Second Annual Put Up Or Shut Up Free Surfing Tournament Kicks Off at Firing G-Land in East Java

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5 September 2012, Grajagan-East Java:  With G-land pumping out 4-6 foot barrels today for the start of the Put Up or Shut Up/Source to the Sea One-Day Surf Tournament presented by the Coca-Cola ISC and Surftime Magazine, the small crew of specially invited professional surfers got their first shot at one of the world’s most famous waves.

Situated in the jungles of East Java, miles away from any form of civilization, lies a coral reef headland that spawns one of the very best and most consistent left hand waves in the world.  Accessible only by boat, or at least requiring a 4-wheel drive if an overland trip is attempted, this spectacular place is known as G-Land, for its location in Grajagan Bay.

Early this morning a powerful speedboat named the G-Land Express departed the touristy sands of Bali’s Kuta Beach and charged across the Java Strait, engines on full power, bearing a select group of pro surfers as well as the crew that would document this unique surfing experience…its destination the wilds of East Java.

In this surfing tournament, unlike any other, there is only one rule: Surfers must perform at their absolute best. It is a winner-take-all event tournament where the surfers put their money up and bet on themselves to be the best on the day.

And one man will decide the champion of the tournament, and that man is Matt George, Editor-in-Chief of Surftime Magazine. The decision will be based solely on his experienced opinion. After the surfing is finished, he alone will select the surfer whom he feels put on the best performance and award the prize money and the trophy over the two-day tournament.

And so it was that a select group of eight surfers put their money where there mouth was today and paddled out at G-land for a three hour gathering in the pumping waves, signaling the start of the 2^nd annual Put Up Or Shut Up event.

In the Bobby’s Surf Camp restaurant after the initial session, several of the surfers were asked why they chose to participate and how they felt now.  Here are their replies:

Dede Suryana (West Java):  “I really like the free surfing format of this event, as the pressure comes from within yourself to perform.  You don’t surf to defeat your opponent; you surf to do the best for yourself.  You’re not thinking about points or going conservative, you can just go all out.  I’m so happy we chose G-land, because all I have to do is focus on riding the best wave in the world and nothing else!”

Mustofa Jeksen (Bali):  It was really great surfing out there, and I’m feeling really comfortable our first session.  I think I’ve been well prepared by my recent visit to Tahiti…it was like training for this.  To go from surfing he heaviest wave in the world, to this wave that is the heaviest wave in Indonesia, gives me a big advantage I think.  Tahiti was a dream come true for me, so now I’ve come from one dream to another.”

Tai “Buddha” Graham (Australia):  “It’s the no restraints vibe of this thing that I dig, the natural setting here, in the water and out. It’s like just going surfing but with an edge.  Our whole surfing world is watching, so you want to bring your best. “

Chris Ward (America):  “I just criss-crossed half of the Indonesian archipelago to be here…full on planes, trains, and automobiles kind of thing from West Sumbawa.   I only got about 3 hours sleep last night before jumping on the boat this morning.  But the pay off has been damn great already.  This is my first time here, and believe me it won’t be my last!”

Matt George, Editor in Chief of Surftime Magazine and the brainchild behind this unique free surfing tournament, was as stoked as the surfers were today.  He revels in thinking outside the box and creating something that inspires high performance in a non-traditional forum.   “The fact that these surfers show up and lay down their own money in this winner-take-all tournament means that they have the confidence to bet on themselves to win.  It’s like Texas Hold Em on surfboards, and the chips are all in the pot now.  With a huge swell due to come in over night and the waves are predicted to be 3 meters plus, I can’t wait to see where those chips will fall tomorrow.”

After a well-earned dinner, the surfers and crew gathered for a briefing on tomorrow’s agenda, together with an impassioned speech by Matt George on the environmental issues facing the world and how each of us needs to take responsibility for it.

Finally, each surfer was asked to put their thumbprint and signature on a special blank manifesto as their commitment to the Source to the Sea program, serving as their personal vow to participate in a very special river cleanup project where they will all roll up their sleeves to pitch in and help clean up an Indonesian waterway in need, helping to raise awareness of the importance of clean Indonesian waterways and a cleaner ocean.

Tomorrow will see the conclusion of this special gathering at Grajagan in East Java, with the anticipation of one of the biggest swells of the year bringing epic waves for the surfers to test themselves against….not each other, but against themselves, giving them the chance to push past their known boundaries…putting it all on the table…putting up or shutting up. 

Stay tuned….

Photos:

1.  Mustofa Jeksen dropping in on a G-Land bomb (Hain)

2.   Chris Ward blasts the top off a sizeable set wave at G-Land (Frieden)

3.  Mustofa Jeksen just where he wants to be – getting barreled (Frieden)

4.  The crew gathers on Kuta Beach in Bali, preparing for departure (Frieden)

5.  Serious anticipation on the speed run across the Java Strait (Frieden)

6.  SurfTime’s Editor and Chief Matt George giving final instructions to the surfers (Hain)

7.  Coca-Cola ISC President Director Tipi Jabrik signs Source to the Sea Manifesto (Hain)

The Put Up or Shut Up/Source to the Sea One-Day Surf Tournament is presented by the Coca-Cola Indonesian Surfing Championships and Surftime Magazine with accommodations and transportation furnished by Bobby’s G-Land Camp and refreshments by Coca-Cola Amatil Indonesia.

For more information and press inquires, please contact:

Tim Hain

Media and Communications

Coca-Cola Indonesian Surfing Championships

HP: +628123606674

Email:  tim@isctour.com

About the Coca-Coca Indonesian Surfing Championships

The Coca-Cola Indonesian Surfing Championships is the sanctioning body for professional surfing in Indonesia.  The ISC was established in 2004 to provide surfing athletes with a consistent, legitimate, and respected forum where they can compete and measure themselves against their peers, a stepping-stone towards their ultimate goal of becoming a professional surfer at the international level

With the support of Coca-Cola Amatil Indonesia, through organized surfing competitions, the Coca-Cola ISC seeks to grow the awareness of the sport of surfing in Indonesia and throughout the Asian region for the benefit of the surfers, their community, their environment, their nation and the surfing industry.  Find out more at www.istour.com

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Tim Hain
Media and Communications
Coca-Cola Indonesian Surfing Championship Tour - Asian Surfing Championship Tour

CV. Selancar Indonesia (ISC)
Jl. Raya Kuta No. 21
Pertokoan Kuta Raya Blok 9 Abian Base
Kuta, Bali 80361
INDONESIA
Phone/Fax: +62 361 768293
Mobile: +62 8123606674
Email: tim@isctour.com
www.isctour.com

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