His Endless Summer
“The Billabong Surf School in La Union has been a good venue for me to give back to the community by introducing the country to the wonderful sport of surfing,” says Luke. “Last year alone, I’d say a little over five thousand people tried out surfing here at The Billabong Surf School. But with the immeasurable amount of waves and islands in the country, I believe one million Filipinos trying out surfing is an achievable target. In my little knowledge of advanced mathematics, this translates to more hot girls in Billabong bikinis and all of them for Poks, the fearlessly footless phenom, the single-stumped supersurfer, the one-legged wonder,” Luke says with brotherly impishness. On that incentive, Luke and Poks are definitely among the fortunate few who will never have to quit their day jobs.
“As part of the Billabong family, it’s great to have Poks around when we provide lessons for all these newbies in our surf school,” says Luke. “He’s an amazing example to everybody, whether in and out of the water. Look at him. If he can achieve all that with his physical limitations, then we don’t have an excuse for ourselves. When people see him take on those big waves and surf with so much style, and all this on one leg, they are in absolute awe. Even the pro surfers who saw him in Bali were impressed.”
Amongst them was former world champion Mick Fanning, and it’s a story Poks likes to dish out. “It was really out of luck that I met Mick,” he says. “Our team had just finished doing an early morning surf shoot in Bali with our good friend Tim Hain (media director and photographer for the Indonesian Surf Championship and Surftime Magazine), and luckily, he prints out photos of our best surf moves that day. That afternoon, Tim invites us to a surf party attended by Mick. I had Mick autograph that picture of me surfing, and it took him a few moments to realize I had only one leg. I remember his face. He was in shock. He was like, ‘Is that you surfing, mate?! Mate, that is sickkkk, mate,’” says Poks. “Sick” means incredulously brilliant in the colorful patois of Surfspeak.
“The following morning, we had another early morning photo shoot with Tim Hain, and this time, Mick Fanning was out in the lineup surfing too. The 2007 world champion himself! I was so excited, I almost grew another leg,” giggles Poks. “A camera crew was there, and an entire battalion of surf photographers. I think I got as much coverage as Mick because nobody had ever seen a one-legged surfer. And the waves were huge that morning,” he recalls. “I was really so nervous with all the attention from the media, but I surfed my heart out. Mick just kept watching me. He then paddles over to me and says, ‘Mate, you absolutely rip! Where’d you party last night?!’ When he said that, I was totally stoked,” says Poks.
“I am astounded at the positive impact and recall-factor Poks has on the world surf community,” says Mumph Ruiz, Marketing and P.R. Director for StokedInc. “Ever since the StokedInc-Billabong team was sent to Bali for training last August, the international surf community promptly realized that Poks Esquivel exists in the surf universe. Bali is fast becoming the epicenter of the global surf industry as it has the best waves on earth. And Poks certainly is one of a kind. He is a phenom.”
“Leafing through major surfing publications, we’ve seen letters to the editor that make mention of a Poks sighting. After all, seeing him surf is unforgettable and suspends one in utter disbelief. He’s a bit like the Lochness Monster in that way,” teases Mumph. “The stories are quite moving and makes all our work worthwhile and fulfilling. In one letter for instance, one surfer speaks of a friend who recently had two legs amputated and needed a sponsor. Another responds saying that sponsorship was certainly possible after having spotted a ludicrously talented one-legged surfer in Bali who happened to be a Billabong teamrider. That one-legged wonder just happened to be one Mr. Ronie Esquivel,” Mumph says with undisguised pride and joy. “Poks’s impact on surfing will be unparalleled. He’s an inspiring story and a profound illustration of sheer determination for everyone. I feel very privileged in growing Philippine surfing with him on our team.”
The team Mumph speaks of is a fastidiously-selected surf squadron assembled by StokedInc President and C.E.O. JV Borromeo and Luke Landrigan after prudent deliberation and with a lucid appreciation for foresight. While Luke himself is considered the most famous surfer in the country, it is difficult not to speak of the remainder of the team extracted of superlatives. After all, its pod of waveriders include Carlito Nogalo (the Philippines’ best and most experienced surfer), Dodo Espejon (the country’s most explosive surfer), Piso Alcala (the finest and most inventive young surf talent in the nation, and Champion of the Recent Billabong Cloud9 Siargao Invitational, 2008), and Nildie Blancada-Reitenbach (the best female surfer in the country). The accolades are buttressed by minimal talk and founded on maximum performance. Since its inception in September 2007, The Team has won every major surf competition in which it has participated in absolute domination of the sport. Its capacities are further highlighted by Poks Esquivel, whose innate gifts and ineffable talents, inspite of severe physical adversity, are off the map and beyond the galaxy.
“Luke and I have put together a rather amusing, timid, and whimsical gaggle of surfers,” laughs JV Borromeo with unconcealed paternal affection. “To my surprise, they also sometimes know how to win surf competitions,” he smiles. “Yet, at the end of the day, beyond the trophies and the victory celebrations, The StokedInc-Billabong philosophical ethos remains simple and succinct: Core and Core Values. I like its brevity and precision,” JV says. “What this means is that we are interested in people who are great surfers and wonderful human beings as well. To my mind, more important than our surfers’ competitive accomplishments, we want them to be exceptional role models and ambassadors for surfing, the surf lifestyle, as well as the StokedInc and Billabong brand. In that respect, Ronie “Poks” Esquivel is, unquestionably, a perfect match for us,” JV says. “I was deeply honored when he decided to be a significant component of our team. He will be an inspiration to many.”
The years of heartaches and disappointments have diminished with little histrionics, receding into the forgotten, as Poks eases into his role as surfing ambassador. He takes to it as one would snuggle contentedly on a well-worn comfortable sofa on a clear September morning. “Surfing has really been good for La Union,” he says. “With people from Manila, young and old, coming over to surf, it’s given people jobs. It’s made the weekends more fun. And it’s a good feeling to be recognized by them. When they tell me that they’re no longer scared to surf when they see that I am able to do it, then I feel really happy.”
“Surfing is also a way out for the kids. With all the attention on surfing, maybe one day the kids can get sponsorships and make a living being surf instructors and even surf camp owners. Who knows, they might even get on the professional tour one day,” Poks says. “Luke and Kuya JV (Borromeo) have put together the annual Billabong Grommet Competition which is a surf camp for kids sixteen years old and below (grommets). Every November or December, we bring in all the top young guns from as far as Siargao Island, Baler, and Samar to compete here in La Union for one weekend to decide who the best young surfer is in the country today,” he reveals. “It’s a crazy and fun time, eighty to a hundred grommets going mental and sneaking into sick barrels,” Poks says in a funny yet appealing Ilokano accent laced with Aussie-surfer intonations. “Best of all, because these kids come from very poor communities, the Billabong Grommet Competition gives them a chance to get recognized, and it gives the kids a lot of hope. I get to help in organizing and running the event. It’s a good thing, and I’m really happy to be part of it.”
When asked what he wants to do in the future, he confines his aspirations to the modest dimensions of the austere surf lifestyle. “I want to surf everyday. I want to surf with the same innocent excitement of a grommet. If I get the chance to keep surfing here and abroad, maybe it will show others that anybody can surf, no matter how you’re shaped, no matter what age. If that happens, then I’ll feel I’ve shared something.” Here he pauses, and smiles. “Oh, and I wanna catch a really great wave, long ride, glassy and sweet, before sunset today.” All that seems to be just about more than enough for the young Poks Esquivel. Who can blame him? In such matters, oft-phrased yet all true, only a surfer knows the feeling.
