ABW Sept 2020

Paolo Surfing in Siargao
Accredited surfing instructors deliver lessons at the highest
levels of safety using the best training methodologies,
together with surf rescue and first aid qualifications,
accreditation adds a level of professionalism required for the
industry to grow. It also ensures that surfing is sustainable
by sharing with students how to care for the environment
and minimise social and natural impact
on shore and in the surf. Surf instructor
accreditation is in some ways similar to
scuba instructor accreditation.
Surfing after all is a
non-contact sport
and being physically
distant from the
other surfers is the
norm if not the rule.
To make surf coaching accreditation
happen, PSA interfaced with the Office
of Tourism Standards and Regulations of
the Department of Tourism and acted as
a conduit between ASI and DOT crafting
surf coaching standards and designing an accreditation
process for surf instructors to help ensure the safety of
learners and new surfers.. The accreditation process was
recently finalized during the pandemic lockdown and once
40
everything is figured out for the new normal the accreditation
process can begin.
With everything put on pause, surfing took a big hit. These
past few months is probably the longest time Paolo was
stuck in Manila. PSA and Skwala had to close and his newly
established surf camp in San Felipe Zambales
called the Liwalize it Surf Camp had to be put
on hold. But Paolo is hopeful that everything
will become normal or close to it eventually,
Surfing after all is a non-contact sport and
being physically distant from the other surfers
is the norm if not the rule.
Meanwhile, to keep himself productive Paolo
serves up his own brand of roast chicken called
Tito Paolo’s Inasal. Besides surfing Paolo also has a passion
for cooking, this dish was one of the hits served at Liwalize
it Surf Camp along with their brick oven pizza. You can find
Tito Paolo’s Inasal on Facebook and even order online.