Lee Balo Wilson Receives 2007 Pro Surfer of the Year and Most Popular Surfer of the Year Awards at ISC Awards Night
Posted by Robin | Filed under indo, surfing
From the press release:
5 November 2007, Kuta-Bali: Lee Balo Wilson received the ISCs 2007 Pro Surfer of the Year title and trophy, and was voted the Most Popular Surfer, on Saturday November 3rd at the Indonesian Surfing Championship Awards Presentation. The Awards Presentation took place at The Wave nightclub which is positioned almost directly on Kuta Beach, a place many consider the birthplace of the sport of surfing in Indonesia.
A crowd of over 200 members of the local surfing industry, media and friends started off their Saturday night by honoring the top surfers in Indonesia in four categories, Junior, Pro Junior, Masters, and Pro. The categories of Pro Junior and Junior are new, having been added for the 2007 season.
First up to receive his award was the 2007 Junior Champion, 15-year-old One Anwar from Sumbawa. One (pronounced Oh-Nay) has been on fire this year, first winning the 2007 Quiksilver King of the Groms series (which got him a trip to France for the Grand Finals in August) and then just last week taking the overall win at the 2007 Rip Curl GromSearch series for the second year in a row. That means hell be going to Australia again in 2008 to compete in the World GromSearch Finals at Bells Beach. First Runner Up in the Junior category was Komang Putra Hermawan, and Ones older brother, Gazali Hamzah, was 2nd Runner Up.
Next to take the stage was 2007 Pro Junior Champion Mustofa Jeksen, no stranger to the podium and at 17 years old already a seasoned veteran, having traveled to many international destinations to free surf and to compete. Jeksen was last years ISC Rookie of the Year, and this year gets honors for finishing at the top of the rankings for an Indonesian in the newly introduced Billabong Pro Junior Series. 1st Runner up was the absent Agus Pernawan, and 2nd Runner Up was Kadek Murtika.
For the second year in a row, Kutas local legend and owner of The Surf Shop on Jalan Legian, Wayan Gantiyasa, took top spot in the Masters division. He climbed up on the stage to receive his trophy with the help and cheers of his friends. He had apparently been celebrating for several hours before his arrival, and seemed to be enjoying his evening immensely. 1st Runner Up was Wayan Pica, and 2nd Runner Up was none other than Bali Barrels Ketut Menda.
Before the man of the evening was called up, MCs Rani and Rahtu first called up Marlon Gerber to accept the 2nd Runner Up award for last years Number 1, and Marlons brother-in-law, Rizal Tanjung. (Rizal was in Japan so couldnt attend.) Next up was 1st Runner Up Wayan Suprayitna, who had his first ISC win at the Oakley Thump this year and has been a strong competitor in every event in the 2007 season tour.
Mr. Popular Lee Wilson was then called to the stage amidst the cheers and hoots of the crowd to receive his trophy. When MC Rahtu handed him the microphone, Lee had this to say: I started the year with this goal in mind, to win the championship, and to be here and have it come true is magic. I want to thank everyone involved in this tour and in the industry for making this possible. There are so many people that all play their parts, all along the way, and they are all really important, so without them I couldnt stand up here now. And especially I want to thank my Dad and Mom, who have given me unbelievable support. Thanks everyone!
Lee was 1st Runner Up to Rizal Tanjung in 2006, and set out at the beginning of the 2007 season to put his name on the trophy by the end of the year. His go-for-it style, natural ability, and commitment to the goals he set put him solidly in first place with wins at the first two events of the season, a position he retained through the remainder of the season. Lee was born and raised in Indonesia, his father from Australia and his mother is Indonesian. He has been sponsored by Rip Curl since he was 13 years old, and has been featured in numerous times in international surfing magazines and videos.
The ISC would like to thank all the sponsors and supporters who have made this the best ISC tour season ever, and appreciate all the time and effort put in by the crew each weekend to run the events and make this tour a success. With your continued support, well be back bigger and better for 2008. Terima Kasih, Matur Sukseme, and Thank You!
Complete ranks & info: ISC site.
Bali Surf Spots Video
Posted by Robin | Filed under bali, indo, surfing
Glad to find this video. See these spots are just minutes from my place. Surfed Balangan before, kinda remember the wiped outs like some of these dudes.
Dude. Great surf destination, Bali!
