27 October 2008, Kuta-Bali: Dede Suryana put on a brilliant surfing performance at the Rip Curl Surf and Music Festival at Kuta Beach in Bali yesterday to not only claim victory at the final Coca-Cola Indonesian Championship event the season but also become Indonesia’s Pro Surfing Champion of 2008. He took home a cool Rp 10 million in prize money as well as the ISC Championship trophy.
Suryana, originally from the small coastal town of Cimaja in West Java, came to the beach on Sunday morning the ratings leader, but had he lost in either of his first two heats and 2007 ISC champion Lee Wilson were to have won the event, Suryana would have been relegated to 2nd place. This is his third tour win this year, having won the first event of the year at Keramas in April and then again at Padma Beach in August.
But he left no doubt about his intension to claim it all, slashing, carving, and flying his way to wins in each heat, putting on impressive display of athleticism and wave prowess. During his semi final heat against Mustofa Jeksen in difficult windy 2-3 foot beach break conditions, Suryana jumped into the lead with a solid 4.5 point ride, then added a 7.5, and 8.5, before capping it off by pulling a crazy Alley Oop aerial to end the heat with the highest wave score of the day, a 8.9 out of 10!
“I’m pretty excited about winning that heat. Actually I was pretty relaxed, just waiting and then going with the flow you know. The good waves just kept coming to me and I just kept going for it,” said Suryana to MC Tai Graham after the heat. Jeksen had the exact opposite experience, sitting on the left-hander all heat and trying for a big maneuver, but failed to find a good wave that would let him cut loose with a big score.
In the 30 minute final with onshore winds and the threat of rain, quite in contrast to the first heats of the day that were 3-4 foot glass with slightly off shore winds, near perfect conditions, Suryana took on Kuta Beach local Dedy Santoso. In a pitched battle with the lead changing several times, Suryana regained the lead with just 7 minutes to go. After a lull in the action, a final exchange of waves saw Santoso falling short of the points he needed, but he came to the beach with an admirable runner up finish, having advanced over some very talented surfers during the day’s competition. “Ya, I surfed my best out there today, so I’m happy. A few days ago I won a competition here at the Kuta Karnival and got a motorcycle, so I’ve had a good week,” said Santoso with a wide grin.
Last year’s Coca-Cola ISC Pro Champion Lee Wilson, though obviously disappointed at being knocked out in Round 4, was gracious in congratulating Suryana and handing over the championship trophy, filling the trophy full of beer and insisting that Suryana scull it all. “Dede is such a great surfer and all around good guy,” said Wilson. “Earlier this week he won two gold medals at the first Asian Beach Games, is on the cover of SurfTime magazine this month, has won this comp and now the championship…what can you say? He really deserves the championship, but now that I’m number two I’m going to give him a run for it next year for sure. I want that number one spot back!”
Wilson was bested by Bali’s Made Awan in Round 4, who in the final seconds of the heat and nabbed the Coca-Cola Best Maneuver Award for his rail grab 360 aerial, getting Awan the exact 8.0 score he needed to win the heat and advance to the quarterfinals.
Also part of the 5 star Rip Curl Surf and Music Festival action at Kuta Beach were the Coca-Cola ISC Women’s and Master’s Division events.
The Women’s division finalists paddled out just as the tide was at its lowest and the winds had turned onshore, making it very challenging for the four women. Yesco, just back from competing in Japan, consistently found the best scoring opportunities and dominated the final, with Yasniar Gea (aka Bonne) from Nias capturing the runner spot and also the Coca-Cola ISC Women’s Division Championship. Bonne was also a silver medal winner in the Women’s Shortboard surfing event at the first Asian Beach Games earlier in the week.
The Masters division contestants paddled out in the break just before the Pro final, and with the strong onshore winds had their work cut out for them to find some good clean faces. A lot of closeouts came through, but Cupak racked up the most points and came to the beach the winner. “It was tough out there, but at least I got a couple and managed to score. I’m happy with that,” he said.
Winning the Coca-Cola ISC Masters Division championship was runner up Made Artha. On the podium he laughed as he accepted his second place event trophy and the 2008 Masters trophy, saying “I lost in the second round in the pro comp, I got second place in the Masters, but now I’m smiling because I finally got a first, the 2008 Masters championship!”
After the awards presentation everybody moved on down the beach to where Rip Curl had set up a big stage with a huge sound system, and the rest of the evening was spent rocking out to some great live music, including Bali’s most famous punk band Superman is Dead, Netral, Nymphea, Tolbandol, and Discotion Pill, and the movie premiere of Rip Curl’s “Something from Nothing” surf flick. Check out www.asia.ripcurl.com/surfandmusicfestival for more.
A great way to end the 2008 Coca-Cola Indonesian Championship Tour season, going out in a big way and setting the standard very high for next year. A big thanks to Rip Curl and all the sponsors, Bintang Zero, Harris Hotels, MTV, Rolling Stone, SurfTime, Trax, Juice, Area, WWF, Coca-Cola Bottling Indonesia, and the Kuta Karnival for making it such a huge success.
Rip Curl Surf and Music Festival Results
Pro Division
1. Dede Suryana
2. Dedy Santoso
3. Mustofa Jekson and Raditya Rondi
Women’s Division
1. Yesco
2. Yasniar Gea (Bonne)
3. Nyoman Satria
4. Diah Rahayu Dewi
Masters Division
1. Wayan Widiartha (Cupak)
2. Made Artha
3. Gus Rai
4. Ketut Menda
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