In memoriam: Australian Kim Bradley

Ni Komang Erviani ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Denpasar   |  Tue, 05/12/2009 2:28 PM  |  Bali

Dozens of surfers from around the globe came with their boards in hand to Kuta last Saturday, but they were not there to ride the famous swells.

Instead, they gathered to bid a final farewell to Australian surfing legend Kim Bradley, whose promotion of the long board in Bali is renowned across the island.

Bradley died on March 26 this year at the age of 54 after a battle with skin cancer. Following the Balinese Hindu tradition, his body was cremated on Apr. 30 before on May 9, Bradley's family, friends and fans gathered to celebrate what would have been his 55th birthday.

On that cloudy afternoon, surfers paddled offshore to Halfway, a favorite surf spot in Kuta. Once there, they formed a circle with Bradley first daughter's Cyntia Dewi Bradley and one of his most renowned students, former surf champion I Ketut Menda.

"Today we are here to send him prayers and to remember our great friend, Fly, Kim Bradley, who deserves praise for his sacrifices made for Bali surfing," Manda said. Fly was Bradley's nickname to his friends.

The surfers from Australia, the United States, Japan, Indonesia, Korea, France, Brazil and many more bowed their heads in prayer, bringing many to tears. A number of white daisies were released to the sea as a tribute.

Bradley first came to Bali in 1974, when Kuta was just another fishing village on the island. In 1982, Bradley married Balinese Ni Made Ringan, a Pengabetan village girl from Kuta and converted to Balinese Hindu.

With Ringan, Bradley raised a daughter, 25-year-old Manda and 19-year-old son Adiputra Albert Bradley. Bradley also had another son, 18-month-old Genghis Bradley, with another Balinese woman.

Bradley was crucial to the development of surfing in Bali. Manda said Bradley discovered 20 of the 50 best surf spots around the island, including Kuta, Uluwatu and Canggu to name a few.

Even more important that uncovering Bali's hidden surfing treasures, however, was his establishment of the Bali Surf Club (BSC) in 1975.

"BSC was a turning point for the development of surfing in Bali," said Manda. In the early days of BSC, there were only around 10 surfers in Bali. Today, the island is home to 400 professional surfers and thousands of others who visit its shores every year.

Bradley assisted in equipping Bali's keen young surfers with boards when none were available at the time.

"At that time, it was hard to get a surf board," said Manda. Bradley's board business later paved the way for Bali's surfers to develop their skills and passion. Indonesian surfer Rizal Tanjung, who met Bradley when he was just 10, said the "Fly" was a true surfing guru and amazing inspiration for him.

"Bradley raised surfing in Indonesia. Without him this country might not have surfing as a developed sport like it is today.

"He taught me a lot. It was him who made me what I am now," added Rizal.

In another tribute to Bradley's contributions to surfing, Bali's surf magazine MagicWave dedicated a special page to the legend.

"This column is all about Bradley's thoughts on Indonesian surfing. He really held up the background of Indonesia's surfing history," said Piping, founder and editor-in-chief of MagicWave.

Italian surfer Mattia said he never had the chance to meet Bradley in person but came along with his brother.

"I recognized him through news and word-of-mouth stories. He discovered top surfing sites in Bali. He is a legend," said Mattia, who has been living in Bali for eight years.

Cyntia Bradley said she was surprised at the number of surfers who came to her father's ceremony.

"It is kind of surprising that a lot of people cared for Dad and I am happy for that. I hope Daddy is happy too, as people gather here to celebrate his anniversary."

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