High Alert: The Rip Curl Padang Cup Could Be ON This Monday

For a while there, it didn’t look like we’d get to watch 16 of our favorite swordsmiths play hidey-hole at Padang Padang.

But now, in the back third of the Rip Curl Padang Cup window, a sneaky southwest swell has reared its head, thanks to a compact system off the coast of Western Australia.

What this storm lacks in size, it makes up for with determination. An extended fetch will help carry the the swell toward Bali without forfeiting too much energy in the final stretch. Angle-wise, we’re looking at around 212 degrees, which is just within the ballpark for the necessary hook into Padang. Any smaller, or any more south, and we’d be SOL. But this dimorphic purple blob might just do the trick. 

At this point, we should mention that there’s been a slight change to the Padang Cup roster. As they’ve opted to join the raid at Area 51, Mick’s picks of Taj Burrow, Kai Otton, and Barron Mamiya will be unable to attend the event. Last year’s winner Jack Robinson is also out, but only because his girlfriend sent him a eggplant + peach + water droplets emoji and he booked the first flight to Brazil.

Taking their places will be… wait for it…. Clay Marzo(!) (the only man who can do a layback in a frontside tube), Nate Florence (2019 Cape Fear champion), Keito Matsuoka (2018/19 Wave of the Winter winner), and Lee Wilson (Bali’s punk prince). 

All up, it’s a pretty fair trade. We’re on Team Clay but feel free to pick your own winner. 

Oh, and don’t forget to catch the webcast live on Monday Bali time (that’s Sunday afternoon in America) at ripcurl.com.

ROUND 1
Heat 1
LEE WILSON (AUS)
GARUT WIDIARTA (IND)
KEITO MATSUOKA (JPN)
RADITYA RONDI (IND)

Heat 2
MASON HO (HAW)
MEGA SEMADHI (IND)
BENJI BRAND (SAF)
AGUS SUMERTAYASA (IND)

Heat 3
MATT WILKINSON (AUS)
MADE ADI PUTRA (IND)
CLAY MARZO (HAW)
KOKI HENDRAWAN (IND)

Heat 4
NATHAN FLORENCE (HAW)
AGUS SETIAWAN (IND)
SHELDON PAISHON (HAW)
MUSTOFA JEKSEN (IND)

ROUND 2
Heat 1
LEE WILSON (AUS)
AGUS SETIAWAN (IND)
CLAY MARZO (HAW)
AGUS SUMERTAYASA (IND)

Heat 2
MASON HO (HAW)
MADE ADI PUTRA (IND)
SHELDON PAISHON (HAW)
RADITYA RONDI (IND)

Heat 3
MATT WILKINSON (AUS)
MEGA SEMADHI (IND)
KEITO MATSUOKA (JPN)
MUSTOFA JEKSEN (IND)

Heat 4
NATHAN FLORENCE (HAW)
GARUT WIDIARTA (IND)
BENJI BRAND (SAF)
KOKI HENDRAWAN (IND)