Marlon Lipke lost this month the sponsorship of the Spanish brand Vazva and is changing from the Faro Surf Club to the Algarve Surf Club, in Sagres, because the Vila do Bispo municipality may lead a consortium with private companies to support the Algarve athlete and allow him to compete in the world surfing circuit ‘Qualification Series’ (QS). “I never asked for anything. I always felt the support should go to those in need. Now I am in need. I will give one hundred percent to promote tourism in Vila do Bispo and in the Algarve,” said the ex-WCT surfer, in exclusive statements to Swell-Algarve.
Marlon Lipke is perhaps the Algarve sportsman most internationally known. He competed with the best world surfers in WCT in 2009 and has his curriculum the European Open and Junior titles and a 3rd place in the World Junior. The Algarve surfer is one of the seven Portuguese surfers, the only from the Algarve with enough ‘ranking’ (up to Top 100 worldwide) to enter directly this year’s ‘prime’ QS events; the ones that give more points (in qualifying for the WCT) and are now called ’10 .000 ‘. It is also the only surfer from the Algarve chosen by the Portuguese public to be present in the ‘Capítulo Perfeito’ event, in Carcavelos.
After two years with Vazva, Marlon lost his ‘main sponsor’ and at a time when he already was enrolled in four ‘primes’ for the new season, because the Spanish brand had given continuity signals … doing nothing to predict the email received by the athlete on January 7th, announcing that the contract would not be renewed. “They told me I was staying and afterwards came the bad news. It was a shock for me …. All of a sudden, you’re alone. But step by step, I will make a new path,” said Marlon Lipke, to Swell-Algarve.
The first step in this new path is to change club, which is ongoing, lacking only the signature on papers for the Portuguese Surfing Federation, which should happen this week (26th to 30th January). The change is only related with a strong prospect of support from the Municipality of Vila do Bispo. Marlon has residence in the municipality of Lagos and represented a club in Faro, the Algarve regional capital. He is changing to the Algarve Surf Club because this club is based in Vila do Bispo municipality.
“After an initial meeting with the club and the athlete (the meeting took place on Friday, January 23th) we will make every effort to get support for Marlon, municipal support, in what depends from me, he will have. But as we are talking about a very large value we will try to involve county companies and not only”, confirmed the mayor of Vila do Bispo, Adelino Soares, to Swell-Algarve.
Marlon Lipke is already focused on his new role as Vila do Bispo and the Algarve promoter. “It won’t be only a sticker on the board,” said the surfer, to Swell-Algarve, adding the idea of promoting the municipal and regional tourism abroad, particularly through small video productions. “Surf tourism is increasing. And surfing is one of the most beautiful and special things you can do in the Algarve, the California of Europe”, said Marlon Lipke.
The athlete is 30 years old and says he still has a lot of surfing in him to compete. “I still have 4 or 5 years of high competition surfing. I feel very well and with a lot of experience,” said Marlon Lipke, to Swell-Algarve.
Marlon Lipke is leaving the surf club in Faro (‘Clube de Surf de Faro’, CSF) where he entered his first contest, somewhere around 12 to 14 years old of age. The surfer has a very close relation with the CSF president, Manuel Mestre (Necas), a veteran longboard surfer. “Our heart is broken. Marlon was our best athlete. We watch him grow and now to see him leave is very sad. But he is a professional and we understand. Our door will always be open for him”, said ‘Necas’, to Swell-Algarve.
The Algarve Surf Clube his the new club of Marlon Lipke. The surfer has already represented this clube for a while in the past and has very good friend there, with whom he usually surfs on the Algarve South-West coast.
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