9 September 2011, Kuta-Bali: Though putting up a valiant effort in his Round 4 heat against Hawaiian Ezekial Lau, Indonesian wild card Darmaputra Tonjo’s run of giant killing performances ended at Canggu today on Day 7 of the Oakley World Pro Junior surfing competition as Lau boosted a near perfect Alley Oop aerial to post a huge 8.93 score that put Tonjo on the ropes, needing to score an 9.60 (out of a possible 10 points) to take the lead and advance. Unfortunately for him his luck and time ran out before he got a wave that would allow him to put up the big score.
Tonjo’s two highest scores were a 6.5 and a 6.16 for a final total score of 12.67 (out of a possible 20) to Lau’s top scores of an 8.93 and a 7.17 for a total of 16.10.
It has been a fairy tale run for the 20-year-old Balinese competitor from Legian, who earned his wildcard spot in the event as the Number 1 seeded pro junior on the Coca-Cola Indonesian Surfing Championship Tour. Though he finished third in his first round heat at the start of the competition, Tonjo proceeded to beat ASP Number 2 Pro Junior seed Nat Young (USA) in Round 2, and then incredibly knocked off Number 1 seed and last year’s Oakley World Pro Junior winner Jack Freestone (AUS).
In today’s matchup with Lau, the beach erupted with cheers and screams from his Indonesian fans each time Tonjo caught a wave, and then held their breath while awaiting scores from each from each competitor. When Lau made his phenomenal aireal, the groans were audible but the crowd still waved their white and red Indonesian flag and cheered on Tonjo until long after the horn blew the end of the heat.
Back on the beach during his media interviews Tonjo was smiling but certainly disappointed at not being able to progress. “Yes I feel very good, but it was quite difficult as my competitor was very good. He got some good waves and big scores. I didn’t really like the waves I got that much, because there was some backwash and so it wasn’t too easy to do what I would have liked.” he said. When asked if he could hear his friends on the beach cheering him on he replied, “Yes, I could hear them and was so happy for their support, so I thank them very much. I’m only disappointed that I couldn’t do any better.”
Ezekial Lau credited the sound of those cheers for motivating him, saying “It really drove me to go bigger, as I don’t think I would have gone for that air if I didn’t hear the crowd.”
Though his run at the Oakley World Pro Junior 2011 may have ended today, Darmaputra Tonjo has made his mark on the international surfing scene by besting the two top ranked junior surfers in the world and receiving mass media attention as a result. His life has been unalterably changed by the experience, and certainly he will be meeting many of these young international surfers in competition and on free surfs on his island and beyond in the future. But what won’t change is his perpetual smile, even in the face of defeat, and his insatiable appetite for catching as many waves as possible everytime he paddles out. Ask anyone that has ever surfed at Padma Beach while he is in the water!
About the Oakley World Pro Junior 2011
With a holding period of Oct. 3-14, the event will see the best of the best juniors in a field of 48 men and 18 women compete. Six men each, 20 years and under, will represent ASP Australasia, ASP South America, ASP North America and ASP Europe, five each from ASP Africa, ASP Hawaii and ASP Japan, as well as nine wildcards to round out the prestigious field. Two women each will represent each region.
Wildcards for the event were also recently named and include: Brazil’s Peterson Crisanto, Italo Ferreira and Caio Ibelli, Australia’s Noa Deane, Dean Bowen and Felicity Palmateer, New Zealand’s Sarah Mason, Tahiti’s Mateia Hiquily and Keala Naihe. Two additional Indonesian wild cards earned tickets into the main event after a local trial: Ida Bagus Simarai and Darmaputra Tonjo.
The complete list of competitors, as well as additional information and a live webcast can be found at oakleyprojunior.com. Follow on Twitter @OakleyAction or tweets at #OakleyProJr
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