Mega Semadhi Claims 2016 Rip Curl Padang Padang Cup

Bali, Indonesia (Tuesday, August 2, 2016) –  In an event dominated by the international invitees, Mega Semadhi was the lone local Indonesian surfer to reach the final of the 2016 Rip Curl Cup at Padang Padang. But when the final horn sounded, it was Mega who came out on top, claiming his second title in the past three times the Ultimate Tuberiding Contest has been held.

After a slow start in his opening round heat in which he took off on several smaller closeouts, Semadhi eventually found his rhythm. He would manage to survive the opening rounds and go on to win his semifinal heat with a perfect 10 and the highest heat total of the round. In the final, Semadhi won the heat with a 9 and sealed the deal with another perfect 10 with six minutes remaining, leaving Mason Ho (HAW) and Clay Marzo (HAW) comboed, and Damien Hobgood (USA) needing a 9.41 that he could never find. In the end, Mega was hoisted to victory in front of a raucous crowd, followed by Hobgood in second place, Ho in third and Marzo in fourth.

“My first heat I was really nervous and was really sloppy,” said Mega, who previously won the 2013 Rip Curl Cup. “I was going on small waves, bad waves and whitewash. Luckily I got my head together and got through and was able to get into a rhythm the rest of the contest.”

At the outset, international invitees Hobgood, Marzo and Ho looked like the surfers to beat in the event. Hobgood dominated the opening rounds, winning both his Round 1 and 2 heats and posting the highest heat total of the opening rounds. Ho meanwhile put together a spectacular performance, capping off multiple deep backhand drainers with skate-inspired aerials on the end section and wowing the massive crowds on hand at Padang Padang and watching on the webcast.

“This is one of the best contests in the world,” Ho said, “right beside the Pipe Masters and The Eddie. I wish I had the words to describe how much fun that was.”

It certainly was another epic showcase for the Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang. The day saw four perfect 10 barrels, including an impossibly deep and long disappearing act by Bruce Irons in Round 2, another perfect 10 by Paulo Moura (BRA), and five 9+ point barrels from Marzo leading up to the final.

But in the end, despite the electrifying performances from the many big-name international surfers in the draw, it was the local boy Semadhi who once again kept the Cup in Bali, to the delight of the Padang Padang locals who sang a spirited rendition of the Indonesian national anthem, led by Semadhi’s mother on the awards podium. For Mega, however, the victory wasn’t about country or patriotism, but about celebrating his beloved Padang Padang.

“I’m so happy to win at my home break again,” Mega said. “But from my point of view, there is no local. We are all locals of this universe and today we are all locals at Padang Padang.”

2016 Rip Curl Cup Final Results:

1. Mega Semadhi (IND) 19.00
2. Damien Hobgood (USA) 16.60
3. Mason Ho (HAW) 15.50
4. Clay Marzo (HAW) 4.00

Rip Curl Cup Set To Run Tuesday, Aug 2

INTERNATIONAL,

The world’s best tube riders convened at Padang Padang on Sunday to bless the 2016 Rip Curl Cup with a traditional Balinese style ceremony. If the latest swell arrives as forecast, their prayers could be answered tomorrow.

READ MORE

CLICK HERE FOR HI-RES PRESS IMAGES

Caption: 2014 World Champion Gabriel Medina showing Garut Widiarta a thing or two about composure in the tube in the lead up to the 2016 Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang. Image: Rip Curl Asia

Coolangatta, Queensland/AUS (Friday, July 29, 2016) – Garut Widiarta figured the best way to prepare for the toughest contest of his life would be to train with a world-class sparring partner – or two. So the reigning Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang champion, who will defend his title in August against the most lethal lineup of invited surfers in the event’s history, called up good friends fellow Rip Curl Searchers Gabriel Medina and Matt Wilkinson to train this past week at a remote jungle reef pass known for serving up some of Indonesia’s longest and most powerful barrels.

Wilkinson, currently sitting atop the WSL world rankings, and Medina, the 2014 world champion and current world No. 3, were in a similar position as their friend Garut: looking to stay sharp heading into the next WCT event at Teahupo’o in a few weeks (Aug 19 – 30). The WCT pack leaders jumped at the opportunity for a Teahupo’o dress rehearsal with Garut in some heart-racing reefbreak barrels.

