Mega Semadhi Takes Quiksilver Open Phuket Thailand Win and Raditya Rondi Crowned 2012 Asian Surfing Champion

16 September 2012, Patong Beach-Phuket: Topping a long list of highlights in the four days of non-stop surfing and extreme sports action at the Quiksilver Open Phuket Thailand, Bali’s Mega Semadhi took out the ASC/ISC Open Division final yesterday for his first contest win this year, while reigning Men’s Asian Surfing Champion Raditya Rondi (also from Bali, Indonesia) hoisted his second consecutive ASC Championship trophy as a result of his second place finish behind Semadhi.

“I’m feeling so stoked right now,” said Semadhi in his post-final interview. “Actually I’m so tired of getting second, finally I got a first! Pretty stoked, thanks to God, thanks to everyone, the judges and boys, my family and my fiancé. So stoked!”

Samadhi takes home a check for $1,700 USD plus Asian Surfing Championship and Indonesian Surfing Championship points that will contribute to his rankings in both circuits.

Ronda, who hails from Kura Beach in Bali, Indonesia was equally stoked with his second consecutive Asian Surfing Championship Men’s Open title, saying, “I’m was so proud to be the first Asian Surfing Champion and now to repeat that and win it again is an even bigger honor, I’m so thankful to my family and my sponsor and my friends for supporting me. Thanks also to the ASC for giving us this tour where we can surf and compete around Asia, and come to awesome places like here in Puget.”

It was a tense and exciting 25 minute Men’s Open final with a lot at stake, especially for Raditya Rondi and Lee Wilson, both in the race for the 2012 Coca-Cola Indonesian Surfing Championship title with one event remaining. If Wilson were to win the Quiksilver Open Phuket, he would win the 2012 Indonesian Championship title, his 3^rd. Anything less and the title wouldn’t be decided until next month at the final event in Kuta Beach, Bali, with runner up Rondi still smarting from being narrowly edged out by Marlon Gerber last year.

With the crowd on the beach glued to every surfer’s move on every wave coming through in the afternoon sun, Mega jumped out to a commanding lead, consistently launching and landing aerial maneuvers like he was on autopilot. Both Wilson and Rondi appeared to be feeling the pressure, with Wilson landing an aerial for a 4.5 point score with his first wave and then failing to find anything until near the end of the final, sitting in fourth place for most of the 25 minutes. Rondi struggled until midway through the heat, when he finally shook off the nerves and banged out a couple of scores to grab 3^rd place. Made Darmayasa meanwhile was sitting comfortably in 2^nd spot, feeling no pressure and just having fun.

Then it all came down to the final minutes, when Wilson smashed out a 7.0 score on a left hand runner, which got him up into second place and needing a wave score of only 5.3 points to win the contest. But with just seconds to go before the horn blew Rondi caught his last wave and blasted away. Everybody on the beach as well as the finalists waited in anticipation for the MC to call out the score, as Rondi needed better than a 6.0 to get into second place…after about 10 minutes anxiety, the score was announced…a 6.1! So Rondi was up into second place, Wilson down into third place, meaning the Indonesian title will be decided at the final contest of the year in Kuta Beach next month.

Quiksilver SEA CEO Paul Hutson was down on the beach watching the action close up, and couldn’t have been happier. “Can you believe all the drama in this final, it’s crazy,” he exclaimed. “The boys were absolutely ripping out there. Did you hear all the cheering up in the stands and on the beach? I have to say this is probably the most exciting final with one of the best crowds I’ve seen in a long time. It’s been a super event for sure…we’ve had some weather challenges along the way but I think that just made it more fun in the end. We’ve seen great surfing with the best surfers in Asia here this week, great skate and BMX action from the Australian and American DC teams, 5-time Women’s World Surfing Champion Stephanie Gilmore and amazing free surfer Ry Craike giving surf clinics and doing expression session….I can’t think of anything we’ve left out. Big thanks to Surached and his Quiksilver Thailand team, the sponsors, and the ASC/ISC crew for a super event. We’ve come a long way in four years since we sponsored our first event here in Thailand, and it just keeps getting better. Great job everyone!”

