Rip Curl GromSearch returns to the roots at Padma Beach, Bali this weekend
June 6, 2012
Kuta, Bali, Indonesia – After three successful years at the long cobblestone right point break of Medewi, the Rip Curl GromSearch will return to Padma Beach in Kuta for the Bali leg of the 2012 Rip Curl GromSearch Series on Sunday, June 10.
After scoring incredible – and sometimes heavy – waves and discovering a whole new pack of dedicated groms at the first two GromSearch events of the season in Pacitan, Java and Lakey Peak, Sumbawa, the Rip Curl crew brings the fun to Bali for stop No. 3 of the 2012 Rip Curl Southeast Asia GromSearch Series.
Finda ripping at Lakey Peak.
The Bali GromSearch is always a hotbed of talent and sees the top grom surfers from all over the island, including Kuta, Legian, Uluwatu, Serangan, Nusa Dua, and Keramas, show up to strut their stuff. Last year's Southeast Asia GromSearch Series champion, Ediana Putra, began his journey to Bells Beach and the Rip Curl International GromSearch Final, by qualifying at the Bali GromSearch.
Last year's Bali GromSearch saw a record turnout as some 70 groms signed up for the day’s competition in Medewi. The majority of them came from the Bali area, but there were even some international groms from Australia, Brazil, Hawaii, Portugal, and Sweden. This year keep an eye out for flaring groms like Raju Sena (Padma), Koko Mitsuantara (Nusa Dua) and Tommy Sobri (Pecatu).
The youngsters will be surfing in the footsteps of some amazing surfers who have emerged from Padma's storied sandbars, including Bali surfing legend Made Kasim, original member of the Black Shorts surf crew Ketut Jarut, and brothers Darmaputra and Darmayasa Tonjo.
“Padma is such a good wave for developing your surfing,” Rip Curl team rider Darmaputra Tonjo said. “It can be all types of a wave: left, right, barrel, air section. I'm excited to see how the best grom surfers in Bali perform at my home break on Sunday.”
Crowning Ceremony at the national finals last year.
At stake for the Under-16 groms competing at Padma is the coveted “Ticket to Bali.” The winner and the runner-up in the Under-16 division will receive an all-expenses paid trip to compete in the Rip Curl SEA GromSearch Final, held during the Rip Curl Surf and Music Festival at Kuta Beach, Bali, Oct. 20-21.
The crowd at the Surf & Music Festival last year, 2011.
The top two regional finishers will also be invited to participate in a week-long Rip Curl GromSearch National Training Camp, the week prior to the National Finals, where they will receive top-notch instruction from Rip Curl's world-class team of professional riders (transportation, lodging, meals and spending money is all provided to the groms courtesy of Rip Curl).
There is no entrance fee for participation in Rip Curl GromSearch events, and all contestants receive a free Rip Curl goody bag, Rip Curl T-shirt and hat. They are also given instruction on environmental issues by local environmental group GUS (Yasasan Gelombang Udara Segar), as well as the chance to participate in fun and educational games, and win cool prizes from the GromSearch sponsors.
Surfers under age 16 can sign up to participate in the GromSearch at any Rip Curl store in Bali or by filling out the online entry form at: www.asia.ripcurl.com/?
About the Rip Curl GromSearch
Already in its ninth year, Rip Curl’s GromSearch series is the longest running competitive junior surfing series in South East Asia, having started in Bali in 2004. GromSearch has produced several of Indonesia’s best surfers, including 2010 Indonesian Open Champion Putra Hermawan and wunderkind Oney Anwar, the only Indonesian to win an ASP pro junior event, the Dripping Wet Pro Junior 2010 in Sydney Australia.
The Rip Curl GromSearch Series is sanctioned by the Coca-Cola Indonesian Surfing Championships, and all contestants receive ISC Junior Division Championship points at each event. The Under-16-year-old-surfer with the most points accumulated through all junior events at the end of the year will become the Indonesian Junior Surfing Champion.
The Rip Curl GromSearch series is sponsored by: Beach Hut, Skullcandy, GUS and Shapers, with media support by TRAX Magazine, Alam TV Bali, SurfTime Magazine, Lines Magazine, Magic Wave Surf Community Newspaper, Baliwaves.com, Surfersvillage.com, and Balibelly.tv.
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