“The wave Garut invited us to surf for the swell was really good to prepare for Tahiti,” Medina said. “It was similar to Teahupo’o: it was a left; it was shallow; and it was powerful. We got some good barrels and it was perfect training for Tahiti.”


Caption: Current Championship Tour rankings leader Matt Wilkinson saw this trip as a great oppertunity to warm up for the upcoming CT event at Teahupoo, Tahiti. Image: Rip Curl Asia

After trading 8-foot jungle barrels back and forth for the duration of the swell, the sparring partners returned to Bali over the weekend, and on Monday Garut invited them to Rip Curl Asia headquarters to learn more about this year’s Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang and show off his trophy as reigning champion. After reviewing the lineup of invited surfers to this year’s event, Wilkinson said he’s keen to have a go in the near future.

“I’ve been watching it the past couple years and I wish we could surf in it,” Wilkinson said of the prestigious WSL invitational event. “Last year Owen (Wright) and I had the opportunity to surf Padang during the waiting period with some of the competitors for the Expression Session. I’d love to compete in it one day. I’m a big fan of the way they have such a long time frame for the comp to wait for a perfect swell and get the wave at its very best.”


Caption: These three know a thing or two about lifting trophies. Image: Rip Curl Asia

With the WSL officially adding the Rip Curl Cup to its stable of world-class surfing events in 2016, CT surfers such as Medina and Wilkinson could potentially meet Indonesia’s finest surfers like Garut in the coming years at Padang.

“The invite list includes some pretty epic names, and you can’t count the locals out at this wave,” Wilkinson said. “Hopefully one day I can join them and compete here.”

The Rip Curl Cup trials are slated to run at Padang on the best day of surf conditions this week (waves permitting) and the opening ceremony is set for Sunday, July 31 at 3 PM local time. A potential contest swell is already looming for the start of the holding period (the window runs from Aug. 1-31), and contest directors and official event forecasters at Coastalwatch.com are monitoring the swell closely and could change the official event status to amber, or “on call,” by Friday.

With the contest potentially running as early as next Tuesday (Aug. 2), Garut is battle-tested and ready for his title defense. Meanwhile, his training partners Medina and Wilkinson will be watching to see how Garut’s preparation pays off.

“I’ll be watching the webcast, for sure,” Medina said. “I always watch the comps, especially this one because Padang Padang is such a good wave and there’s some good surfers and interesting matchups. I’m rooting for Garut to take the win again this year and keep the trophy at home in Bali.”

The 2016 Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang will be webcast live to the world atlive.ripcurl.com. Fans can also visit the site to check real-time contest status and video updates from Bali.

The 2016 Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang will be webcast live to the world at live.ripcurl.com and www.WorldSurfLeague.com or check out the WSL app. Fans can also visit both sites to check real-time contest status and video updates from Bali.

Watch the official 2016 event trailer here

Rip Curl Cup on High Alert for Potential Tuesday Start

INTERNATIONAL,

The world’s greatest tube riders are on their way to Bali for the Rip Curl Cup at Padang Padang – and so is the swell.

The 16 invited surfers to the Rip Curl Cup will gather at Bali’s most revered wave on Sunday (July 31) for the event's opening ceremony, heat draw and blessing. Meanwhile, a large Indian Ocean groundswell is currently following them to Padang Padang and contest directors are targeting a potential Tuesdaymorning (Aug. 2) start to run the hallowed Rip Curl Cup.

READ MORE

Rip Curl Cup Event Updates

CLICK HERE FOR HI-RES PRESS IMAGES

Caption:  Former Pipe Master Jamie O'Brien (HAW) is one of the high profile internationals that will be attending the Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang in 2016. Image: Rip Curl Asia

Coolangatta, Queensland/AUS (Tuesday, July 26, 2016) – A three-time World Champion, five Championship Tour (CT) event champions and four Indonesian national champions are among the all-star lineup of surfers vying for the 2016 Rip Curl Cup at Padang Padang. 

Rip Curl have officially announced the 16 surfers invited to compete in this year’s event, to be held on the best day of waves at Padang Padang during the month of August (the official waiting period runs from Aug. 1 – Aug 31).

