Junius clinches Nias surfing title

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Unheralded local surfers outbested their foreign competitors in the 2002 Ya'ahowu Nias Open Surfing Contest by winning all the titles on Sunday.

Young surfer Junias Wau of Hiliamaetanih village, Nias regency, took first place after booking an impressive 57.1 points to win Rp 25 million (US$2,777).

Senior surfer Sanali Buololo was second with 48.0 points and walked away Rp 12 million the richer while Tatahoi Zagato carded 45.0 points to earn third place and Rp 7 million.

Foreign surfers, such as Steve Levine of the U.S., Bruce Greer from New Zealand and Imasu Nobumasa from Japan, failed to enter the grand final stage.

"This is such an outstanding result. We will prepare Junius to take part in an international surfing competition in Bali in September," North Sumatra Surfing Association chairman Dahlan Nasution, told The Jakarta Post on Monday. --JP