Professional surfer John Mark Tokong from Surigao del Norte province’s Siargao Island is the first Filipino surfer to qualify for the 2023 World Surf League Challenger Series (2023 WSL CS).

In a statement Monday, the United Philippine Surfing Association (UPSA) said Tokong, popularly known as “Marama”, will be competing against the top professional surfers from various countries in the 2023 WSL CS.

Event No. 1 of the 2023 WSL CS will be held from May 1 to 13 in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia while Event No. 2 will be from May 17 to 24 in Sydney.

“The surfers who are part of this top tier league will then compete for points to join the world’s surfing elite, which is the World Surf League Championship Tour,” the UPSA said.

The WSL championship tour is slated for June of this year.

Tokong was triumphant during the 2023 White Buffalo Hyuga Pro tourney, a WSL Qualifying Series 3000 event held in Okuragahama Beach in Japan from March 2 to 5 this year.

He is currently ranked No. 4 in the WSL Asia Regional Ranking with 5,890 points in six events in 20 heats and with a maximum heat score of 12.95. (PNA)