Whether you are alone or with your family on vacation in Phuket, a lot of fun sporting activities have been lined up for you to make sure that your holiday will be an experience of a lifetime! To update on upcoming sports events in Phuket, seven of them stood out as the most anticipated events of the second half of this year by tourists and locals visiting and living in the Southern Thailand Province.
1. Rip Curl GromSearch International Championship 2015
Even though this event is held in various parts of Asia on a near-monthly basis, the one held at Phuket is the most awaited. This is because the neck-to-neck competition put in by participants coupled with the beautiful and sandy beaches that the island holds. The championship seeks to identify young, talented and highly skilled surfers where the best is picked to participate in an international event comprised of other youngsters from all over the world. This year’s event will take place on 6th September at the beautiful and picturesque Kata Beach where grommets under the age of 16 will battle it out in the wavy waters of Phuket under the close supervision of professionals. The main categories of this event will be: under 16 (U16), under 14 (U14), under 12 (U12) and the girls’ division. So, if you brought your teenagers along on your vacation,enroll them in this event, and they will thank you later.
2. Turtle Fun Run and Mini-Marathon
For those who love to take a nice and refreshing morning jog, or engage in athletic sports such as sprinting, then this event has just been tailor-made for you! Be part of a marathon aimed at safeguarding the ecological system of Phuket Island and its environs, especially the turtles found in the Mai Khao Beach, which are an endangered species. The marathon will feature a 10.5km marathon and a 3.5km mini-marathon (Fun Run) which will both take place at the Pru Jeh San Lake on the Mai Khao Beach on 13th September 2015. A lot of rewards are available for the taking including an 800 – 1500 THB cash prize, gift vouchers, and certificates. The first 600 participants will not be charged for t-shirts during the registration process.
3. Muang Thai Phuket – Patong Marathon 2015
On your marks, get set…go! The third of a series of Muang Thai Marathon events will take place at Patong Beach on 18th October 2015. The marathon will feature four distinct running categories differentiated by the length of distance that will be covered in each of the routes. The first, which is also the main event, will be a 42km-full marathon commencing exactly at 4.00 A.M. (Bangkok Time), with the half marathon coming in second covering a 21-km stretch, which will start an hour later. These two marathons will only accommodate a maximum of 1000 participants each. On the other hand, the last two events will have shorter distances where the mini-marathon will cover 10 km while the Smile Run will just cover 5 km. Both will kick off at 6.00 A.M. (Bangkok Time) with a maximum of 1500 and 500 participants respectively. Many rewards will be up for grabs for the first to cross the finish line as well as the first and second runners-up. Trophies, photo certificates, and t-shirts are just some of the rewards that will be bagged by winners at this event. Registration for the event is already on from as low as 300 Thai Baht. Visit here for more information about the race.
4. Thanyapura Phuket Classic Cycling Race
Cycling is termed as one of the best and most enjoyable sporting and leisure activities that one can engage in. As such, the Thanyapura Sports Hotel has endeavored in providing a cycling competition for all Phuket visitors especially at a time where luxury and pleasure are a top priority on anyone’s vacation. This cycling gig will take place on 15th November 2015 at the Thanyapura Sports Hotel over a 40 and 90 km stretch. Race kits will be available a day before the event day exclusively at this venue. The 90km event kicks off at 7.00 A.M. with the 40km bike ride starting at around 7.10 A.M. It will be pedal-to-the-medal for everyone. The event is open to all ages, including under 18s, who will get into action under the Juniors category. Registration fees for the event will range from 1000 THB for all 90km race categories, 1600THB for the 40 km VIP Category and 800 THB for the 40 km Open and Junior Categories. For more cycling events in Thailand, click here.
5. CLA Andaman and Phuket International Soccer 7’s 2015
Nothing beats stiff and entertaining competition as a tournament of soccer involving over 100 teams in the battle for the top prize. Two major soccer tournaments, namely the CLA Andaman and CLA Phuket International Soccer 7’s, will take place at the Thanyapura Sports and Leisure Club (TSLC) as from 21st November all the way to 29th November 2015. Over the past years, these major showdowns have attracted a lot of foreigners, from over 22 different countries, who are all about having fun and competing with people from different places of the globe. As the other discussed sports events, both tournaments will integrate categories for all ages – men, women, and junior classes. This year, the CLA Andaman and CLA Phuket International Soccer 7’s will mark their 10th and 13th anniversary respectively.
6. The Laguna Phuket Triathlon
The Laguna Phuket Triathlon is the first of two events held under the Challenge Laguna Phuket series at the Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort. It combines three sporting activities into one, that is, swimming, cycling and running. More specifically, the participants take part in a daring 1.8km-swim in the clear waters, 55-km cycle and a 12-km marathon through the scenic landscape of Phuket. The action will take place on the Laguna Phuket Beach as from 22nd November 2015 to stretch into the Challenge Laguna Phuket Tri-Fest, which will begin on 29th of the same month. It is open to both men and women of all ages who feel that they have what it takes to complete this daunting triathlon successfully. Fees charged will be inclusive of race kits, t-shirts, and Pasta Party Tickets.
7. The Challenge Laguna Phuket Tri-Fest
After the completion of the Laguna Phuket Triathlon, the Challenge Laguna Phuket Tri-Fest will take over the mantle to bring to an end the series of Challenge Family Events in Asia. Held at the same venue as the Laguna Phuket Triathlon, the competition will take the hurdles a notch higher with participants required to take a 1.9-km swim, 90-km cycle, and a 21-km marathon. This closing event attracts millions of tourists to Phuket Island in a bid to take part in the most popular tourist event in the world. What’s more, a 25,000-Euro Cash prize has been set aside for the winner of this event that will be held on 29th November 2015 at the Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort.
So, do you, or your family on vacation, have what it takes to leave your footprints of victory on the white sands of Phuket’s beaches? If you are looking for more luxury sports events like boating and yachting, check out Super Yachting Events in Phuket for 2015.