Surfer Garut Widarta wins at Gianyar event

Tim Hain , Contributor , Gianyar, Bali | Tue, 10/07/2008 10:02 AM | Sports

Surfer Garut Widiarta from Kuta earned a wild-card spot in Oakley's Pro Junior Global Challenge, which starts Tuesday, after narrowly defeating cousin Raditya Rondi in the intense 25-minute final, with heavy 2-3 meter waves regaling Keramas Beach in Gianyar, Bali.

The margin of victory was slim, with both surfers tallying up equal scores for their two best waves. But Widiarta won out with a higher score on his third best assay.

"I can't believe I won today," Garut said Monday.

"Rondi is so strong on his backside, I had to go all out whenever I was up against him. I was so lucky I got good waves," he added.

Oakley Indonesia Pro surfer and contest director Tipi Jabrik was very pleased with the contest results.

"It was great to see the boys all really going for it. Now we'll get to see how our guys (Widiarta and Oakley Indonesia's Pro Junior Team Rider Yuki Seedwell) will do up against some of the best pro juniors in the world in the upcoming contest," Tipi said.

Sixteen of Indonesia's best-under-21 surfers arrived at Keramas Beach, making their bid for the top spot in the US $75,000 event.

Widiarta, with his newly slated entry into the Oakley Pro Junior Global Challenge, has a shot at a whopping US$20,000 first-place cash prize, hefty winnings for a worldwide junior event.

Oakley International has already held six qualifying events in Australia, Brazil, France, Japan, South Africa and the United States, culminating in the grand finale taking place in Bali, known for some of the strongest, longest and most consistent waves in the world.

The final event will see only 18 surfers competing on Oct. 17 in World Curling Tour style man-on-man format.