22 June 2014, Kuta-Bali: In a surprising upset yesterday in the Quiksilver Padma Challenge at Padma Beach in Bali, 16 year old Reef Doig took down Bali’s top ASC ranked pro surfers in an exciting final battle as thousands of spectators looked on, most of whom were gathered on the beach as part of the Quiksilver, Coca-Cola Amatil Indonesia, and Garuda Indonesia sponsored Bali Big Eco Weekend.
Reef, Australian by nationality but raised in Bali, defeated 3-time Asian Surfing Champion Raditya Rondi, number 3 ranked Garut Widiarta, and 2010 Indonesian Pro and Pro Junior Champion Putra Hermawan in the four-man final to claim his first ASC sanctioned event victory, to both his surprise and the delight of his Padma Boys Boardriders Club mates.
“I’ve looked up to these guys my whole life growing up here in Bali,” said Reef. “Getting the win over them today…wow, there’s not a better feeling. I’m on top of the world!”
“I’m back here on holidays as I’ve been going to school in Australia this year, just having fun, surfing and hanging out, then Akung from the Padma Boys told me I should do the comp and so I signed up. So stoked I did!” he added.
According to Single Fin’s Tai “Buddha” Graham, Reef is a recent student of the Palm Beach Currumbin High School Sports Excellence Program, the same program previously attended by current world champion Mick Fanning. “This program focuses on students with high sports potential along with maintaining good academics. Reef has grown so much as a person already in just the short time he’s been there, and we’re really proud of him,” said Graham.
Akung from the Padma Boys was just as stoked with Reef’s win, saying, “This has been such a great event, everybody is stoked, and one of our boys won it. You can’t get any better than that!” Reef grew up surfing the Kuta and Legian beach breaks and is a member of the Padma Boys.
In a day that was truly a day for the up-and-coming groms, the Women’s Division was won by 11-year-old Taina Hinckel from Brazil, who did some lion slaying of her own, besting 5-time Indonesian Women’s Champion Yasnyiar “Bonne” Gea in a final where all the competitors except for Gea were under 16 years old.
“I’m so happy to win this contest today,” said Taina. “This is the best moment of my surfing career!” Taina has only been surfing for four years, but put on a great display of critical surfing that kept her scoring points and obviously impressing the judging panel. She even had her winner’s check handed to her by four-time world champion Mark Richards! Something she will never forget as well.
At the end of the day, Quiksilver Contest Director Tipi Jabrik was asked to comment on this the first event of the ASC tour season. “The event went really well, as the waves were going both left and right it gave everybody a fair chance. We had great winners in Reef and Taina, and everybody had a great time today. Thanks to the Quiksilver, Coca-Cola, and Garuda, and all who came out to participate and support the event. See you at Uluwatu!”
The Quiksilver Padma Challenge saw surfers from many countries attending: Brazil, France, the Philippines, Japan, India, Thailand, Taiwan, the USA, and Australia.
Nilbie Blancada and Lorraine Lapus from the Philippines, 2013 ASC Women’s Champion Rina Kitazawa from Japan, and Annissa Flynn from Thailand came to compete in the Roxy Women’s Division, and in a first for the ASC Moorthy and Vicky came all the way from Chennai, India. They will be be hosting an ASC event in Channai coming up in September of this year.
The Bali Big Eco Weekend will continue today with the Quiksilver Uluwatu Challenge, where lucky punters have paid to surf in heats with Quiksilver legends/team surfers like Mark Richards, Matt Hoy, Jake Paterson, Fred Patacchia and Craig Anderson, as well as Roxy team surfers including current number 2 in the world Sally Fitzgibbons, Kelia Moniz, and Lisa Anderson and local Bali legends.
Quiksilver Padma Challenge Contest Results:
1. Reef Doig (Aus)
2. Raditya Rondi (Bali)
3. Putra Hermawan (Bali)
4. Garut Widiarta (Bali)
Roxy Padma Challenge Contest Results:
1. Taina Hinckel (Brazil)
2. Puanani Johnson (Bali-Hawaii)
3. Taina Izquierdo (Bali)
4. Yasnyiar “Bonne” Gea (Idn)
The Quiksilver Padma Challenge was presented by Quiksilver, Coca-Cola Amatil Indonesia, Garuda Indonesia, Boardriders Café, Single Fin, Jim Beam, San Miguel, supported by the Padma Boys Boardriders Club and sanctioned by the Asian Surfing Championships.
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