast out into the same spot.
It not only looked beautiful but tasted fantastic. Samanthi’s Restaurant can be found next to Freedom Cabanas at the southern corner of Arugam Bay, only a very short walk to the highly prized right hand point break.
Rock Fish After!
Add comment March 24th, 2011
Sri Lanka’s Beautiful Curry Chef!
Samanthi . . . . Sri Lanka's most beautiful Chef
After all these years of travelling to Sri Lanka, and living for months in Arugam Bay, i have failed to hail the unsung hero’s and heroin’s of this tropical isle. So, i’m going to start with the one person that provides me with all the fuel i need to surf! Samanthi is affectionately known as ‘Number 1 sister’. I have known Samanthi and her family for the past 6 years. She and her sister, Erandathi, were the teachers at the Pre-School, near the Buddhist Temple, at the south end of the village. Samanthi and her family have fed and watered me over this time. They have even tolerated me living in their cabanas and at times the castle. I have to surf and go fishing to prevent the weight piling on! The problem is the food! Samanthi’s cooking is the best. It is not only the Rice n Curries that she serves up, but the cakes, pizzas, desserts and short eats. I never come home to Devon lighter than when i went out. Samanthi heads a team of sisters in the kitchen. She is up and starting the kitchen duties at six every morning, and regularly works through until midnight during the tourist season. Way back, when i first arrived, it was Amma doing the cooking, and forever supplying me and the brothers with Tea. Now it is Samanthi, with the assistance of younger sisters Gayani and Ruwanthi, and cousins Geeva and Sudu. There is a constant call for me to come and eat from the kitchen, and if i miss a meal, it is always waiting there for my return. Not only is Samanthi an awesome cook, but she is also beautiful. Be warned though! She has four protective brothers, a father, and a brother in law!
Add comment November 24th, 2010
Plastered!
Another month, another year, and yet another injury! I guess i need to start listening to my body and look seriously at injury prevention! I have lost count of the amount of months i have spent side lined out of the water in the past four years. It seems that i am regularly sporting crutches rather than a surfboard. Perhaps i can use crutches better than a surfboard, and somehow its a sign! This time it was the day the UK Pro Surf Tour left. Much the same as last year. They leave, i surf in an uncrowded line-up, a tad gung-ho, and ouch!
My 9′ 1″ Southpoint Bonga Perkins did the damage. Slammed onto the rail, my lower leg went numb, no movement, extreme pain and the thought of it being broken.
Plastered - Crutches on a Tropical Island
Fortunately not broken, but swollen to twice the size it should be and more. It was described as looking like a big tuna, and the plan was to BBQ it! The muscle damaged, as too were the ligaments. The pain more than i had ever experienced. The swelling that refused to go down, the skin so tight it felt like it would explode.
A collision of treatments commenced! A conflict of ideas! Natural medicine versus Western medicine. I lost the battle, gave into the pressures of those around me, and went down the natural route.
Who’s to know if it was the right decision. The four weeks without sleep, the days of constant pain, the two weeks of swelling, the feeling of imprisonment within a cabana, missing the sun and the surf.
Now, i can walk. I dont have the strength in the leg but slowly it is healing. no more crutches, and no more plaster casts, and no more trips to the hospital.
Sri Lanka, not the lazy, sun and surf filled holiday that so many think it is!
Add comment August 15th, 2010
ASP WQS Sri Lanka 2010
Sri Lanka’s Top Two Surfers, Milan and Asanka - Wild Cards into the 2010 Sri Lankan Airlines Pro ASP WQS Six Star Men’s Event at Arugam Bay.
Sri Lanka’s finest surfers were out in force to compete in the WQS Sri Lanka Surf Trials. The event held over two days, 16th and 17th June, saw a tight affair between a number of surfers. The top eight battled it out under ASP Australasia jurisdiction on the 18th June following the opening ceremony held out on Main Point, Arugam Bay. Asanka blasted his way through the first semi-final, truly showing why he has predominately held the No.1 spot in Sri Lanka for the past few years. The young pretenders, Milan, Sril and Pranith from Arugam Bay, were joined in the last eight by the long, blond haired, Natheen of Hikkaduwa, Asanka’s young cousin, Pranjis from Komari, Sril’s younger brother Chanu, Aatha from the Main Point and Arugam Bay’s colourful legend Susanthan. They were out to knock Asanka off his thrown. Alas, it was not to be! Milan continues to improve by the day, showing the potential recognised in last years 2009 UK Pro Surf Tour Event. Leading up to the competition it was Sril and Pranith who were showing awesome fire power on one of the world’s finest right hand point breaks. It was however, Milan’s day as well as Asanka’s. Both were blasting a series of manoeuvres on surfboards donated by the Devon Organisation, Paddle4Relief, back in April this year and showing the rest of the world how much natural talent can be found on the tear drop tropical isle known as Sri Lanka. The East coast of Sri Lanka may well not be a rich or developed area of the world but it sure has a richness that money cannot buy.
Sri Lankan Airlines Pro ASP WQS 6 Star Men's Sri Lanka's Wild Cards (Photo: AiyaSurfPhotography)
Add comment June 20th, 2010
New P4R Team Rider
Paddle4Relief continue to promote the surfing talent of Sri Lanka. In particular P4R provide support, advice and sponsorship to the Arugam Bay Surf Club and it’s talented members. 2009 saw young surfer, Milan, show off his potential during the UK Pro Surf Tour Champion of Champions competition. Milan initially showed off his natural talent as a junior in 2005/2006.
Here we can see Milan trying out the 5′10″ Rusty Aido given to him by P4R Founder, Tim Tanton.
Milan still has a little way to go before he can overcome the super talented Asanka - Sri Lanka’s No.1 surfer.
Arugam Bay’s other top surfers Sril and Pranith complete the villages top four, but keep an eye out for the up and coming talent of Atha. These young surfers will be putting their skills to the test during the WQS Sri Lanka Trials Event to be held on 16th/17th June 2010, ahead of the WQS 6 Star Main Event that starts on 18th June. The trials event will determine the top 8 surfers from Sri Lanka, who will go thro to compete on Day 1 of the main WQS event to establish Sri Lanka’s 2 Wild card entries.
Add comment April 30th, 2010
