12 September, 2011: Kuta, Bali: Medewi Point in north Bali is always a favorite stop on the Rip Curl GromSearch circuit and the most highly competitive, as groms from Kuta, Legian, Uluwatu, Serangan, Nusa Dua, Keramas, and all the other hot surf spots in the Bali area get their chance to show their best performances to the judges in hopes of climbing onto the podium at the end of the day. For the Under 16 Division there are two spots in the 2011 Rip Curl GromSearch National Finals up for grabs, so you know there will be lots of hot surfing going down.
Early Sunday morning saw almost 70 groms signing up for the day’s competition, with the majority of them from the Bali area but also some international groms from Australia, Brazil, Hawaii, Portugal, and Sweden joining in. The youngest grom was actually from Sweden, 9 year old Kian Martin
Medewi Point was offering up some pumping 2-4 foot sets on a day where the tide didn’t change much from low to high, with its infamous rocks showing for most of the competition. The current was running so strong in some heats that the boys would spend half of their 15 minute heat paddling back out against the water rushing down the point, after dodging rocks on the inside sections. It was a true test of their budding competitive ability, as they not only had to face their fellow groms in the heat but they had to compete against the elements as well.
In a repeat of his last year’s performance at Medewi, it was Canggu’s Jeren Kiring who again stood on the top step of podium at the end of the day in the Under 16 Division. He was also last year’s National GromSearch Champion, so he was understandably stoked to have a chance to do it all again this year. “I can’t believe I won again, for the second year in a row,” he exclaimed. “I hope I can also win the National Final again in Kuta, that would be really great as I want another chance to go to Bells Beach in Australia.”
Kiring had his work cut out for him in the final though, as both Andre Julian from Cimaja and Ediana Putra from Nusa Lembongan were hot on his heels the entire time. “I knew it would be super close, and I was especially worried about Andre, because he is really good in these waves. He got that last wave and I didn’t see all of it, so I was really nervous because I thought maybe he won this time. When they announced that he was second I was so relieved and happy at the same time. It was hard out there, but that’s what made it feel so good to win.”
Kiring and Julian will be meeting each other again at the Rip Curl National GromSearch Finals that will be held at Kuta Beach during the annual Rip Curl Surf and Music Festival that takes place on October 8-9.
In the Under 14 Division, it was Riman Jayadi from Canggu who nabbed first place over Reef Doig from Australia, aggressively attacking the windy low tide conditions with careless disregard for the rocks on the inside. “It was really hard to get good waves out there, between the current and the wind, and me on my backside,” said Reef. “I wish I could have won, but getting second isn’t too bad. Riman made some good turns and got some good points, so it’s great that he won,”
Coca-Cola ISC Judge Leon Suandhi liked what he saw from the judges tent, saying, “The conditions were a bit testing for the boys, especially later in the day, which is great experience for them. Each time we come here we see the kids improving by leaps and bounds, and I really happy to be able to come to these GromSearch events and help out.”
Ado and Mick from the Buket Boardriders Club, who came up for the day and helped out with the judging, were also impressed. “That Under 16 final was great, it was super close between the three top guys. It was just a matter of a turn or two making the difference, it was that close. Even though they are all still fairly young, they are showing that they know how to compete and what it takes to win. We were stoked to be a part of it today,” said Mick.
The Rip Curl Expression session was held just before the finals, with 10 of the Medewi locals that were too old to compete in the GromSearch padding out to show off their best surfing in hopes of winning some prizes. Stepping up the to podium to receive the award for the Best Wave was Herman, and for the Best Manuever was Dwik.
After the surfing had been completed it was time to play some games and win some goodies from Rip Curl and other event sponsors, starting with a trash collecting competition and then moving on to the always-popular “musical chairs”. This gave some of the non-surfing groms as well as the local audience a chance to bring home something at the end of the day.
The special custom made Coca-Cola surfboard award went to Umar Hasim, who was the highest place Medewi local in the day’s competition. Agus from the Medewi Boardriders said “Umar really deserves this reward, as he not only surfs well but is always around helping out when everybody else has gone home. You can always count on him, so its great that now he’ll have his own brand new board to surf with.”
Rip Curl would like thank all the Medewi locals for sharing their wave on Sunday for the GromSearch, and also a special thanks to the Medewi Boardriders Club for helping to run another great day of GromSearch competition.
Contest Results:
Under 16 Division
1. Jeren Kiring (Canggu)
2. Andre Julian (Cimaja)
3. Ediana Putra (Lembongan)
4. Wayan Sunarta (Kuta)
Under 14 Division
1. Riman Jayadi (Canggu)
2. Reef Doig (Australia)
3. Raju (Legian)
4. Tommy Sobri (Pecatu)
Expression Session:
Best Wave – Herman
Best Trick – Dwik
Coca-Cola Best Achievement Award:
Umar Hasim
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