The 2014 Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang finished in spectacular fashion. At first light, it was apparent to event organizers that the contest would be run. Swell lines loomed on the horizon and the wind was offshore. Another prophecy by the oracles at Surfline would be fulfilled.
The international crop was lead by young Australian goofy foots Luke Hynd and Jacob Willcox, who both bowed out in the quarters. Local knowledge and competitive maturity proved to be superior to youthful passion and effortless style in these heats. Local Lee Wilson knocked out Willcox with an impressive 18.50 total and was looking like a favorite early on. As a two time event champion, his eventual semi-final loss was surprising.
The young Koki Hendrawan nearly pulled off the upset of the event by dropping a late 10 point ride on eventual winner Garut Widiarta. It was a bittersweet moment for Koki as he was unable to overcome the half of a point deficit to advance in the heat’s dying moments but will sleep well knowing he got one of (if not the) best barrel of the event. Hendrawan will be back next year.
As the tide dropped, the barrels became more fearsome and the harrowing end-section forced surfers to ride the razor’s edge between glory and the metaphorical precipice of long hold-downs and sharp reefs. The first finalist, Raditya Rondi, won his semifinal handily, but the second semi was not as close. Garut Widiarta took another heat with a 15 point total, this time by just over a point, advancing past skilled tube rider Mustafa Jekson. After a day of tremendous surfing, two Kuta natives (and cousins) would find themselves in the final.
Raditya took an early lead. Garut rode the first wave, impressing spectators and judges alike with a long, committed tube ride. Raditya went on the bigger, throatier, second wave. Frighteningly composed, he disappeared behind a thick lip on the inside and eventually emerged into the channel with a fit of enthusiasm. Garut would score an eight, while Rondi would post a nine. Garut posted a solid back-up wave to take the lead, and a flurry of sets ensued, making for a popcorn heat. Eventually Rondi scored a mid-eight to retake the lead, which he held until Garut took off on one of the day’s heaviest waves and did his disappearing act. As he performed the trick’s prestige and reappeared with lighting speed out of the barrel, the crowd roared with approval. For his hair-raising commitment, he was awarded a score less than a point shy of perfection, and was thus crowned the Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang Champion.