Among the world’s best surfers preparing to push the limits of tube-riding in pursuit of the prestigious title are three-time world champion Tom Curren (USA), North Shore charger Mason Ho (HAW) and former CT superstar and style icon Bruce Irons (HAW). Among the surfing luminaries representing Indonesia are defending Rip Curl Cup champion Garut Widiarta, Indonesian surfing ambassador Rizal Tandjung and two-time Indonesian champion Lee Wilson.

With the WSL officially adding the Rip Curl Cup to its calendar of world-class surf contests in 2016, it was inevitable that this year’s contest would feature the most potent cast of surfing all-stars in its 13-year history. In addition to Curren, Ho and Irons, goofyfoot tube assassins Damien Hobgood (USA) and Clay Marzo (HAW) will also be making their inaugural assaults on the Padang Cup. Meanwhile, reigning Rip Curl Cup champion and pride of Balinese surfing Garut Widiarta said he welcomes all challengers.

“The Rip Curl Cup is a unique contest,” Widiarta said. “The invitational format means there are no ‘easy heats’ for anyone. If you look at last year’s bracket, every matchup in the first round could have been a final. It’s a challenge that myself and every other Indo surfer is excited to meet. I’m ready to defend my title against anyone.”

Following is the complete surfer lineup for the 2016 Rip Curl Cup:

International Surfers:

1. Tom Curren (USA)
2. Pat Curren (USA)
3. Mason Ho (HAW)
4. Damien Hobgood (USA)
5. Bruce Irons (HAW)
6. Clay Marzo (HAW)
7. Jamie O'Brien (HAW)
8. Dillon Perillo (USA)
9. Jack Robinson (AUS)
10. Bruno Santos (BRA)
11. Jacob Willcox (AUS)
12. Tim Bisso (FRA)

Note: Only 8 international surfers will receive a spot in the event; entry granted on first-come, best-dressed basis.

Indonesian Surfers:
1. Bol Adi Putra
2. Raditya Rondi
3. Mega Semadhi
4. Rizal Tandjung
5. Usman Trioko
6. Garut Widiarta
7. Lee Wilson
8. TBD (winner of local trials)

The final remaining invitation will go to the winner of the local trials, to be held at Padang on the best day of surf conditions between July 25 and July 30 (Note: If the waves at Padang don’t meet Rip Curl Cup standards for the trials, the previous year’s trials winner will gain entry to the main event). The winner of the trials, featuring a hotbed of Indonesian surfing talent including Oney Anwar, Darmaputra Tonjo and Marlon Gerber among others, will gain entry to the main event and the chance to compete for one of the most coveted titles in surfing.

The “Padang 16” will gather on the sands of Padang Padang on July 31 to participate in the time-honored opening ceremony, blessing and heat draw. Surf fans will undoubtedly be salivating to see what big names wind up going head to head in Round 1 matchups.

“Since the early days at Bells Beach and the Easter Pro, Rip Curl has always worked to provide a ‘Gathering of the Tribe’ to showcase the cutting edge of surfing performance,” Rip Curl Southeast Asia marketing manager James Hendy said. “The Rip Curl Cup at Padang is the modern version of that tradition, and we are thrilled to bring the most innovative barrel riding show of the year to a global audience.”

The “Padang 16” and fans around the world now turn their attention to Coastalwatch.com, official surf forecaster for the 2016 Rip Curl Cup. When the Coastalwatch forecast team and event directors identify the optimal “Padang swell” brewing in the Indian Ocean, the green light will be given and the world’s best tuberiders will convene at Padang Padang to battle it out for the world to enjoy. The contest will be run entirely on one epic day of waves falling between Aug 1 and Aug 31. 

The 2016 Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang will be webcast live to the world atlive.ripcurl.com. Fans can also visit the site to check real-time contest status and video updates from Bali.

The 2016 Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang will be webcast live to the world at live.ripcurl.com and www.WorldSurfLeague.com or check out the WSL app. Fans can also visit both sites to check real-time contest status and video updates from Bali.

CLICK HERE FOR HI-RES PRESS IMAGES

Caption:  Last time the Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang ran it was taken out by local charger Garut Widiarta. Image: Mick Curley

Coolangatta, Queensland/AUS (Wednesday, July 6, 2016) – The World Surf League is excited to announce they will be teaming up with Rip Curl as part of the 2016 Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang at the wave also known as the ‘Indonesian Pipeline’ on Bali’s beautiful Bukit Peninsula. 

