International surf comp held in East Sumbawa

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Wed, 08/15/2007 1:16 PM | National

The Jakarta Post, Kuta

Surf company Quicksilver has lent its support to the Dompu Indonesian Open international surfing competition on the island of Sumbawa, east of Bali, from Aug. 13 through Aug. 15.

Quiksilver has confirmed its support as presenting sponsor for the Dompu Open, lifting the event's rating to six star prime and positioning it as the richest Indonesian Surfing Championship tour event ever.

With it's proximity to Bali and well developed tourist infrastructure, Sumbawa has become a prime Indonesian surf destination, attracting hundreds of surfers each week to sample the legendary waves of Lakey Peak and Lakey Pipe.

Understanding the potential of this valuable natural attraction, the Dompu Regional administration has brought back professional surfing as a vehicle to promote the area to a wider audience.

""We feel that the sport of surfing has the potential to open up more windows for the region of Dompu,"" Abdul Harris, the head of the Dompu Tourism Board, said.

""This event will no doubt generate both excitement and awareness about the area, promoting what a recreational and pleasurable destination it is. To also have the support of Quiksilver and the Dompu Indonesian Open creates a huge potential for the awareness it will bring to our market place.""

With double ratings points on offer and Rp 60 million (around US$5,500) in prize money, this the most highly anticipated event of the Indonesian Surfing Championship tour. Dompa is also the only leg of the tour surfed outside of Bali during the 2007 competitive season.

""Quiksilver has a history of supporting events throughout Indonesia and we are happy to be aligned with the Dompu Regency to help highlight the amazing waves that they have on offer,"" said Quicksilver Indonesia CEO Greg Hinchliffe.

With Quicksilver's vast experience in holding world class surf events and its online, global and local PR resources, Hinchliffe said the company aimed ""to bring greater exposure to this event and the region. We are also rapt to be able to provide the surfers another quality event for this year's Indonesian Open Series"".

The last major professional surf competition held at Lakey Peak was 10 years ago. The event was attended by a strong field of international and local surfers and was won by Indonesian surf star Rizal Tanjung, who will return to defend his title.

""I always love going to Lakey Peak,"" Rizal said, ""(it's) such a heavy wave when it's over 6 feet -- much heavier than Padang -- and when it's small it's one of the most rippable waves in Indonesia. (I'm) really excited that the government has taken notice of surfing here in our country and become more involved in the sport. It should be a great event.

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