SURF FOR BALI KIDS CHARITY DINNER
Posted by Robin | Filed under Charity, indo, surfing
From the Press Release:
Contact: Tim Hain
Mobile: +62 8123606674
Email: Tim Hain
SURF FOR BALI KIDS CHARITY DINNER AND 6-STAR SURFING COMP PRESENTED BY OAKLEY AND VILLA MANA FIRST EVER ISC SANCTIONED CHARITY SURF CONTEST IN INDONESIA
Kuta-Bali, 4 October 2007 - The first ever ISC sanctioned charity surf competition in Indonesia will be held at Canggu Beach from 14-21 October in conjunction with a fundraising charity dinner at the Huu Bar on the 12th of October. The beneficiary is Bali Kids, a non-profit orphanage and medical care facility established in 2004 in Bali as part of the Carry for Kids organization of Australia, which has been helping needy children across South East Asia since 1977.
Bali Kids currently houses 17 children and provides local and mobile medical care to some 4,000 kids in 60+ orphanages around Bali with the support of donations from Australia, the US, and Indonesia. With additional funding, Bali Kids plans to build their own facility and further increase their ability to house more children, and then to provide more medical care to the thousands of needy children housed in the many orphanages throughout Bali.
This event came to fruition through the efforts of the owner of Villa Mana in the Canggu area of Bali, who now has the distinction of being the first non-surf industry sponsor of an ISC event. A recent newcomer to the surf contest game, but having organized and held the Villa Mana Surf Challenge at Canggu in 2006, the owner credits the experience of building his villa in Canggu with furthering his sense of appreciation for the island of Bali and the local surfing community and wanting to give something back. Of course having my first child conceived in Bali made an impact of a different sort, he said. But seeing how stoked the kids are when theyre out surfing caused me look around for some way that I could help to keep that stoke going, and going in a positive direction. A surf contest seemed like the most natural and direct thing to do.
After experiencing the positive effects of the event and realizing that there was much more that could be done, Villa Mana contacted the ISC for assistance in both sanctioning and creating a bigger and more unique type of event for 2007; a charity event to raise money for a worthy cause, as well as a contest by which to support the local surfers. The Bali Kids organization was chosen as the beneficiary, primarily due to its affiliation with the Australian-based Carry For Kids organization. A subsequent meeting led to a search for a presenting sponsor, one that would bring a high level of international media attention to the event as well as expertise with event organization. Oakley Indonesia fit that bill perfectly, and as an unexpected bonus was also in the process of searching for a worthy charity cause to take on in 2007.
The Huu Bar and Restaurant will host the Surf For Bali Kids Charity Dinner on October 12 beginning at 7:00 pm. This popular venue also shares in the surfing spirit, its name taken from the wave-rich area of Sumbawa that is commonly referred to as Lakey Peak. The evening will include dinner, live music, entertainment by the Bali Kids, a silent and a live auction, and videos of the Bali Kids. Autographed sports products from Oakley such as personally autographed Lance Armstrong Signature Eyewear and Poster, Rick Kelly autographed caps, a Diamond Minute Machine, handicrafts/art from the Bali Kids, and many items from other sponsors such as hotel vouchers, golf, dinners, tours and more will be sold at auction. The Charity Dinner tickets are just Rp. 495,000 per person, and all proceeds from auction sales will go directly to the Bali Kids.
Canggu Beach will be the location for the final surf competition of the 2007 ISC tour season, the Surf For Bali Kids 6-star comp with Rp 30,000,000 in prize money, taking place during the period of October 14-21 (waiting period). Top Indonesian pro surfers will be vying for points in order to finish the year strong, and to see who will take home the championship trophy at the end of the season. Canggu Beach is one of the most photographed beaches in Bali, with top pros such as Andy Irons, Mick Fanning, Kelly Slater, and others coming each year to show off for the cameras and enjoy the high performance waves and warm water. The contest will be held over a two-day period when the swell forecast calls for the most favorable conditions. The event includes a Masters (over 35 years old) contest and a locals only as well. Contestants entry fees and a percentage of the prize money will be donated to the Bali Kids, and at the conclusion of the contest there will be live entertainment by local bands Raja and 4WD courtesy of sponsor Rock & Royalty.
Sponsors for the Surf For Bali Kids charity event are still being added, but to date include Oakley Indonesia, Villa Mana, SurfTime, Magic Wave, Hello Bali, The Beat, Bali and Beyond, GUS, Chocolate Factory, Huu Bar, Heineken, Rock & Royalty, and Odysseys Surf School.
To purchase tickets for the Charity Dinner, please contact:
Ani at ISC (0361) 743 1839
Kadek Kerti at Oakley (0361) 848 0471
Bonnie at Oakley 08129383701
Huu Bar (0361) 736 443
To make a donation directly to Carry For Kids and/or Bali Kids, transfer funds to:
Carry For Kids Inc.
Bank: ANZ
Account: 4939 25393 (in AUD)
BSB: 015 025
Swift code: ANZBAU3M
Yayasan Anak-Anak Bali
Bank: Permata-Kuta Permai - Bali - Indonesia
Account: 5801289551 (Indonesia Rupiah)
Swift code: BBBAIDJA