It will be the first time the WSL have been apart of the event, which is running for its 13th year. In a unique format, the WSL ‘Specialty Event’ will have a waiting period that will run for the entire month of August. The event it self only takes one day to run, meaning contest directors have a month to pick the most perfect swell and dreamy conditions to run Bali’s ultimate tube-riding contest. 

Being the longest running professional surfing contest in Indonesia, having the WSL on board as a sanctioning partner was a no-brainer according to Rip Curl Southeast Asia Marketing Manager James Hendy.

“Since day one, the Rip Curl Cup has been committed to three basic principles: the world’s greatest tube-riders, competing at Bali’s premier wave, on the best swell of the year,” Hendy said. “It was only natural for the Rip Curl Cup and the WSL to join forces. Through their expertise and global media network, we’re looking forward to bringing the magic of Padang Padang to an even wider global audience in 2016.”


Caption:  A backlit bomb rolls through at Padang Padang groomed by the Bukit Peninsula's all-day off-shores :Image: Mick Curley

Local surfer and Padang Pagang standout Garut Widiarta is the defending Rip Curl Cup champion. Although dominating during every swell at his home break, Widiarta is always nervous about taking on the best tube-riders on the planet.

“I’ve been lucky to surf in every single Rip Curl Cup, and somehow the talent level continues to go up every year,” Widiarta said. “Every year I’m freaking out about competing against these guys at my home break and the opportunity to represent Indonesian surfing on the global stage. Every surfer in this contest is a threat to win it. Without a doubt this will be the most difficult event of the year for me, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. You want the chance to defend your title against the very best in the world.”


Caption:  Garut Widiarta with one of the most prestigious trophy's in world surfing: Mick Curley

The name Ho in surfing is synonymous with threading huge barrels, particularly on The North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii. In recent years, one of the youngest of the Ho dynasty, Mason, has been a standout during the Indonesian swell season. It is no surprise then that he will compete in his first Rip Curl Padang Cup in 2016.

“I still remember the last time the CT came to Padang for the Rip Curl Pro Search in ’08 and watching the performances by Bruce and Andy Irons – and of course Kelly Slater’s switchfoot transition in the barrel,” Ho said. “As a fan of surfing, I’m excited the Rip Curl Padang Cup is officially bringing WSL competition back to the Balinese Pipeline. As an athlete, I’m even more excited to be competing this year. An invitation to the Rip Curl Padang Cup is one of the greatest honors you can receive.”

“In the same way Hawaii is the spiritual home of big-wave surfing, Indonesia is like the spiritual home of tube-riding. That’s a big part of the allure of the Rip Curl Padang Cup,” Ho said. “Just look at the list of past winners, guys like Chris Ward and Jamie O’Brien, and living legends from Indonesia like Lee Wilson and Garut. If you can win this contest, you’ll be recognized as one of the craziest tube-riders of all time.”


Caption:  Mega Semahdi is one to watch when the swell is up at Padang Padang: Mick Curley

New for 2016, the Rip Curl Cup will feature the most exclusive field in event history: just 16 invited surfers; eight of Indonesia’s finest and eight of the world’s elite. The official invite list will be announced on July 18th. 

Contest organisers have adjusted the event format in 2016, so that after the two opening rounds, all heats will be man-on-man to eliminate hassling for waves and ensure that it's all about who can come out of the craziest barrels. With the unknown variables involved in surfing contests and dealing with nature and the ocean, the new Rip Curl Padang Cup format will ensure a fairer playing field and increased opportunity for action.

“We continue to refine the Rip Curl Padang Cup, and this year that means tweaking the format of the opening rounds to guarantee each surfer gets to surf at least two heats at Padang, Hendy said. “This means no one-and-done surfer exits because of bad luck or freak variables. Most importantly, it means fans around the world will get to watch their favorite surfer, whether it’s Bruno Santos or Bruce Irons, get dialed in at Padang and see just how deep in the barrel they can push themselves.”

The 2016 Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang will be webcast live to the world at live.ripcurl.com and www.WorldSurfLeague.com or check out the WSL app. Fans can also visit both sites to check real-time contest status and video updates from Bali.