Going to the Philippines/Classic Lis Fish?

Hey all,

Going to the Philippines this February for my honeymoon, and wanted to shape a new board just for that occasion. I’m wanting to shape a fish, probably the classic Lis fish, but just wanted to see if any Swaylockians had any ideas or suggestions if this would be ok. Not sure if its mostly pointbreaks or not there. Anybody know? So would I be good with a classic Lis, or should I try to “modernize” it?

Thanks!

From what you see in the mags it looks like there’s plenty of hollow reefs, but hey… better seek the advice from smone who has actually been there!

Niegà

No points but many, many scattered reefs. Stay away from the southern islands, Mindanao area esp., as there are Muslim extremists who’ve been killing whites and Catholics for decades. You can rent a banca and driver with a case of beer for around 20 pesos, or you could when I was there, about 3-4 dollars US. Just point at a reef or island and off you go. Be very careful wading out in shallow water as there are many stone fish and scorpionfish around. The scorpionship have very bright colors, but the stone fish look just like rocks in shallow water and if you get scratched, you are dead. I saw a Japanese tourist die on the beach on Mactan Island (off the coast of Cebu) after such a scratch. So, look where you step. The water is very clear, so you will be able to see the urchins and anything that looks like a rock on the bottom. The sea snakes are very docile, don’t feak when you see them, because they’re all over the place, very pretty black and white patterns. Really nice people, for the most part. Have fun.

Hey Lewis, I spent a few months mooching around the Phillos when I was unattached.

Typhoon season (March-November) is the main surfing season and it is spectacularly inconsistent.

Sometimes the North-West Pacific spits typhoons out one after the other and other times it can be as flat as a lake for weeks…and I mean flat.

February is the ameehan season (north east monsoon). There is a lot of swell generated by cold fronts sweeping off Japan…obviously most of the spots that are surfed in the Typhoon season will be onshore.

Where in the Phillos are you going?

it’s a fascinating country re: history, geography and culture.

As one poster pointed out the southern areas of Mindanao are home to muslim extremists who love kidnapping white folk.

I cruised around there with no probs but I think my dirtbag appearance was a good deterrent to kidnappers.

The southern islands are the most commonly surfed because they are usually below the main strike zone for typhoons.

Hollow reefs and rivermouths are the staple fare…I would not consider a fish as a main board there…more a classic shorty or step-up/semi-gun thingy.

I highly doubt whether those breaks will be working when you are there.

We found insane surf in the Northern islands but there is zero tourist infrastructure.

Long , hollow reebreaks and rock reef style points like Angourie.

Some of these waves are offshore in the ameehan and would be suitable for a fish however I highly doubt whether you would want to take your new bride there.

The people are some of the nicest I have ever encountered…they have nothing and will give you everything…try and learn a few phrases of tagalog before you go.

Because of Macarthur and the liberation of the Phillipines in WW2 Americans are highly regarded.

Be prepared to sing alot of karaoke.

Steve

That’s true about Filipinos who like us because of MacArthur, but a lot of the younger types don’t know or care, and some are very anti-American. Remember the riots they had to get us to close our airbase on Luzon, and the Navy at Subic aren’t all that popular either. The people outside of the cities truly are some of the nicest and most generous you will find anywhere, as was pointed out. Another word of caution: don’t eat any uncooked produce and don’t eat any meat thing sold on a stick out on the streets. I did and ended up in a hospital.

I had some very close calls with hoodlums near the docks and in the cities, but I doubt you’ll be going into some of those areas. Cebu is a great resort island and, as I said, there are reef breaks everywhere. I’ll agree that a fish wouldn’t be my choice of board over there.

Thanks a ton everyone for replying! Some very good info here. We havent picked our specific location yet over there, so the general advice on where to go/not to go is great. And as for the fish, maybe i’ll think about changing that up for something else!

I was there back in January of 2004 and had a great time. We surfed in Zambales, Catanduanes Island, and La Union. Here’s the break down:

In the town of San Narciso, Zambales there‘s a resort by the name of Crystal Beach. Dodo runs it and is a local surfer in the area. There’s mediocre surf right in front of the resort but if you get a local to take you to Timmy’s Point you’ll be stoked. It breaks or at least was breaking like Trestles when we were there. In the three days we were there we never saw another surfer. But we did have a few encounters with some strange and ugly looking prehistoric shark that had no dorsal fin and swam like a snake.

Cantanduanes Island was by far my favorite place to visit when there. A lush green mountainous island with spectacular beaches, old churches, and the cleanest of places we’ve visited. Majestics is a famous surf spot, popular with Australian and Japanese surfers. It’s a heavy, hollow right that breaks over a smooth reef into a lagoon. Unfortunately the conditions were not ideal during our stay. You’ll need to take a ferry to the island and the ferry ride is a little sketchy, watch your belongings.

La Union had the most consistent surf and also the most popular place for surfing. Most people living in Manila take the three hour trek north to surf there. This place also has a surf resort with a few break just outside. If you can find it there’s a well know surf spot named Mona Lisa a little ways from the resort. It’s a long right point break that runs over a shallow reef. Defiantly the best wave on the whole trip. This spot would be perfect for a Lis fish.

Like everywhere else on this planet the Philippines has a few problems. The amount of poverty and pollution always got me down but the people have a happy and positive outlook for the future. A day before we were headed to Baler to surf the same spot were they filmed Apocalypse Now, a Taiwanese business man was killed by extremist. We never made it there but have heard good things about the surf spot. Some government officials are corrupted so get ready to pay your dues. People ride on the roof of Jeepnees even when going down the highway but we pay a fine for having the boards strapped to the roof of our car.

Baler has sloppy beachbreaks and a heavy right -hand reef called Cementos which is very highly accounted for by a hard-core crew of friendly locals. When they get to know you they will be offering their sisters to you in marriage (no good to you on a honeymoon), but don’t expect to rock up there and get waves. The take0off spot is about the size of a kitchen table.

Also the bus ride into Baler over the mountains will put the most seasoned third world traveller in a cold sweat.

I think the South China sea side of Luzon would be your best bet. There are a shit load of waves north of La Union with zero people surfing them.

Again it depends on how much you want to subject your bride to. It is defintely third world.

Steve

I’m from Philippine Island you can check this http://www.surflanuza.com/

attached herewith is rate guide from manila genesis tours, inc. and seair

http://www.xsorbit4.com/users/todd/index.cgi?board=surflog&action=display&num=1208228641 pls check this surf forum

howdy lewis,

how’d your honeymoon-cum-surf trip last year to 'pinas turn out? what board did you bring, any pics?