At Mamallapuram’s first edition of Mahabs Open local surfers conquer the waves

As fishing stalled during lockdown, local surfers in Mamallapuram hit the waves, practising incessantly. At the recent Mahabs Open, they displayed impressive technique

When the nation announced a lockdown in March of 2020, Mamallapuram, a UNESCO heritage site, bustling fishing village and popular surfing destination, went into isolated island mode.

All entry points were barred. There was no fishing. For the next eight months, the local surfers of Mamallapuram , all from fishing families, rode the waves to stay calm. As a result, their skills and balance kept improving. Now, after long, focussed hours in the water, they have emerged as some of the best surfers in the country.

At the recently concluded Nationals held in Kovalam, conducted by Surf Turf and TTK group, there was a visible change in the format of the sport. The entry of surfing into Tokyo Olympics has given the sport a much needed boost in India. There are more practice sessions, and surfers are now focussing on physical fitness and nutrition, earnestly looking at participating in the Paris Olympics in 2024.