THE STOKEDINC-LA UNION Surf School welcomed over 200 surf enthusiasts to Kahuna Resort in San Juan, La Union, for Surfing Philippines GoSurPH weekend, a campaign that gave free surf and yoga lessons, and hosted a rockin’ beach party in April.
STOKEDinc surf ambassador Jeff Ortega, owner of La Union Surf School & Café, made sure everyone was having a grand time in his hometown.
“I was born in La Union, and seeing our province evolve into the most accessible place to experience the Philippine surf lifestyle has been pretty awesome,” said Ortega. “Surfing is a big part of our lives here, and we are keen to share its magic with everyone.”
Throughout the weekend, the La Union Surf School, alongside the La Union Surf Club, headed by Mickey Girl Galang with Lemon “Surfstar” Dines, provided world-class fun surf lessons for the hundreds of GoSurPH participants.
Now on its second year, this campaign, aimed at giving free surf lessons to as many Filipinos as possible, has been successful because of the support of local organizations like the La Union Surf Club.
Surfing Philippines president Gerard Sison joined the La Union surf festivities with JV Borromeo, founder of STOKEDinc, the Philippines’ pioneer surf company.
That evening, JV unveiled the STOKEDinc Poks Esquivel Commemorative Boardshorts, honoring La Union’s most famous surfer, the internationally recognized one-legged surf wonder Ronnie “Poks” Esquivel.
Poks died at the young age of 27, like many legends before him.
Onstage to witness the occasion were Poks’ family, brothers Toto and Jay-R Esquivel, and Australian foster father Papa Paul Stranner.
Thc STOKEDinc Esquivel Boardshorts reflect the essence of Poks, said JV. It’s resilient like Poks’ spirit, and made of the most advanced 4-Way Stoked Stretch Fabric Technology, matched perfectly with Poks’ progressive style of surfing.
“We miss him out in the water. We still miss him to this very day,” said JV.
The 2nd GoSurPH weekend in La Union was another successful year in celebration of the surf life.
Free yoga sessions were held each sunset at Flotsam & Jetsam Artist Beach Hostel. Surfers rode the waves every day with local bands playing great music during the cool summer evenings.
And a native son’s legacy lived on. Poks forever—stoked on life, stoked for life.