For Immediate Release From Rip Curl :
Balinese surfer, Asian beach games gold medalist and one of Indonesia's best known chargers Made "Garut" Widiarta has just signed with Rip Curl for another 4 exciting years. Garut, known for his incredible tube riding talent and radical free-surfing antics is one of the most sought after surfer's in Indonesia at present and currently is sitting on the 2nd spot in the Indonesian Surfing Championship Tour 2009.
Garut started his career at Rip Curl when he was 13 years old and has done numerous travel's with the "Search" team all over the world. While intensively working for the top position in Indonesia, Garut is planning to compete in the world qualifying series and join Rip Curl's international team of Searchers to find unexplored regions with the likes of Pancho Sullivan, Dean Brady, Tom Curren and Bruno Santos.
"I've had a great time in the last eight years with Rip Curl supporting me with my surfing career. Now when they offered me continuous support, I'm more than excited to accept it, the opportunities Rip Curl have given me over the past years including a wild card into the Search WCT Bali in 2008 and doing Search missions with Tom Curren and the crew can't be matched by any other company" said Garut who recently won the ISC Rote Open 2009.
"Garut has an exceptional talent, combined with his determination, we believe he can take his surfing and Rip Curl to another level. His surfing style and image represent Rip Curl in every way and we're happy to continue working with him in the next few years" said Rip Curl National Team Manager, Wayan Yudha.
Garut, still only 21 years of age has a very bright future on the search working along side Rip Curl's international team and maintaining himself as one of the top player's in the incredible talent pool coming out of Indonesia.
Rip Curl Asia CEO Jeffry Anderson said today :
"Rip Curl has always maintained the best team riders and the best events. Garut has proved himself to be one of the best surfers ever to come out of Indonesia so there was no option in Rip Curl signing with him for the next 4 years. We're stoked to continue our support for him and look forward to helping him taking his career to the next level".
Ends :
www.ripcurl.com
Thanks,
Eka I. Rochmansyah
Media Coordinator ISC
19 September 2009, Nemberala, Rote Island: In a very closely contested 30 minute final at scenic Bo'a Beach on the East Indonesian island of Rote, Garut Widiarta narrowly defeated Marlon Gerber to bring home 20 million Rupiah (USD 2,000) and 3,500 points in the inaugural Rote Open 2009 presented by the Coca-Cola Indonesian Surfing Championship Tour.
"I feel a bit lucky to have been in this final and win against Marlon, especially because it's on not an easy wave to surf on my backhand. Marlon has been surfing insanely in every heat, so I'm actually surprised that I beat him" said Widiarta after the final. "All the guys were surfing so good, like Lee (Wilson), Dede (Suryana), Betet (Merta) and Marlon, so I was really fortunate to come out on top."
"Winning this event here at Rote means a lot to me, because now I have a real shot at the ISC Championship. I'm honestly tired of being number two or three or four. I want that number one spot", he added with a grin.
Marlon Gerber was good-natured about his loss, saying, "It was pretty hard out there, being up against Garut who is surfing so well and with the wind conditions what they were. I know I just needed one more good wave, but I just couldn't find it in time." Gerber had been blowing up in each heat, carving big turns and taking to the air at every opportunity, seemingly unstoppable until he met up with Widiarta in the final.
Widiarta had earlier send reigning 2008 ISC Champion Dede Suryana packing in Round 4 and then bested current number one ranked Lee Wilson in Semifinal One, while Gerber had gotten the better of Betet Marta, Tai Graham, and Made Awan on his run to the final.
The event had been blessed by solid surf each day of the three days of competition at the right-hand point break of Boa's Beach, with conditions ranging from 6-foot glassy conditions on day one to 3-4 foot wind blow surf for the final. Bo'a Beach is a very consistent wave that can be surfed on virtually every tide and seems to always have a surfable wave on offer, making it an ideal contest in addition being an excellent vantage point from which to view the surfing action. Hundreds of spectators thronged the beach each day of the competition to view these surfers compete.
