How The Corona Bali Pro Became Protected

What’s in a name? In the case of the incoming CT comp in Bali, it turns out quite a lot.

Announced today, the WSL and event sponsor, Corona, are making an important pivot: The Corona Bali Pro will now be called the Corona Bali Protected.

Why the shift in semantics?

Well, the current state of Balinese beaches is downright appalling.

Surfing’s once utopic Garden of Eden has become a tragic carpet of human flotsam and jetsam. The upcoming contest is planting a flag in the ground, endeavouring to not only run a clean event, but also hoping to spark great environmental action and awareness amongst surf fans.

Backed by Corona and supported by NGO’s Parley for the Oceans and WSL PURE, a number of beach cleanups will run in conjunction with the comp, furthermore the event itself will be 100-percent free of single-use plastics and will put various recycling initiatives centerstage. The comp site will also serve as a hub for immersive experiences and discussion about the pollution threatening the world’s oceans.

But perhaps the most intriguing part of this whole eco push is the Corona Highline speciality heat. It will feature recycled jerseys and boards, as well as Bureo fins made from recycled plastic – mimicking the Highline heat which ran at Bells this year and J-Bay previously. 

The Parley Ocean Plastic program, which gives “plastic waste new life in ways that reduce the use of virgin plastics and catalyze awareness,” recently partnered up with Adidas to release the first-ever line of footwear made from upcycled plastics. They also have a line of jerseys in the works. And now, by teaming up with the WSL and introducing the concept of upcycled surf gear to a worldwide audience, they’re hoping to connect with a group that’s certainly on the frontlines of ocean pollution: surfers.

The thinking goes that if spry young bucks like John John and Italo can make the sleds look good, a lot more people may be open to the idea of making their next board a sustainable one. Corona and Parley have already begun work on other projects, specifically in the Maldives.

Hopefully, this is the beginning of a higher consciousness and connection between pro surfing and the health of our oceans… because wavepools aren’t the answer.