16 January 2010, Kuta-Bali: Ready to make history as the first Indonesian junior surfers to travel outside of Indonesia as a team to compete in a world junior championship surfing competition are Putra Hermawan, Putu Anggara, Agus Frimanto, Koko Mitsu Antara, Ediana Putra, Jeren Kiring, Sandi Selamet, and Oney Anwar.
Chosen for the honor of representing Indonesia in the 2010 ISA Quiksilver World Junior Championships based on their outstanding competitive surfing performances last year, these “best of the best” young Indonesian surfers ranging in age from 11 to 17 years old will fly from Bali to the city of Auckland and then travel to the scenic surf town of Piha to compete against the best Under 16 and Under 18 surfers in the world for the pride of their country. The event will take place from the 20th to the 28th of January 2010.
The last time Indonesian surfers participated in an International Surfing Association event was in 1996 at the ISA World Surfing Games held at Huntington Beach in California. Those surfers were Rizal Tanjung, Dully Ismael, and current Indonesian Team Coach Tipi Jabrik.
The only other time that an Indonesian team of junior surfers represented their country in an international event was at the Quiksliver World Grommet titles held at Kuta Beach in Bali in 1993. Rizal Tanjung, Pepen Hendrik, Wayan Wirtama, Tipi Jabrik, Dully Ismael, and Wayan Darmawan were among those that participated in that competition almost 17 years ago.
Thanks to the tireless efforts of Tipi Jabrik and others, the Indonesian Surfing Federation (Persatuan Selancar Ombak Indonesia) has now become the ISA’s National Governing Body for surfing in Indonesia, as well as has been officially recognized by the Indonesia Department of Sport (KONI) and the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI).
The result is that Indonesian surfing athletes may once again participate in international ISA events such as the World Junior Surfing Championships, the World Surfing Games, World Masters Surfing Championships, World BodyBoarding Games, and more. In addition, Indonesia can now lobby to host these internationally visible events and further develop their tourism industry, and Indonesian Surfing Championship (Coca-Cola ISC Tour) judges may now participate as judges in these events as well.
The funding for the Indonesian team’s trip comes from the generosity of the surf industry and its supporters in Bali: Billabong Asia, Hurley, Oakley Indonesia, Quiksilver Asia, Rip Curl Asia, and Rusty Asia, Coca-Cola Bottling Indonesia, the Coca-Cola Indonesian Surfing Championship Tour and KCB Travel. In addition, we owe an enormous debt of gratitude to Nick “Chongee” Ngau-Chun in Piha for his tireless efforts, the incredible generosity of Fiona Anderson at the Piha Camp Ground for the lodging, transportation and meals for the team, and a special thanks to Ben Kennings of Surfing New Zealand for his help with sorting out the team's visa’s.
About the 2010 ISA Quiksilver World Junior Surfing Championships
The surfing world is getting ready for its greatest Under 18 surfing event, the Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championship that will be held in Piha Beach, New Zealand, January 20-28. Over 250 of the best junior surfers from almost 30 countries will be competing for medals and the honor of defending their nations´ colors. Many countries will be traveling to New Zealand with four Under 18 surfers, four Under 16 and four Under 18 girls. Each of these three divisions will receive their gold, silver, bronze and copper medals. The trophy will go to the nation that reaches the greatest points combination taking each of each team member.
New Zealand is ready to receive the best junior athletes from around the world, according to Greg Townsend, Surfing New Zealand Executive Officer: "Having this top ranked world event is fantastic for the city of Auckland, and for the sport of surfing in New Zealand and we are excited to have been given this huge opportunity to showcase our unique culture and our beautiful environment to the world while at the same time giving New Zealanders a taste of the very best the sport of surfing can deliver."
Fernando Aguerre, ISA President noted that: "We're really happy to go to New Zealand for the Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championship. It is an amazing location with perfect waves and a great surfing culture. It's really important to notice that this is the first time after more than 25 years that the ISA holds an event of this magnitude in the Australasia zone."
"This event is amazing for Quiksilver and not only us but New Zealand. We are stoked to have it back down in the southern Hemisphere in 2010. The Surfing NZ crew have been working around the clock to get this off the ground and we thank them them for their efforts. This will be the biggest surf event NZ have ever held, great to have our brand part of it." Said Luke Watson, Marketing Manager of Quiksilver Australasia, title sponsor of the event.
The 2010 edition of the Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championship will be the 8th edition of the event. In 2003 in Durban, the first edition of the Championship took place. The ISA started holding the Junior division in the World Championship in 1980, when legendary surfer Tom Curren won.
Tim Hain
Media Director- Coca-Cola ISC Tour
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