The government of Rote Ndao in conjunction with event organizer PTR Communications and the Coca-Cola ISC Tour produced this four-day surfing event on the island of Rote in East Indonesia in an effort to promote tourism and provide a great venue to hold a six star prime ISC tour surfing competition. The event was opened to international and Indonesian surfers with 90 surfers from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Switzerland, Uruguay and the USA competing in four divisions; Open Pro, Masters, Women's, and Local.
Each day at the contest site the local government officials and event organizers treated the contestants and spectators to cultural programs including dancing, music, and speeches to show off their unique and interesting culture.
At the closing ceremony the governor of Rote Leonardus Hanning expressed his appreciation to all for producing such an excellent event, and committed to having PTR Communications and the Coca-Cola ISC Tour back next year and as long as he is in office (a five year term).
Coca-Cola ISC Tour CEO Tipi Jabrik was also very happy with the event, stating "The waves, the people, and the place here are very special and unique. We've had a great competition and I'm looking forward to next year already. Many thanks to the government and to the local people for being such kind and generous hosts."
Contest Results:
Open Pro
1. Garut Widiarta (Bali)
2. Marlon Gerber (Bali/Switzerland)
3. Lee Wilson (Bali/Australia)
3. Made Awan (Bali)
Masters
1. Made Lapur (Bali)
2. Wayan Widiarta (Bali)
3. Made Lana (Bali)
4. Diego (Argentina)
Women's
1. Herlani Theresia- (Indonesia)
2. Stella Hermina (Indonesia)
3. Jennifer Mikotha (Canada)
4. Chika Kirin (Indonesia)
Local
1. Yermi
2. Dani
3. Bastian Mboro
4. Mus Ely
The Rote Open 2009 is presented by the Coca-Cola Indonesian Surfing Championship Tour and sponsored by the government of Rote Ndao, PTR Communications, Garuda Indonesia, Merpati Airlines, Trans Nusa Airlines, and Heineken, and was sanctioned by the Coca-Cola ISC Tour.
Photos and text by Tim Hain - Coca-Cola ISC Tour
If you would like higher resolution version of these photos, please email :tim@isctour.com". Due to internet connectivity limitations on Rote, only small resolution photos have been sent with this press release.
Thanks,
Eka I. Rochmansyah
Media Coordinator ISC
17 September 2009, Nemberala – Rote Island : Top seed Dede Suryana was bested by Garut Widiarta today in Heat 4 of Round 4 as he failed to find the necessary points to stage a comeback against the lightfooted and charging goofyfooter on Day Two of the Rote Open 2009 at Bo'a Beach.
The dropping 3-4 foot swell resulted in a few lulls throughout the day's competition, especially later in the afternoon when the tide was bottoming out, but the majority of the days the conditions were quite good with less wind and bright sunshine.
Lee Wilson made no secret about his desire to maintain his Number One seeded position on the Coca-Cola ISC Tour, combo'ing Made Lana in his Round 4 heat.
Marlon Gerber defeated Betet Merta to advance to the Quartfinals, and Tipi Jabrik got the upper hand over Made Lapur to also get a Quarterfinal berth.
The Women's Division also had their chance in the water today with a total of 7 girls competing for a place in the Final's, which will be held either tomorrow or Saturday.
The call for tomorrow is for 8 am, as the swell is expected to remain about the same, so the contest director will put all on the competitors on standby and call for the first heat when the waves conditions are optimum to run the quarterfinals.
It should be another exciting day of competition at this beautiful venue on Rote Island, as the event runs down to the wire with the $7,000 prize purse and the valuable 6 star prime Cocal-Cola ISC tour championship points on offer.
The Rote Open 2009 is presented by the Coca-Cola Indonesian Surfing Championship Tour and sponsored by the government of Rote Ndao, PTR Communications, Garuda Indonesia, Merpati Airlines, Trans Nusa Airlines, and Heineken.
Stay tuned for more…..
Text and Photos by Tim Hain – Coca-Cola ISC Tour
Thanks,
Eka I. Rochmansyah
Media Coordinator ISC
