Surfer Saifullah of Cox’s Bazar has taught surfing to 282 people from home and abroad
Photo Collected
Saifullah Sifat has taught surfing to 282 young people from home and abroad in the past one year at Cox’s Bazar beach. As the country’s first ISA accredited surfing coach and international lifesaving referee, he is making young people interested in water sports.
A few surfboards are left haphazardly on the beach. 10-12 young people are running towards the waves with surfboards nearby. Some people are trying to stand up on the board, while others are floating on the head of the waves. Some are falling off the board due to the shock of the waves. But no sign of fear was seen in anyone. Even after falling, water sports started again. A competition to figure out how to tame the waves and keep yourself safe.
বিজ্ঞাপন
The scene is at Kalatali Point on Cox’s Bazar beach, on the morning of May 6. Surfer Md. was training the teenagers who came to learn surfing there. Saifullah Sifat (39). 282 young people from the country and abroad have learned surfing from his hands. No matter how difficult learning to surf may seem, Saifullah makes it as easy as water.
Two decades ago, Zafar Alam, the country’s first surfer, made an incredible revolution in learning surfing by adopting the blue waters of the sea. In his absence, Jafar’s disciple Saifullah Sifat has been teaching surfing techniques voluntarily for 12 years.
বিজ্ঞাপন
He told Prothom Alo that the rhythm and power of the sea waves in Cox’s Bazar is better than many popular spots in the world for learning surfing. This beach is safe and suitable especially for beginners. Cox’s Bazar’s reputation in the outside world will increase if tourists are interested in surfing, and it will also play a role in attracting foreign tourists.
Saifullah Sifat’s house is in Kalatali of Ward No. 12 of Cox’s Bazar Municipality. He learned surfing from the country’s first surfer Zafar Alam in 2006. Since 2008, he has been participating in the surfing competition held in Cox’s Bazar. He was champion several times. Although he retired from surfing competition in 2016, he continues to serve as a judge of surfing competitions in addition to training in surfing.
Hailing from a poor family in Cox’s Bazar, Suifullah trained in 2020 from the International Surfing Association (ISA) of the United States. Later he became the first surfer coach of Bangladesh to be recognized by ISA. Also certified as a surfing coach. In 2021, he was also selected as a surfing competition judge by the ASA. Saifullah Sifat served as the chief judge in the seventh national surfing competition of Bangladesh Surfing Association held in Cox’s Bazar last April 3 and 4. Since 2017, regular surfing competitions have been held at this beach on the initiative of the association. He was the judge in all cases.
In 2023, for the first time under the leadership of Saifullah Sifat, Bangladesh Surfing Team participated in the Asian Surfing Championship held in Maldives. Two young surfers from Cox’s Bazar were in the team. They are Md. Mannan and Rashed Alam. Two surfers from Bangladesh reached the quarter-finals after fighting with competitors from 20 countries.
In addition to being a surfing instructor, judge, Saifullah Sifat is also an internationally trained Lifeguard Master Trainer. He took lifeguard training from different countries including Malaysia, India, France, Australia, England.
Sifat is currently well involved with lifesaving sports. Lifesaving Sports is an integrated sport of lifeguards and lifesavers. The Lifesaving Federation (ILS) is the governing body of the sport. The World Lifesaving Championship is held internationally every two years. Where all the lifeguards and lifesavers of the world participate. In continuation of this, the Lifesaving World Championship was held in Italy and Australia in 2022 and 2024. Saifullah Sifat participated as a technical referee. International Lifesaving Federation nominated him. Before this, Saifullah established ‘Lifesaving Sports Bangladesh’ in Bangladesh in 2021. He has been giving lifeguarding and lifesaving training to local surfers and youngsters at Cox’s Bazar beach.
On the morning of May 6, it was seen that 10-15 people were taking surfing training at the Kalatali Beach Surf Lifesaving Club. Coach Saifullah teaches them the techniques of swimming, surfboard handling, lifesaving and how to ride the waves. The work of teaching swimming, surfing is going on in the sea water. The current members of the club are 30, out of which 3 are girls.
Saifullah Sifat said, in the last 12 years, he has taught surfing to 282 young people. 72 of them are foreigners. 30 people were tourists from different countries including USA, Australia, France, Italy. The rest are foreign nationals who have come to work in various humanitarian service organizations at the Rohingya refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar.
Saifullah said, recently he has launched 3 and 7 days special training courses for the trainees from home and abroad. This training is going on every morning and afternoon at Kalatali beach. One and a half hour daily session has to be paid a fixed fee (500-700 rupees). This money covers the club’s rent and electricity costs.
Saifullah Sifat, the father of a son and a daughter, said, “The current young generation has become device-oriented (technology). They are far from sports. Many people are getting involved in drugs and terrorism. They need to be brought into cricket-football as well as water sports. Keeping this thought in mind, I have established Surf Lifesaving Bangladesh Club or School. Where swimming, surfing and lifesaving sports are taught. But not in terms of ability. Running costs in a rental house is difficult. There is a desire to have a full-fledged surfing and lifesaving school in Cox’s Bazar in the future if we get cooperation from public and private initiatives.
Surfing instructor Saifullah Sifat said, if you want to learn surfing, you need to know how to swim first, as well as being a bit brave. Three tools (surfboard, leash and wax) are required to learn surfing. A ‘surfboard’ is a long and wide ‘longboard’ or ‘foam board’. They help maintain water balance. A ‘leash’ is a rope that attaches the board to the surfer’s feet to prevent the board from being swept away by a wave. And ‘wax’ uses a special wax on the surfboard to prevent slipping on the board and maintain foot grip.
Saifullah Sifat said that it takes 12-15 days to teach swimming to those who do not know how to swim. And it takes 3 to 7 days to teach surfing. Then you can start surfing by yourself. Surfing is not difficult at all.
Saifullah Sifat said, there are no sharks on the beach here. There are waves suitable for surfing. As there is no rock or coral lining, there is no fear of injury or dismemberment if you are knocked off the board by the waves while surfing. This beach is very suitable for elementary students.
0%
0%
0%
0%
