Arugam Surfer learned to ride waves on his head.
Not down under – but in the United Kingdom.
Dulip Kokuhannadige stunned fellow surfers when he first mounted his board and performed a headstand while riding the waves.
Dulip grew up in a place called Arugam Bay, aA? surf hot spot which was by farA? the hardest hit place in Sri Lanka by the Tsunami. He lost everything and moved to England where he became a tourist attractiion in a British seaside town after learning to surf on his head.
The 22-year-old has since got the trick down to a fine art, and is now able to stay upside down on the board for 15 seconds at a time.
The Sri Lankan-born builder from Bournemouth, Dorset says he first attempted the stunt in his home country while teaching young people to surf in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami.
“I lost everything in the tsunami but decided to volunteer and help others by teaching them how to surf during the bad times,” he said.
“One day I decided to do something different so tried a headstand on my board. I actually managed to stay up for a few seconds so kept practising.”
He continued to work on the act after he moved to Britain in 2005 and now spends most of his time in the sea surfing on his head.
“Now I can stay up for the duration of a good wave which can take me all the way onto the beach,” he said.
“When I am riding a wave my face doesn’t get too wet but when it breaks water does go up my nose.”
Mr Kokuhannadige has tried to teach his friends how to surf upside down but none of them have been able to do the stunt.
Fellow surfer Ross Broad, 19, said: “Most of us are just happy to stand on our boards for a few seconds let alone do it upside down.”
source:
Arugam Forum
Arugam Photo Galleries on Picasa
Old Website
Press Coverage
Surf Forecast for Arugam Bay
SANJU VAN TOURS CONTACT 0777-212630
Sri Lankans Do It Standing On Their Heads.