Surfing becomes a way of life for Valdez, Dela Torre

LA UNION, Philippines—For many, surfing is just merely for the thrill, but for Anthony Valdez and Jeff Dela Torre—where a day of work literally means testing the waters—surfing becomes no less than their life.   Valdez and Dela Torre, winners of the Men’s long board and short board division respectively, have been braving the waves for more than a decade now the sea and shore is their place of solace.   “It (surfing) has always been part of my life, it helps my family,” said the 32-year-old Valdez.   Valdez, a homegrown hero from La Union, survives the daily grind of life just through surf board rentals and surfing tutorials which earns him roughly four hundred pesos per hour—a rate, though, that is dependent on  the downpour of tourists.   And for Dela Torre, whose talent has earned him an endorsement with popular sports brand Aloha and a crack at major surfing stints abroad, the prizes from his winnings goes a long way in feeding his young family.   “Before, all the money I get was just used for new boards,” said Dela Torre, who was awarded P3,500 for his victory by the La Union Surf Club.   “But now, all the money is spent for my family,” Dela Torre continued.   An even if surfing requires an everyday tangle with the raging waves, the two dudes are willing to face the dangers.   In the recently concluded National Surfing Competition held at the Urbiztondo beach, Valdez and Dela Torre nearly drowned during their respective heats.   For almost a minute, Valdez was gasping for air as his long board got smashed in half by the whipping waves during the final heat while Dela Torre, who wasn’t able to get enough sleep the night before the contest, almost got swallowed by the waters in the first round.   “I wasn’t feeling okay at the start,” said Dela Torre.   “At that moment, I just thought of my nine-month-old daughter,” added the 23-year-old surf wonder.   “I paddled my way out to save my life because I was running out of air,” said Valdez, who is barely five-feet-tall. “I felt like I was inside a washing machine.”   And apart from near-death experiences there are the inevitable surfing hazards.   “It (injuries) will always be part of (surfing), you will always have to be ready,” said Valdez. “I once had a busted chin that needed four stitches.”   But no matter how severe the injuries are, it surprisingly doesn’t stop Valdez form paddling.   “I had it stitched in the morning but I didn’t care, I got back to surfing in the afternoon, it’s that addicting,” said Valdez, who had also suffered a torn ligament on his knee.   And as endless as the current can be is the passion Valdez and Dela Torre share for surfing.   “Surfing is just my life, that’s all I need to say,” Dela Torre finished.