Event Reports

A Perfect 10 on Day 2 of West Java Open 2010 for Betet Merta

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  CimajaBeach

  

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  Jasmine

  

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  Iis

  

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  Raditya Rondi

  

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  Betet

  

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  Betet

  

16 July 2010, Cimaja-West Java:  In an exciting come-from-behind win in Heat 6 of Round 3 today at the West Java Open 2010 supported by Quiksilver, Wayan “Betet” Merta dropped in to a perfectly lined up wave that proceeded to swallow him up and then spit him out for the first perfect 10 point score of the competition.

Merta (Bali) had been sitting in third place in a gripping heat between Dede Suryana (Cimaja), Made Awan (Bali) and Didin Hendriyana (Pangandaran) after making a poor maneuver selection on a great wave and falling off on a floater when he should have ducked into the barrel.  Then with Awan seemingly locked in second place with the previous high score of the day at 8 points and Suryana firmly in first place with a 7.0 and a 5.1, Betet got a second chance and was presented with one of the best waves of the morning in the final seconds of the heat and surfed it to perfection, winning the heat.

In an interview after Betet admitted to being very lucky.  “Man, I’m so happy right now. I got so lucky out there.  When I blew that other wave I thought it was all over, but then I saw that other one coming couldn’t believe it.  I was so lucky.  That was the first and only 10 point wave I’ve ever gotten.  Thanks to the judges, thanks God , thanks everybody.  I love this place,” he shouted to the crowd that had gathered to congratulate him.

The swell size had dropped somewhat from the previous day but there were still some 4-5 foot bombs rolling through with many perfectly shaped 3-4 footers giving the competitors excellent conditions for Round 3.

During the morning’s competition, with the exception of Dede Suryana and Sandi Slamet who are from Cimaja, the remaining competitors that will be competing in Round 4 tomorrow are from Bali.

Check out the heat draw attached for the lineup of tomorrow competitors, and you will see the best of Indonesia’s surfers going all out tomorrow in the race for the Rp 12.5 million first place prize purse and 3,000 Coca-Cola ISC championship points.

After Round 3 was completed, the Coca-Cola ISC Women’s Division competitors took to the water for their two semifinal heats, cheered on by the locals who rarely see women surfers in the water, let alone competing.

Jasmine from Bali and Iis from Pangandaran were the standouts, both winning their heats by bravely taking on the larger 3-4 foot sets and carving nice combinations of turns.

The Women’s final is scheduled to take place on Sunday, which will see Jasmine and Iis joined by Febrie Rahmaningsih (Sumatra) and last year’s Coca-Cola ISC Women’s Champion Yasnyiar Gea (Nias).

The West Java Open is a part of the West Java government’s tourism promotion initiative for 2010, supported by Vice Governor of West Java Mr. Yusuf M. Effendi, the Head of West Java Tourism Mr. Ir. H. Herdiwan MM, and the mayor of Sukabumi Mr. H. Dadang Hendar.  Mr. Diki Zulfikar from Cimaja is the Contest Director.
 
The West Java Open 2010 is sponsored/supported by the Tourism Department of West Java, Quiksilver SEA, Coca-Cola Amatil Indonesia, the Coca-Cola ISC Tour, DiDesa Hotel and Spa, and Hotel Augusta with media partners Spice, FHM, Cosmo Girl, Trax, Men’s Fitness, SurfTime, Magic Wave, and Lines.

If you can’t attend in person, follow all the action during the event via the Internet at www.isctour.com/events/cimaja and on Facebook at both Indonesian Surfing Championship and Quiksilver Indonesia, as well as on Twitter: iscprotour.

The West Java Open 2010 is sanctioned by the Coca-Cola Indonesian Surfing Championship Tour.

Text and Photos:  Tim Hain - Coca-Cola ISC Tour