Nias to host int'l surfing championship

Nias to host int'l surfing championship

JAKARTA (JP): Approximately 100 surfers from 13 countries will tame the notorious waves of Sorake beach at Nias island, North Sumatra in the second Indonesia Open international surfing championship in July.

Committee chairman Yopie Batubara told reporters yesterday that a pack of world-rated surfers from Australia and Hawaii are expected to highlight the 5A-level championship, which offers a total of A$20,000 in prize money. Other participants will come from the United States, Brazil, Germany, Canada, Spain, England, France and Japan.

"The world's best surfers, who finished in the top ten last year, are obliged to compete again in Nias, unless they drop their ratings," Yopie, a local tourism businessman from Medan, North Sumatra, said.

Last year's winner Paul Paterson, runners-up Justin Cook, Jake Paterson and Josh Palmateer and amateur world champion Luke Hitching will lead the Australian charge against international and local surfers during the July 20-23 pro-am event, sanctioned by the Australian Surfing Championship Series.

Bali's I Made Suwitra, a semifinalist last year, will lead a field of local surfers to steal a little thunder in the adventurous sports event.

In the women's 4A-level category, Australian surfers also set their sights on another success in their second trip to Lagundri Bay, at the southernmost part of Nias island.

Tournament director Clement Gultom said five international judges from the Association of Surfing Professionals will manage the championship, with back-up from two local judges.

"We are learning to hold a world-class tournament," Gultom said, adding that the organizers have launched a bid to include the annual championship in the world series next year.

"The current infrastructure in Nias cannot cope with the world-rated championship," Gultom said.

The North Sumatra local administration initiated the event last year, but from this year on it is fully funded by private companies. Yopie said the championship will cost the organizers Rp 450 million (US$204,500).

Waves at Sorake beach, the crests of which reach an altitude of 12 feet, are dubbed the most notorious right hand reef break in the world.

Surfing had been a ritual sport in Hawaii, before it was introduced in Australia in the 1950's. Both Australia and Hawaii have come out as the world's strongest surfing powerhouses.(amd)