This past weekend saw some of Indonesia’s top surfers battling it out for the 2017 Uluwatu boardriders title. Held in fun head high to overhead conditions, the contest, which is now in its third year, is as much a social gathering as it is a serious surf competition. This year was no different with all the big names and many more coming together to watch and compete at the famed break.

Mukhlis Anwar

Day one saw the most favorable conditions with offshore winds and swell making its way down the Bukit Peninsula, opening up the iconic 'Race section of the break’.  

Starting with the junior division the young guys battled it out for spots into the next round. The level of surfing that was going on from these guys was nothing short of spectacular with some serious power surfing coming from Legian’s Ketut Agus and Canggu’s Putu Andika. The local Bingin boy Tomy Sobry, never one to shy away from a barrel, also put on a radical tube show with some of the highest scores of the day.

The Masters and Open followed. With a dropping tide things really started to light up - there were more barrels then a whisky distillery. The usual standouts made use of the perfect conditions with some solid tubes being ridden by guys like Made Lana, Bol Adi Putra, and Garut Widika, to name just a few, which saw them advance into the next round.

Made Lana

Day two brought smaller, rainier conditions, and it also brought some upsets with big names like Bol Adi Putra and Bete Merta eliminated by only a couple points. Even though Bol didn't advance, his surfing was up there with some of the finest of the competition. The same could be said for Alik Ridiarta who nailed one of the best tubes of the event.

Finals day dawned with some of the biggest swell seen during the event but not the greatest wind to go with it.

The Junior final was an absolute nail biter with Tomy Sobry getting the score he needed to take the win in the dying minutes.

Tomy all smiles

By the time the Open division was in the water the Racetrack was living up to its name. Mega Semadhi and Garut Widiarta were the big stand outs with some serious tube trade off’s going down. In the end It was Garut who took the win with one of the bigger tubes of the day.

Garut in winning form.

"Feel’s so great!" said Garut after the win. "Surfing with my best friends at Uluwatu with no one else out. I have been friends with Mega since such a young age and we never take this comp too serious, it's just such fun to be out their with each other. It’s all good."

Results:

OPEN DIVISION
1st Garut Widiarta, 2nd Mega Semadhi, 3rd Muklis Anwar, 4th Nyoman Satriaa

PRO JUNIOR
1st Tommy Sobry, 2nd Wayan Andika, 3rd Andre Anwar,  4th Leonardo Barcelos

MASTERS
1st Made Lana, 2nd Lance Morris, 3rd Wayan Cupak Widyartha, 4th Pepen Hendrik

WOMENS
1st Kailani Johnson, 2nd Giada Legati, 3rd Puanani Johnson, 4th Taina Izquierdo

After the presentation I pulled Mega Semadhi aside to ask him a few quick questions about the event.

Chris Peel: How you rate the conditions for the competition this year compared to previous years?
Mega: It was good yah, but little bit too big for Racetrack. You want it to be like four foot max. There were a few sets that were too big but still a lot of good waves for the three days of the comp, and its always good when it’s just you and three other guys out.

Who do you think were the standouts this year?
Tommy Sobry for sure, he was next level. From day one he was on fire. Just the way he surfed and how he picked the waves, he was the guy to beat.

Do you think the event has grown over the years?
I think it’s the same, its just the contest concept for the crew in Bali. It’s really great you know because we don’t have a lot of events like this in Bali. It's a time to see all the other surfers from groms to the older guys and spend the weekend together and just hang out.

Mega locked in tight

How would you say the waves were in your final?
It was a fun heat you know, I just missed my strategy because with my plan I thought there was going to be more waves at the end of Racetrack where you could get the big scores. Garut managed to get the two best ones but you know it’s always fun to be in a heat with him. We grew up together surfing and traveling so it's always fun being in the water with him.

Where do you think the future is for the Uluwatu contest and how important is it for the surfers of Bali?
I think it will stay the same you know, just a fun contest for everyone to hang out. Maybe if they have a big sponsor they can have it set up like a QS event. You know it would be nice to have two events at Ulu’s, like one to hang out and practice and a proper WSL recognized one. It would be good for the future of surfing in Bali, you know there are a lot of good surfer’s here in Bali but they don’t have a lot of platform and exposure so I think it would be good for the Indo boys to have the opportunity to win a 1000 or 1500(tour points) and not have to spend a lot of money to travel and win points.

Big thanks to Uluwatu Boardrider’s and all the sponsors, we look forward to seeing everyone again next year.

Another big thanks to Project Clean Uluwatu.

//CHRIS PEEL