Rio Waida’s got what it takes. Photo: YouTube//Screenshot
At most surf breaks, there’s still a bit of a crew of locals. Maybe even a few crews of locals, each thinking they’re more local than the other. Surfing is a crowded thing these days though, so it’s tough to stand out. But Rio Waida does, even in Indonesia, a place often filled with incredible surfers.
Waida, who calls Jimbaran Beach, Bali, his home, has been making moves in recent years. He’s currently prepping for the 2025 Championship Tour after ending ninth in 2024, with a runner-up finish at Fiji.
His skill has been clear for a long time now — Ross Williams said a few years ago that he was “the best surfer not on tour” — and now he’s making that prophecy come true as one of the best surfers on tour.
Surfers of Bali put together some of his highlights from 2024, and it’s proof that he’s a serious hazard to anyone who draws him in a heat.
