What Caused the Opening Day Cancellation of the Indian Open of Surfing?

Synopsis
The 6th Indian Open of Surfing faced an unfortunate cancellation on its opening day due to adverse weather conditions. As fans and participants await better weather, the anticipation grows for the competition to resume. Will the next days bring the excitement of surfing back to Tannirbhavi Eco Beach?
Key Takeaways
- Opening day of the Indian Open of Surfing canceled due to weather concerns.
- Event moved to Tannirbhavi Eco Beach from the original venue.
- Over 50 surfers are ready to compete once conditions improve.
- Safety remains a top priority for event organizers.
- Hopeful outlook for resuming competitions in the coming days.
Mangaluru, May 30 (NationPress) The inaugural day of the 6th Indian Open of Surfing, set to unfold at Tannirbhavi Eco Beach, was postponed on Friday due to severe rainfall and perilous sea conditions linked to the early arrival of the monsoon and cyclonic disturbances in the Arabian Sea.
Following early morning evaluations that indicated high swells and unpredictable wave formations that far surpassed safe competition thresholds, the event organizers—including the Surfing Federation of India, Mantra Surf Club, and Surfing Swami Foundation—made the prudent choice to delay the day’s events.
This three-day premier surfing event serves as the second leg of the National Surfing Championship Series 2025 and is hosted by the Surfing Swami Foundation in collaboration with Mantra Surf Club under the supervision of the Surfing Federation of India. Earlier this week, in response to the anticipated adverse weather, the organizing committee opted to relocate the event from Sasihithlu Beach to Tannirbhavi Eco Beach. Unfortunately, the weather remained inhospitable, with ongoing heavy rainfall preventing any competitive activities on the first day, even at the new venue.
The second day of this national championship is set to showcase over 50 elite surfers, including Ramesh Budhial, Kishore Kumar, Ajeesh Ali, Harish Muthu, Kamali P, Shrishti Selvam, and Sinchana Gowda, competing across four categories: Men’s Open, Women’s Open, Groms (U-16) Boys, and Groms (U-16) Girls.
“All participants arrived at the venue by 8 am this morning, marking the start of day one of the event. The weather unfolded as expected, with heavy rain but light winds. Despite the challenging conditions, the day was effectively used for registration and distribution of event kits, which included t-shirts and access bands. A comprehensive surfers’ briefing was also held, where participants were introduced to the venue and given an overview of the schedule and expectations for the upcoming days. While the weather limited activities today, we are hopeful that tomorrow will bring better conditions, enabling competitive sessions on the water,” stated Rammohan Paranjape, vice president of the Surfing Federation of India.