100 windsurfers to compete in Bali
JAKARTA (JP): About 100 professional and amateur windsurfers from overseas and Indonesia will compete in the four-day Aerowisata Windsurfing Challenge 2000 at Sanur beach, Bali, beginning on Jan. 26.
Competition spokesman Jaumat Dulhajjah told The Jakarta Post on Monday the 100 windsurfers consisted of 80 foreigners and 20 Indonesians. The foreign windsurfers come from Asia, Australia and Europe.
Oka Sulaksana, a world-class windsurfer from Bali, will take part in the competition.
"The purpose of holding the competition is to promote windsurfing in Indonesia and overseas. We hope the competition will eventually become an international event. Apart from the competition, we also want to promote Bali," Jaumat said.
The tournament will feature the Downwind Slalom Open, Masters, Rookie and Free Style events.
A total cash prize of US$2,200 (Rp 186 million) and the Indonesian Windsurfing Association (Porlasi) trophy will be up for grabs.
"The Porlasi trophy and the other trophies will have a Balinese style, so they can be souvenirs for the winners," Jaumat.
The competition is organized by state-owned tourism company Aeorwisata, Porlasi and the Blue Oasis Beach Club, a local windsurfing club.
Aerowisata, a subsidiary of national flag carrier Garuda, manages the Hotel Sanur Beach in Bali, Hotel Senggigi Beach in Lombok and Hotel Grand Preanger in Bandung. It also runs a catering service in Denpasar, Jakarta, Medan and Surabaya, and owns the Satriavi travel agency.
Prior to the competition, two well known Japanese magazines, Windsurf Club Magazine and High Wind Magazine, will send a team comprising two professional windsurfers, photographers and writers to windsurf in Bali. Oka will accompany the team, which is scheduled in Bali on Oct. 7.
Those interested in participating in the competition may register with the Blue Oasis Beach Club at phone: (361) 288011 ext. 1792; or fax: (0361) 288106. You may also register by e- mail: blueoasisc@geocities.com.
Registration fee is $100 per person. (lnt)