Bali windsurfing event looks promising

Bali windsurfing event looks promising

By Lukman Natanagara

DENPASAR, Bali (JP): Although there are still three months to
go before the Aerowisata Windsurfing Championships begin, the
event has received an enthusiastic response from windsurfers
throughout the world.

Following an announcement on Monday that the tournament will
be held at Sanur Beach, Bali, for four days starting Jan. 26,
organizer Giancarlo Avancini told The Jakarta Post that hundreds
of windsurfers from overseas and Indonesia had already indicated
their participation in the event.

"So far the number of participants is in the hundreds.
Considering that the beach could not accommodate that many, we
had to limit the participants to 100 people only," Avancini said.

He said the enthusiastic response from the windsurfers was
mainly because of the beach's big waves suitable for windsurfing.

He said a Japanese delegation, including two of their top
windsurfers, Tomoo Ishihara and Yoshitaka Ikeda, had a test run
at the beach and were satisfied with the waves. He said six
articles on the event will be published in their windsurfing
magazines Hi Wind and Windsurfing Club.

"The Japanese delegation will also help popularize Bali in
their country. We hope the event can attract as many Japanese
as possible," Avancini said.

The 100 windsurfers comprise 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 tournament will feature the Downwind Slalom Open, Masters,
Rookie and Free Style events.

A cash prize of US$2,200 (Rp 186 million) and the Indonesian
Windsurfing Association (Porlasi) trophy will be up for grabs.

The competition is organized by state-owned tourist company
Aerowisata, 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. As well as owning the
Satriavi travel agency, it also runs catering services in
Denpasar, Jakarta, Medan and Surabaya.

Preparation

Referring to preparations for the event, Avancini said that
work had begun on the event in April this year.

"It all started in January when I competed at the Mana Mana
Windsurfing competition on Bintang Island together with Oka. We
then discussed the possibility of holding a similar competition
in Bali and at the same time open a professional water sport
center.

"I also proposed the idea to the general manager of the Sanur
Beach Hotel and to Neil Pryde (the largest sailsmaker in the
world). Both of them showed enthusiasm for the idea. From there
on I set up an organizing committee and worked together with
Arifin Hutabarat from the Ganesia public relations company,"
Avancini said.

He said the event would be promoted through posters and
pamphlets at outlets both in Indonesia and overseas. "Our other
mission was to promote windsurfing in Bali, because not many
people know that Bali has good waves for windsurfing and
surfing."

Avancini said the organizer would begin registration of
interested participants in November.

The registration fee is $100 per person. "For local
windsurfers, we will give a special fee. The participants may
bring along their families as long as they pay the individual
$100 fee."

Avancini said the Blue Oasis Beach Club would provide
registration information. The club may be contacted on phone 62-
361-288011 extension. 1792 or fax 62-361-288106. E-mail
registration is also available at blueoasisbc@geocities.com.

Avancini, 33, comes from Italy and is a keen windsurfer. He
told the Post that he started windsurfing at a young age but
insisted that he was only an amateur in the sport.

"In 1990 I wanted to become a professional, but it is not easy
since you need a lot of practice. I later went to Bali and have
been on the island for nearly three years. Oka helped me a lot in
my training."

Hotel participation

The general manager of the Hotel Sanur Beach, Juergen Fischer,
said the hotel was keen to help make the event a success.

"For the participants staying at the hotel, we will give a
special package which includes free breakfast and dinner
(excluding beverages) and low room rates," Fischer said.

Fischer also said the hotel would be opening new facilities
for guests, which included the Mandara Spa (facial, massage, body
treatments and aromatherapy baths), the Peppers Latino Grill &
Bar, and the Smart Cafe, which would offer Internet
communications.

"Early next year, the hotel will embark on a room renovation
(project), expansion of the lobby and pool restaurant
renovation."

Fischer said he hoped that after the Aerowisata Windsurfing
Championships, other sporting competitions would also be held on
the island.

"Prior to the event, Bali will host on Oct. 24 the marathon.
We hope many participants will be at the marathon. The hotel is
ready to serve all the needs of the runners," he said.