The World’s Finest Barrel Riders Will Surf The Rip Curl Cup At Padang Padang Today

After swell failed to materialise and the Rip Curl Cup was called off in 2015, today a “high alert” has been raised and one of the most entertaining competitions of the year is set to start at 6 am local time.

On Sunday, the likes of Jamie O’Brien, Bruce Irons, Clay Marzo, Mason Ho, Damien Hobgood a smattering of locals such as Rizal Tandjung, Lee Wilson and more convened at Padang Padang to consecrate the event in tradition Balinese stye – blessed by a Balinese priest at the Padang Padang temple and fit with traditional costumes, dance and ritual. Padang, originally named Labuan Sait, was a sacred place for the people of the Bukit Peninsula and Pecatu area and is now one of Indo’s most popular breaks.

Part religious, part artistic and connected to Hindu rituals. The opening ceremony for the Rip Curl Cup is unlike any other. Photo: Tim Ridenor

“I’m psyched to be a part of the Rip Curl Cup,” said Bruce. “I don’t do many contests, but this is the type of contest and the type of wave that I love to compete in. I love Bali. It’s the place where I won my only WCT comp at and it holds a special place in my heart.”

This year, the event features a new format. In round one and two all 16 invitees will surf a minimum of two four-man heats. Heat scores from round one and two will be totaled and the eight surfers with the highest combined scores will advance to the quarters, where the heats will switch to two-man heats.

“I like the new format for the first two rounds,” said perennial Rip Curl Cup invitee and Indonesian surfing icon Rizal Tandjung. “It gives everyone a fair chance to surf out there and get perfect Padang. With that fast-rising tide in the morning, some of those late morning heats won’t see as many chances to get the score as a heat on the lower tide. This new format gives everyone a chance to get in a rhythm and surf Padang at its best.”

After watching the QS kids and Filipe Toledo bunny hop around the Huntington Beach pier over the past nine days, it’ll be a pleasure to view some proper barrel cutting.

“Everyone in this contest is solid and every heat is gnarly,” said Rizal. “It just depends how consistent the swell and tides will be during your heat. Hopefully the swell comes through how they’re predicting it.”

Bol Adi Putra knows Padang as well as anyone. He’s won the event twice and has seen four finals at the Rip Curl Cup. Photo: D Hump

Round one:
Heat one: Lee Wilson, Bruce Irons, Agus “Blacky” Setiawan, Clay Marzo
Heat two: Garut Widiarta, Tim Bisso, Bol Adi Putra, Bruno Santos
Heat three: Raditya Rondi, Mason Ho, Usman Trioko, Damien Hobgood
Heat four: Mega Semadhi, Jamie O’Brien, Rizal Tandjung, Jacob Willcox

Round two: 
Heat one: Raditya Rondi, Bruce Irons, Agus “Blacky” Setiawan, Jacob Willcox
Heat two: Garut Widiarta, Mason Ho, Rizal Tandjung, Clay Marzo
Heat three: Lee Wilson, Jamie O’Brien, Usman Trioko, Bruno Santos
Heat four: Mega Semadhi, Tim Bisso, Bol Adi Putra, Damien Hobgood