Quiksilver Uluwatu Challenge QS 1000
16th August 2015
Jared Hickel Wins WSL-ASC Sanctioned Quiksilver Uluwatu Challenge QS1000
Uluwatu, Bali, Indonesia (Monday, July 17, 2015) – After four days of great waves and hard fought heats the 2015 Quiksilver Uluwatu Challenge presented by Coca-Cola Amatil Indonesia and the Australian Embassy Jakarta has come to an end with Australia’s Jared Hickel (Cronulla, NSW/AUS) defeating Jean De Silva (Brazil) in the Final yesterday.
This is the best result of Hickel’s career and will see the 17-year-old join elite group of QS1,000 winners. Hickel’s powerful forehand attack saw him post solid scores seemly with ease. His 8.00 was the highest single wave score of the final and was the difference between the two surfers.
“This was my first final, let alone a QS final, so I’m so stoked to be here and to have had such fun,” Hickel said. “This is my fourth time to Bali, and have surfed here at Uluwatu a lot of times, as it’s one of my favorite waves in the world. When I paddled out, it was so shallow and I didn’t really know where to sit, but I sort of found a little peak and then Jean (De Silva) and I swapped waves, and I was stoked to get a couple. I didn’t know I had the Final won until the buzzer went off really, because I knew that if Jean if got the wave, he’s such an amazing surfer, he could have won it for sure.”
Jean De Silva went into the Final as a red hot favorite after posting two excellent 9-point-rides in his semifinal win over Marco Giorgi (URY), but momentum swung away from Silva as he struggled to find the right waves to open up and unleash his big turns.
“I’m really happy to be competing here in Uluwatu, it’s been the best event of the year for me,” Silva said. “Hopefully Quiksilver can put on an even bigger event here next year, but I’m so happy they put it on for sure. I was happy with my performance during the contest, as I felt like I put up a lot of good scores. I was feeling good, and it was great to see the other guys surfing good as well. That’s the great thing about when the waves are good and everybody is ripping, we can all put on a good show. I was happy to make it into the final, and happy for Jared that he won it. I was looking for the win of course, but it was great to hear the cheers of the crowd.”
Of the 22 ASC surfers competing in the event, the top finishers were Made “Bol” Adi Putra and Made “Garut” Widiarta from Kuta, who made it into the man-on-man quarterfinals.
On Day 3 of competition Adi Putra and Widiarta were in the same Round of 16 heat with Nick Vasicek (AUS) and Nolan Rapoza (USA), and though using very differing tactics they both got the edge over their competitors to advance in a very close heat. The final scores were Adi Putra with 11 points, Widiarta with 10.4, Vasicek with 10.25, and Rapoza with 9.45.
However, in Quarterfinal 3 Widiarta fell to eventual runner up Jean Da Silva (BRA), and in Quarterfinal 4 Adi Putra went down to Marco Giorgi (URY).
Both Indonesian surfers received the Highest Placed Indonesian Award for their 5th place finishes, along with Wayan “Gobleg” Suyadnya who took the Highest Placed Uluwatu Local Award for his Round of 16, 13th place finish.
The awards presentation was held on Sunday afternoon at Single Fin, arguably the most popular sundown spot on the island of Bali and opened by Australia’s Ambassador to Indonesia Paul Grigson. In a short speech, Grigson said he was happy that the Australian Embassy Jakarta could support Indonesian surfing by sponsoring this event, and hopes that it will happen again next years.
Then winner Jared Hickel was presented the perpetual Uluwatu Challenge trophy by Quiksilver legends Mark Richards and Matt Hoy, to which his name will be added under last year’s winner, current WSL World Tour competitor Fred Pattachia.
The Quiksilver Uluwatu Challenge ran during a four day window from August 13-16 as part of the 8th annual Quiksilver and Coca-Cola Amatil Indonesia, Bali’s Big Eco Weekend Event, which takes place this year during Indonesia’s Independence Day long weekend. Bali’s Big Eco Weekend highlights the need to keep Bali’s beaches clean and safe for everyone to enjoy as well as promoting an active and healthy lifestyle through the various surfing events and beach activities that take place through the course of the event.
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