The following message (subject: Sri Lanka) was posted by Dago Lipke, on 11/30/2005 4:13:32 PM.

The Surf Experience is a surf camp and school in the south-west of Portugal.

From November to December we organise a surf trip with 6-8 travellers every winter to Sri Lanka. We have found some great spots in the very south for beginners to advanced surfers.

During previous stays in this area there has been a Japanese Longboard Contest run at Hikadua, involving perhaps 20-30 people. For the duration of the contest the increase in numbers in the water, bearing in mind we are talking about an uncrowded area, has made a noticeable impact.

I have recently read in surfersvillage.com news that this year this Japanese contest is expecting 1000 surfers to come!

ONE THOUSAND!!!!

Can you imagine what that means!? Imagine 1000 foreign surfers coming to your local break!

How could any surfer not feel threatened by this scale of invasion!?
Who is responsible? The Corporates? If so …. how can they do this!?

I am not 20-30 anymore and I have seen enough in my life already, more and more I’m under the impression that good people are creating good things….like surfing.
But not as long and it is in the hands of the wrong people. Everything will become a business with the most profit possible and the least respect for the things we hold dear, Squeezing every last cent out ‘till nothing is left and everything’s fucked.

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Whilst we all want to go on surf trips to exotic locations and can see the benefit this can have on local economies, I think we can all appreciate the need for restraint when dealing with unspoilt environments and ways of life.
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I imagine it again and again….. a THOUSAND surfers …coming to my home spot.

Dago Lipke