It seems like 2018 could hold a lot of promise for the up-and-coming surfer, Sonny Boy Aporbo. The Dahican local, who just turned 24, has been on a good streak since joining the Philippine Surfing Championship Tour’s first year starting from the 19th Siargao National Surfing Cup where he made it until Round 5 in the Men’s Shortboard Division.
Much has been said about Aporbo’s achievements in skimboarding in the past five years. You could go google his name, and you’d see that he’s done almost everything in skimboarding yet, that wouldn’t give the whole picture of the person behind the name.
We’re sharing three things that you should know about Dahican’s pride and we’re sure you won’t find this anywhere, yet.
It was his first time in Siargao last year.
Already a household name synonymous to Dahican itself, Bayogyog has made a name for himself in the realm of skimboarding and now, his love for surfing has gotten him a few little ripples. Coming off from the 19th Siargao National Surfing Cup which was his first foray into competitive surfing and also his first time to surf in Cloud 9.
“The welcome I had in Siargao was warm. I didn’t expect it. I didn’t even expect I’d make good friends there. It’s an amazing place with amazing people and amazing waves.” Aporbo says almost a year after.
Competitive surfing definitely posed a lot of challenges for Aporbo. Having been his first time surfing in Cloud 9, he was quite nervous during his heats. “There’s always a certain pressure during the heats in the competition. It was nerve-wracking.”, he says.
“I’ve learned so much about the ocean and about myself from the short time I was in the competition.” The stoke was unforgettable and getting barreled in Cloud 9 was the main highlight of his trip.
He’s never lost a skimboarding competition.
His very first competition was back in 2005 where he bagged his first championship in a locally-organized competition in his home break, Dahican. Despite his inexperience, he kept joining contests as long as he had the resources to. It was his way of improving his skills and supporting his family, as he was sole breadwinner at that time.
From 2012 to 2016, Aporbo participated in various international skimboarding competitions in Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Singapore. When asked what he felt about his accomplishments in skimboarding, Aporbo would respond in a hushed tone saying “I feel weird that I’m being interviewed about these. Who am I? I’m really just a simple person.”
Walking along the white sand shores of Dahican, local kids would shout his name fondly, and he would always respond with a smile or a jest. Tourism campaigns showcasing Dahican would never fail to have his photo performing an aerial or a kickflip with the blue waters of his home behind him.
To date, he is the champion of four international skimboarding competitions and also the winner of over 28 national and locally-organized skimboarding competitions. Aporbo isn’t keeping tabs on the figures, but he makes sure to bring something new to the table with each one he joins.
His favorite surf spot is still home.
After all his travels, I asked what his favorite spot was. He would always go back to where home is and for him, that’s 215 in Dahican. “When you get there, I can’t explain it, but it’s like the waves are calling you.”
Notorious for washing machine-like wipeouts with a gnarly reef bottom, and a lot of other horror stories of surfers surviving nasty mishaps, 215 actually is a spot for everybody (considering the season, of course). Yogi adds that “There are waves for here everyone. A peak for beginners, one for intermediate and one for experts.”
Aporbo explains how nature has a soul. The ocean has a heart and mind of its own. It goes to show how unpredictable the waves can be and a person who lives and breathes by the sea, there’s just no stopping of appreciation about it.
He goes on explaining that the waves have a mind of their own and a heart of their own. His favorite spot, he swears, always gives a wave for everyone regardless of skill just as long as you know where to go. Reminiscent of past seasons, he mentions how the ‘waves call out to me.’
“They’re like their telling me to ride them. Waves have their own happiness or “kalipay” in Bisaya. They invite me to enjoy and have fun on them and in turn, they bring you fun. That for me is stoke.” Aporbo continues on.
“Kung nalipay ka sa balod, nalipay pud ang balod sa imoha”, he said in conclusion: If you were happy riding the wave then know that the wave feels the same way.
