Varkala beach adds surfing to its 'to-do' list

Varkala: Surfing is the latest thrill on Varkala beach, the only cliff beach in Kerala. The waves that gather momentum as it close in on the sandy beach makes Varkala an ideal spot to learn the art and sport of surfing.

It is estimated that nearly 100 people, mostly foreigners, take training every day here. The surf training is given by a a group of Indian trainers trained under a team from Australia, which is home to some of world's best surfing beaches. The Indian trainers were trained at Sri Lanka and some of the main beaches in India and were certified by the International Surfing Association.

Techies from TechnoPark in Thiruvananthapuram have added the surf training at Varkala to their weekend schedule.

According to the trainers, one of the good things about Varkala is when the waves go flat there, the surfers can head to Kappil beach, 7.5km away, and continue surfing.

To popularize the sport, which is part of culture in foreign countries, people who live in the nearby areas are offered free training on Sundays.