Curtain Raiser: Quiksilver Uluwatu Challenge kicks off in two weeks

Asian Surfing Championships (ASC) is running the Quiksilver Uluwatu Challenge from August 13-16 as part of the annual Quiksilver and Coca-Cola Amatil Indonesia, Bali's Big Eco Weekend Event. Surfers from 13 countries will compete in the event.

With less than two weeks remaining until the start of the Quiksilver Uluwatu Challenge presented by Coca-Cola Amatil Indonesia and the Australian Embassy Jakarta, the heat draw is rapidly filling up with 70 out of the 96 spots already filled with WSL (World Surf League) Qualifying Series and ASC (Asian Surfing Championships) competitors frothing at the thought of surfing Bali’s iconic and historic Uluwatu with just 3 other surfers in the water.

The Quiksilver Uluwatu Challenge will run during a four-day window from August 13-16 as part of the 8th annual Quiksilver and Coca-Cola Amatil Indonesia, Bali's Big Eco Weekend Event, which takes place this year during Indonesia’s Independence Day long weekend.

With its introduction to international surfing world in the seminal Alby Falzon movie 'Morning of the Earth' (1972), Uluwatu is and always will be “the” image of Bali surfing with its perfectly peeling waves, steep limestone cliffs and epic sunsets, making for the ideal venue not only for the competitors but for the spectators as well.

Currently the competitor list includes surfers from 13 countries including Australia, Brazil, France, the Philippines, Japan, Taiwan and more, ranging from up and coming Bali locals to previous World Championship Tour veterans such as Damien Hobgood from the USA and current Asian Surfing Champion Dede Suryana from West Java, Indonesia.

Two time ASC champion Dede Suryana said,  “Uluwatu is such a special place and a great wave, I love getting barreled there and also blasting big turns, it's such a good feeling.  The view, the clear water, and when in the comp there will be  no crowd so surfers will be able to pick the best waves and put on a show!  I’m really looking forward to the comp and representing my sponsor, my country and the ASC.”

Round 1 of the competition will see 32 Indonesian surfers battling it out for the 8 spots reserved in Round 2, where the ASC’s top 10 ranked surfers including Marlon Gerber, Raditya Rondi, and Piso Alcala from the Philippines will be joined by two local Uluwatu wildcards, Wayan “Gobleg” Suyadnya and Wayan “Tumbling” Sudiantara to take on the international field.

Bali's Big Eco Weekend highlights the need to keep Bali's beaches clean and safe for everyone to enjoy as well as promoting an active and healthy lifestyle through the various surfing events and beach activities that take place through the course of the event.

From a press release

About ASC: According to their Wikipedia page, Asian Surfing Championships (ASC) is an association acting for promoting surfing as a sport in Asia by organising competitions. On their website, they write, "The ASC works with the local, national and multinational event sponsors and organizers to maximize the results of these competitive surfing events towards accomplishing the goals of sharing the sport of surfing and bringing positive economic, social, and environmental benefits to the people in these Asian countries."

Image ©: Indonesian Surfing Championships