Hard to believe Padang Padang isn’t a stop on the Championship Tour, huh? After a two-year, COVID-induced hiatus, the Rip Curl Cup is back, a celebration of deep and technical tuberiding at the “Balinese Pipeline.” This event is a unique one. With the intense focus on barrel-riding, the Trials and the single-day event each have a month-long waiting period. The Trials waiting period was from July 1-31, and the main event waiting period is from August 1-31 to ensure the best conditions possible.
The trials went down on Thursday, with a pretty interesting format. Thirty-two local surfers competed for eight spots in the Rip Curl Cup, where they’ll be joined by eight international invitees for a one-day surf-off. In the trials, each surfer had two, hour-long, eight-man, no-priority, non-elimination heats in near-perfect waves. At the end of the day, each surfer’s top two scores determined whether or not they made it into that coveted top eight who will advance to the main event.
Perfection at the Rip Curl Cup Trials. Photo: Federico Vanno.
At the top of the pack was Made Adi Putra “Bol,” whose years of experience at the epic left tube showed. He ended the day with a two-wave total of 19.45, composed of a 9.95 in his first-round heat, and a 9.50 in his second heat. He’s won the Rip Curl Cup twice before, in 2004 and 2005, so he’ll be looking for the hat trick this year.
“This was such a great day, I saw everybody getting big scores, eights and nines, everybody getting such good waves, getting barreled and having fun, it was beyond expectations, really,” said Made Adi Putra. “I was surprised, to be honest, as I thought it wasn’t going to be on, but it was pumping! I’m stoked to be in the Main event, as I’m going to be 42 years old in August, so I hope to be the Rip Curl Cup champion as my birthday present,” he continued. He will be joined by eight other local chargers, below, as well as the eight international invitees, who have yet to be announced.
Rip Curl Cup Trials 2022 Results:
1. Made Adi Putra: 19.45 points
2. Mega Artana: 18.38 points
3. Mega Semahdi: 17.58 points
4. Raditya Rondi: 16.50 points
5. Mustofa Jeksen: 16.13 points
6. Agus Sumertayasa: 15.39 points
7. Tommy Sobry: 15.01 points
8. Made Garut Widiarta: 14.08 points
