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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 2nd
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
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
--
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
For visitors on a longer stay in Bali, check out the affordable Bali hotels in Amed, Candi Dasa, Canggu, Lombok, Lovina, Nusa Lembongan, Tabanan and Tanah Lot.
