And just the kind of conditions Rusty GM and Contest Director Kane Faint was frothing for and taking full advantage of, by the way. “I surfed until after dark here last night, and again before daybreak this morning, and I can’t wait to get out there again for my heat. This is what Sanur Reef is all about,” he said with a huge grin as the horn hooted to start the contest.
The first heat got underway just after 7 am, and though it was a bit cloudy early, it was actually a benefit for the judges, who had an easier time seeing without the usual blazing sun scorching their eyeballs. Happy with some sizable surf, in Heat 1 Made Awan got straight into a couple of barrels and was stoked to come away with the first heat win and advance to the 2nd round.
Not to be outdone, Kane Faint got himself a 9+ in Heat 5 to win his heat. Practice makes perfect they say. Some of the contestants looked to be intimidated a bit by the size and reputation of this break, but others took it on with relish and got every bit of juice out of each opportunity. Kombong, Kopling, Koming and Ketut Yuliarta were good examples of the dominant surfers in Round One.
The surf was still pumping, although not as many bombs as earlier, and there was no wind yet at the start of Round 2, which started of at just before 10 am. some of the bigger sets were a bit fat, but that meant that the smaller more critical inside section was where the paydirt was, and in the first heat Made Awan found both the outside and the inside for a double barrel heat winner, netting him a 9+ score from the judges.
Later in Round 2, luck or destiny call it what you will, was certainly smiling upon last weeks Quiksilver Open winner Dede Suryana. After getting started with a solid wave to put some points on the board, his rode his next wave all the way to the inside, buy upon his exit his board ended up tombstoning until a set wave broke the tail off of it on the shallow reef. He had neglected to stash an extra board on the photography boat or the transport boat, so had to paddle in, get another board, and paddle all the way back out against the current and the set waves, however in the lead. The lucky part? During all this, none of the other guys in his heat were in position to catch a wave until he was already almost all the way back to the lineup! Dede ended up catching one more wave to put his score out of reach of the others and get into Round 3. I think he’ll be bringing a backup board to the lineup tomorrow, don’t you ?
By the time his heat was finished the wind has started to blow onshore a bit stronger, and so at the end of Round 2 a one hour break was called to see whether it would get stronger or whether the rain clouds to the north would push through and calm the winds. At about 2:45, Kane saw that it wasn’t going to happen and so called it off for the day. The swell looks to maybe drop slightly overnight, but maybe it will settle down into a good routine and be even more consistent in the morning. The plan is to run Round 3 and then the Masters heats and see how things go after that. All contestants are to be at the beach again at 6:30 am to prepare for a 7 am start.
Text by : Thai Little - Photos By : Tim Hain
Pict 1 : Sanur Reef Morning, Pict 2 : Kane J. Faint, Pict 3 : Made Awan, Pict 4 : Ketut Yuliartha, Pict 5 : Kombong & Pict 6 : Marlon Gerber Free Surf
Thanks,
Eka IRS
Sales & Marketing Manager