And it certainly was one of the most exciting as well as challenging events of the 2012 Asian Surfing Championship season, with a few major rain squalls threatening to blow apart the judging tower on several occasions, but there were always waves and the surfers put on exciting and impressive performances over the four day event.

The final day began with Grommet Division (under 16 year old surfers) action, where Phuket’s own wunderkind 14-year old Annissa Flynn from Kata Beach bested the boys to win the division. She went straight into the Women’s Division and took that win as well, coming into the beach to receive the 2012 Asian Surfing Championship Women’s title! An amazing feat for a girl that’s only been surfing for 5 years. From the podium at the evening awards presentation after receiving the trophy from Quiksilver’s Stephanie Gilmore, she said, “I’m so happy, I can’t tell you how happy I am to win this title. It’s like insane that in 5 years I’m now the Asian champion!”

Gilmore complemented Flynn saying, “I think this is a really special moment for Thailand, to have a local Thai champion. It’s an amazing award for you, to beat the boys and the girls! She added “Thanks to Quiksilver and all of their team, and everyone who has put their time and effort into such a wonderful event. This is my first time to Thailand and I’m so impressed, everybody’s been so welcoming, and I’m really looking forward to coming back here soon. Congratulations!”

Other highlights of the day included Bali’s Wayan “Cupak” Widiarta winning the Masters Division and Arip “Mencos” Nurhidayat and Luke Landrigan going head to head in the Longboard Division with Mencos coming out on top and winning his 2^nd consecutive ASC Longboard title.

While the surfing was going on, celebrity surf lessons were given by Ry Craike and Stephanie Gilmore and the DC Tour skate and BMX teams were wowing the spectators on the sidewalk with their radical moves like jumping over motorbikes, doing flips and all kinds of other tricks.

The full day ended with the awards presentations held in the Phuket Graceland Hotel, as the beachside venue that had been prepared was awash with torrential rain and howling winds, so everything had to be moved indoors. With plenty of food and copious amounts of Chang beer at the ready, nobody was disappointed in the least.

To see a video of the final day action, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpbK-DyaQ6o

and for heat draws, scores, photos and more, http://www.isctour.com/events/Quik-Thailand

Quiksilver Open Phuket Thailand Results:

ASC/ISC Men’s Open Division

1. Mega Semadhi (INA)

2. Raditya Rondi (INA)

3. Lee Wilson (INA)

4. Darmayasa (INA)

ASC/ISC Women’s Division

1. Annissa Flynn (THA)

2. Yasnyiar “Bonne” Gea (INA)

3. Salini Rengganis (INA)

4. Gemala Hanafiah (INA)

ASC/ISC Longboard Division

1. Arip “Mencos” Nurhidayat (INA)

2. Luke Landrigan (PHP)

3. Tipi Jabrik (INA)

4. Wenling Chou (TWN)

ASC/ISC Masters Division

1. Wayan Widiarta (INA)

2. Graham Raisbeck (AUS)

3. Made Lana (INA)

4. Michael Anthony (AUS)

Grommet Division

1. Annissa Flynn (THA)

2. Rory McDonald (TWN)

3. Panu Wisetsombat (THA)

4. Pancho Schneider (THA)

The Quiksilver Open Phuket Thailand was sponsored by Quiksilver Thailand, Yamaha, D.A.D., Nok Air, Chang, the Phuket Graceland Resort & Spa, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand, with partners the Phuket Province, the Patong Municipality, Phuket Best Event, and supported by Surfing Thailand, the Asian Surfing Championships, the Coca-Cola Indonesian Surfing Championships, Very TV, HOT FM, and the Green Channel. International media support provided by the ASC includes: Surfersvillage.com, MyLifeonBoard.net, Balibelly.tv, Baliwaves.com, Lines Magazine, Surftime Magazine, Magic Wave Surf Community Newspaper, Royal Video Magazine, Alam TV Bali, and the Outdoor Channel.

For more information contact:

Quiksilver Thailand:

Surached Munghtong, General Manager

Phone: +668194075385

Email: surached@quiksilver.in.th

Surfing Thailand:

Chanin “Joob” Aiyarak, President

Phone: +66819565854

Email: joob@surfingthailand.org

Asian Surfing Championships/Coca-Cola Indonesian Surfing Championships

Michaela Partin, Tour Manager

Phone: +6281805584486