ABW June 2016-1
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LearningT<br />
It is also<br />
the type of<br />
program<br />
that could<br />
usefully be<br />
incorporated<br />
into a school<br />
curriculum to<br />
give pupils<br />
greater confidence<br />
in the<br />
water.<br />
Words by<br />
BARRY<br />
DAWSON<br />
Photographs<br />
as credited<br />
Look mum no hands<br />
The Philippines has some truly magnificent<br />
surfing destinations and at least one<br />
professional tournament each year that draws many<br />
of the sport’s rising stars from around the world.<br />
Success at this level often leads to competing with<br />
the big boys and girls of the surfing community for<br />
the big titles and the big bucks. Now, that’s all well<br />
and good for those who are comfortable on a surfboard:<br />
but what of those who want to learn to surf;<br />
those who have never been on a surfboard. Well,<br />
learning to surf in the Philippines just got a whole<br />
lot easier, safer and better.<br />
Tropical Swells is an innovative company set up by<br />
a small coterie of enterprising Philippine surfers,<br />
including Mac and Virgil Ramos, to teach surfing in<br />
a safe and controlled environment. The objectives<br />
of Tropical Swells is to be the top surf-experience<br />
provider in the country; to grow and sustain the<br />
Philippine surfing industry by providing the most<br />
enjoyable and safest surfing lessons; to provide<br />
quality surfboards and top of the line surf merchandise.<br />
All that sounds magnificently noble and <strong>ABW</strong> truly<br />
hopes they can pull it off, but what Tropical Swells<br />
does best is teach people to surf.<br />
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