The only time people hear of this pristine beach is when photographs of the mercurial cricketer, Jonty Rhodes, surfing in the sea are splashed in newspapers and on news channels.
Rhodes, an ambassador of Mantra Surf Club, an organisation that has been training youngsters, prefers surfing in this beach as it is quieter thanks to its remote location.
Rhodes is not the only cricketer who likes surfing here. Speedster Dale Steyn and flashy middle order batsman Sanju Samson are also frequent surfers.
Sasihithlu Beach, located around 30 km from Mangaluru is abuzz with activity as surfers from different parts of the world have turned up for the three-day long Indian Open of Surfing that kicked off on Friday. The three-day is underway since Friday. It is for the first time that a National event is being held at this Beach.
The shallow beach makes it ideal for surfing. The height of waves here range between six and 15 meters. “Come in October and you will find even a three-year old child surfing here,” says 60-year-old Narasingh, a US born monk who runs the Mantra Surf Club, a spiritual centre located near the confluence of Shambhavi River and the Arabian Sea. “It is safe to surf here,” he adds. “Apart from discourse on Bhagawad Gita, Narasingh has been training local youngsters since 2002. “I started with Kishore Kumar and his brothers, the residents of Kolachi Kambla (the local area), who are now expert trainers themselves. I am now an advisor,” says Narasingh aka Jack Hebner, who is popular as the “Surfing Swami”.
Rammohan Paranjape, the Vice President of Surfing Federation of India, which is the co-host of India Open of Surfing was also trained by Narasingh.
Paranjape says there are as many as 200 surfing professionals in the country of which more than 80 participate in surfing events. Sasihithlu is among the few hotspots for surfing in the state apart from Gokarna and Kapu beaches. Stephen Robertson, from World Surf League Australasia says: “there is good potential here with a number of young people joining. Sasihithlu can be considered a venue for international competitions in the future.”
Hosting the event in Sasihithlu, helps promote the beach and boost tourism, Paranjape comments. The Federation is hosting the event in association with the Mantra Surfing Club, Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dakshina Kannada district administration and the Tourism department.
Tanvi J from Mangaluru, is among the few women international stand-up paddling instructors in the country. The 16-year-old will be showing her skills in stand-up paddling, which is one on the competitions on the three-day event. As many as 120 surfers have registered their names for the event.
