KOTA KINABALU: A group of French and Australian tourists, some with their children, were seen learning to surf at the Karambunai beach near here recently.
The waves, which were as high as 2.5m, gave beginners and amateur surfers funfilled but safe rides when they were able to stand on their surf boards.
The lessons, at RM50 per person, was taught by local surfers during the two-day Borneo Surf Festival.
Besides lessons, other highlights were competitions where 25 surfers form Sarawak, Sabah and Labuan took part.
Sabahan Roy Marail, 32, who started surfing five years ago,
said he was a resort beach inspector.
Many patrons of the resort, particularly those from Japan and Australia, went to the beach with their own surf boards.
“The fun of riding the waves showed clearly on their faces and it lured me to try surfing myself,” he said, adding that since then, he became friends with tourists for lessons and tips.
Roy, who is from Kudat, had won surfing competitions at Tuaran beach here and Simpang Mengayau in Kudat last year.
Festival organiser and Sabah Surf Club president Ivan Tan hoped that the event could promote surfing in Sabah.
“The period between October and January is the best time for tourists and locals to ride the waves. We hope to get surfing recognised as one of our tourism products,” he said, adding that the beaches of Tanjung Aru, Tuaran and Kudat were suitable for surfing.