Form Guide Indo Team Returns From World Junior Surfing Championships in NZ
In: Form Guide Mon 1st Feb '10
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The Indonesian Junior Surfing Team arrived back in Bali on
Friday evening the 29th of January after their first time competing
in an International Surfing Association event, the 2010 Quiksilver ISA World
Junior Surfing Championships that took place from January 20-28 in the seaside
town of Piha, about an hour's drive out of Auckland, New Zealand.
The eight member surf team that included Jeren Kiring,
Koko Mitsu Antara, Sandi Selamat, and Ediana Putra competing in the Under 16 Boys Division, and Putra Hermawan, Oney Anwar, Putu Anggara and Agus Frimanto competing in the Under 18 Boys
Division, departed Bali on the 18th of January to join over 200
other junior surfers representing 21 countries in New Zealand.
They were accompanied by Tipi Jabrik as Team Manager/Coach and Tim Hain
as Assistant Manager/Media Documentation.
The Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships are a
yearly event but the location changes each year. Last year's event was held in Ecuador, South America.
Indonesia received special mention as one of the three
countries that were competing in the event for the first time. The others were Vanuatu and Fiji.
Team Manager Tipi Jabrik said, "The
boys all did their best and it was the kind of experience that they needed. They rarely surf in these kind of
conditions so were unprepared to compete in these types of waves, especially
against the elite teams from the big countries that have a lot more experience
and training. We will be much
better prepared next year, and as this is the first time for an Indonesian team
competing in such a large international event, I feel very proud to be part of
getting a team here and also proud of our team."
The boys themselves were treated like celebrities by the
local Piha crew and by the other teams, so enjoyed their new adventure
thoroughly. With their local
friend and supporter Nick "Chongee" Ngau-Chun as one of the MC's during the
event, they had their fair share of both attention and encouragement throughout the event. "I love these kids and was so stoked
that they made it over here. I
spend several months each year in Indonesia and have been surfing at these kids
home breaks for years, so it was a dream come true to have them come over to my
home break surf and surf with me here," he said. "I know it wasn't an easy trip, especially trying to get
funding and sorting out visa's, but everyone put in a first class effort and
made it happen. When I met them at
the airport after their long flight from and saw their tired faces light up with
smiles when they saw me, it brought tears to my eyes," he added emotionally.
Ngau-Chun together with Fiona Anderson from the
Piha Domain Camp
Ground arranged and sponsored the accommodations and most meals for the
team
during their stay in Piha, ensuring that they were well taken care of
both in
and out of the water. Anderson is a regular traveler to Indonesia as
well, and cites Nusa Lembongan as her favorite place to visit. "When
Nick came to me to ask for help in looking for accommodations for the
team, I immediately agreed to lend a hand, as I knew how hard it was
for those kids to get over here...I know where they are from, and see
them and their friends just about every year, so it was a great
opportunity to help out. Myself and my crew here had such such a great
time hosting those kids here at the campground, I wish we could do it
every year!" she said smiling.
So overall it was an excellent effort and a great experience
for the team, placing 16th overall out of the 21 teams participating. And this event's experience behind them, and the news that next year's event
will be held in a more tropical location with warm water, expect the team to go
much farther in 2011. Hopefully
there will be four Indonesian girl surfers who can also join in next year's
event, helping to boost the overall team score and increase their ranking
position.
During the remainder of the event, the team did some free
surfing in the epic surfing location of Raglan, as well as exploring in the
city of Auckland before returning to witness the finals of the surfing
competition and then participating in the closing ceremony, where Team
Australia claimed their 5th consecutive team gold medal in the
Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships, while France had to settle
for the silver, and South Africa narrowly edged out Hawaii for the bronze. All the details of the final placings
in all divisions can be seen at www.isaworldjuniors.com.
The attendance of the Indonesian Junior Team would not have
been possible without the support, funding and generosity of Billabong
Asia, Hurley, Oakley Indonesia, Quiksilver Asia, Rip Curl Asia, and Rusty Asia,
Coca-Cola Bottling
Indonesia and the Coca-Cola
Indonesian Surfing Championship Tour, KDBJ Tours
and Travel, Nick
"Chongee" Ngau-Chun, Fiona
Anderson at the Piha
Domain Camp Ground and Ben
Kennings of Surfing New Zealand.
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