Perfectly peeling overhead righthanders with sunny light offshore conditions commenced Day 1 of the 4-Star ASC West Java Surfing Championship held at Cimaja Beach in the Sukabumi Province. This is the second ASC event of the year and Cimaja gave some love to every heat in the Open and Women Divisions today.
Being an international event there were surfers from Japan, Taiwan, France, Malaysia, the USA and Indonesia surfing it out for the over Rp 43 million prize money and valuable ASC ranking points. Of the international surfers in the Open Division it would be Teiki Ballian from France doing the best, winning his Round 2 heat. “I waited half my heat then caught three waves and got run over by a local that didn’t see me but I’m happy to get through and excited for tomorrow. It was like a skate park out there,” said a stoked Teiki, one of the first to land an aerial today.
Wayan “Betet” Merta was also a heat winner today in his first ASC event of the year. “Today was really fun, perfect for everyone, the guys, the girls and I heard the swell should be the same tomorrow. I got Lee Wilson, Tipi Jabrik and (Cimaja ripper) Suparman in my heat tomorrow so hopefully I can beat them!”
This was the first ASC Women event of the year and the surf might have been at its best and there was no wave wasted. 5 time Indonesian Champion Yasnyiar “Bonne” Gea went to work right away claiming the first win of the day. “I am so happy to win and lucky the waves were coming non-stop in my heat. I hope I do better in the semifinal. All the girls are ripping and the younger girls are surfing better than last year,” said Bonne as 15 year old Salini Regganis convincingly won her quarterfinal. Diah Rahayu Dewi and Gemala Hanafiah also won their quarterfinal heats.
Shortly after lunch the wind turned onshore and started to dump rain as the first Open Round 3 heat hit the water. A fired up Made “Garut” Widiarta still managed to post the highest heat score of the day with a 13.25 in the rain and strong choppy wind with a powerful backhand attack, showing that he can rip hard in less favorable conditions as much as in perfect surf. Following Garut’s heat Event Director Dicky Zulfikar called off the event with optimistic plans to run all day and finish tomorrow. “The swell and weather were great today, light offshore winds for the most part with wave height not too big and not too small, and everything went smooth. After that last heat we decided to stop for the day and wait for tomorrow.”
With the forecasted swell and winds looking to be similar tomorrow we can only wait and see whether the 6:30 am call will start the Longboard Division, the Women semifinal or the Open Round 3. Rain or shine, tomorrow three champions will be decided in the Longboard, Women and Open Divisions.
With Rp. 25 million ($2,500 USD) total prize money up for grabs in the 4 star Men’s Open Division, Rp. 9 million ($900 USD) for the 1 star Women’s Division, and Rp. 9 million ($900 USD) in the 1 star Longboard Division, together with valuable ASC/ISC championships to be gained, the West Java Surfing Championship 2013 event creates great entertainment for surfing fans as well as exciting competition for Asia’s best professional surfers.
The West Java Surfing Championship 2013 is sponsored by the West Java Tourism Department and supported by the Augusta Hotel and Restaurant, Desa Resort and Spa, Mantra Kitchen and Bar, +62, TP3TP, the Province of Sukabumi, SSA (Sukabumi Surfing Association) and Tourism Indonesia, with media partners Fitness for Men, FHM, TRAX, Thai Surfrider, Lines, Surfersvillage.com, Surftime, MyLifeOnBoard, Baliwaves.com, Balibelly.tv, RVM, and Outdoor Channel.
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