14 June 2011, Cimaja-West Java: To end the action-packed first day of the Best West Java Surfing Competition presented by Quiksilver yesterday, Iis from Pangandaran West Java narrowly defeated 2010 Coca-Cola ISC Women’ Champion Yasnyiar “Bonne” Gea to claim the title of Roxy Champion, while Diah Rayahu from Bali took third place over Febrie Rohaye of Padang-Sumatra who was the fourth finalist. Although Royahe finished in fourth place, she still nabbed the Power Balance “Power Move” prize of Rp 1 million.
The morning of the first day of the six-day event waiting period saw excellent 3-4 foot glassy waves rolling across the cobblestone reef of West Java’s most consistent righthand surf break, in Cimaja, where the Vice Governor of West Java Mr. Dede Yusuf officially kicked of proceedings and the first day of competition. In his speech he alternated between speaking English and Indonesian, voicing his pleasure at supporting the event and the development of surfing tourism in the area. The governor himself was a surfer before politics began to take so much of his time away from the beach.
After the opening proceedings it was straight into Round One of the Open Division of the dual sanctioned Coca-Cola Indonesian Surfing Championship and Asian Surfing Championship action, which had a full heat draw of 64 competitors from various parts of Indonesia including Bali, Nusa Lembongan, Nias, Java, and Sumatra, as well as international competitors from Singapore and the Philippines all competing for a Round 2 berth.
The Vice Governor was treated to a major highlight of the day with Dede Suryana taking to the water for Heat 7. Hometown hero Suryana is the only Indonesian surfer currently competing on the ASP World Tour and is last years defending champion. He put on quite a show for the governor, smashing out not only the highest single wave score of the day, a 6.75 out of a possible 10 points, but also the highest combined heat score of 12.75 out of a possible 20, easily winning the heat and a Round 2 berth.
With the conditions still excellent after the completion of the first round of the Opens, the Women’s Division was sent out into the lineup. 11 women from Indonesia, Singapore, Taiwan, and America competed for the Roxy Champion title and valuable Coca-Cola ISC and ASC women’s championship points, with the final being narrowly captured by West Java local, Iis from Pangandaran. When asked how she felt after the final she replied with a smile “I’m really tired but I’m really happy too, as I only arrived this morning after driving almost 10 hours to get here. It was well worth the drive!”
Another Women’s Division competitor who had a rather long journey was Roxy Team rider BayBay Niu from Taiwan. She competed in both the Women’s and Longboard Divisions, where she narrowly missed getting into the finals with third place finishes. “I’m disappointed that I didn’t make it further and that the competition is over for me so early, “she said. “But this is a great experience and I’m going to enjoy the rest of the week here in Cimaja. It’s a very beautiful place and I always like seeing new things and meeting new people, and I’ll get to do some exploring and free surfing so it’s all good. Plus it’s the first time I have been together with so many Roxy team riders at the same time!”
In arguably the most closely contested heat and one for the highlight reel was the Longboard Division semifinal two battle between West Java’s Mencos (Arif Nur Hidayat) from Batu Keras and the Philippines Luke Landrigan. Both surfers aggressively attacked the waves, Landrigan starting with stylish noserides and floaters and Mencos answering back, but finally winning the heat was Mencos who pulled off an incredible backside noseride into 360 reversed whip that had everybody on the beach screaming amazement. The 7 longboarders from Indonesia, Taiwan, and the Philippines battled it out in challenging conditions that consisted of some rather large closeouts sets, but the thought of the prize money, points, and the PowerBalance 1 million rupiah prize for Best Nose Ride kept them focused and energized through their 20 minute heats.
The decision to run so many heats on the first day of competition was due mostly to the expectation that the swell size would be increasing significantly in the coming days, making it very difficult for the Women’s and the Longboard divisions. The Longboard finals will run sometime in the following days when the conditions are optimum, meanwhile the remaining rounds of the Open Division a well as the Masters Division will be filling in the next few day’s competition schedule.
In addition to the usual prize money offered in the Coca-Cola ISC and ASC event divisions, Power Balance, DC Shoes, and Lines Magazine have all come to the party to bring more cash for special prizes.
Power Balance will be giving Rp 5 million to the Open Division surfer with the best “Power Move”, Rp 1 million for the Longboard Division surfer with the best “Power Nose Ride,” and another Rp 1 million for the best “Power Move” in the Women’s Division. DC Shoes is putting up a cash prize of Rp 5 million for the “DC Most Innovative Maneuver” and Lines Magazines will again be sponsoring their “Lines Air Show” where the winner will receive Rp 1 million and their photo in the next edition of Lines. Special invitees Dede Suryana, Lee Wilson, Garut Widiarta, Pepen Hendrik, Marlon Gerber, Wayan “Robot” Susiana, Sandi Slamet, Raditya Rondi, Made Darmayasa, and Ketut “Kunyit” Suartha.
The Open Division Round 2 contestants were told to be at the beach and ready to surf at 7 am for the continuation of what promises to be very hot and heavy competition in some of the best and most consistent waves on the planet. So be sure to come out to Cimaja to check out the Best West Java Surfing Competition presented by Quiksilver in person, or you can also follow the on-line and view heat draws, heat and waves scores, video’s and photos and more at www.isctour.com/events/
Check out the video clip of yesterday’s action at (http://www.youtube.com/watch?
The Best West Java 2011 Surf Competition is presented by Quiksilver and supported by Jim Beam, Coca-Cola Amatil Indonesia, Desa Resort & Spa, Augusta Hotel and Restaurant, Heineken, Power Balance, Pemda Sukabumi, Java Sport & Tourism Authority, and TP3TP.
Media Partners: Trax, FHM, Fitness, Hai, Men’s Health, Juice, SurfTime, Lines, RVM, Alam TV, SurfersVillage.com, Indosurflife.com, and Baliwaves.com
Media Contacts:
Quiksilver SEA
Ni Putu Purniati
Marketing Manager Quiksilver
Tel: +62811387805
Email: purnie@quiksilver.co.id
Coca-Cola ISC Tour - ASC
Tim Hain – Media Director
Tel: +628123606674
Email: tim@isctour.com
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