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View all search resultsJava teen crowned King of the Groms
Andre Julian, 13, won the final of the Quiksilver King of the Groms Southeast Asia surfing competition Sunday after defeating Bali’s Kiko Mitsua in a 25-minute lad-to-lad duel in pounding, two-meter high surf off Kuta beach
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ndre Julian, 13, won the final of the Quiksilver King of the Groms Southeast Asia surfing competition Sunday after defeating Bali’s Kiko Mitsua in a 25-minute lad-to-lad duel in pounding, two-meter high surf off Kuta beach.
Both boys — the top two surfers from a field of more than 60 in the three day event — were both finalists worthy of the crown after spending two days competing in surf that ranged from small to medium to Sunday’s large surf.
Julian won a brand new Yamaha Mio motorcycle and a trip to Hossegor Beach in France to compete in the King of the Groms International Final, which will take place during the Quiksilver Pro France from Sept. 25-Oct. 5. Julian will face winners from other 18 regional Groms competitions.
The West Java native was carried off the beach on the shoulders of 2008 Coca-Cola ISC Pro Surfing Champion and Quiksilver Team Rider Dede Suryana and Quiksilver Team Manager Febrie Arianto.
“Wow, I feel so happy right now, so happy to be the winner. I want to thank Dede, my brother Sandi and Quiksilver for all their support,” Julian said.
“Without them I wouldn’t be here. I’m really thankful for them right now,” he added.
“I was very stoked that the waves were big because I’d much rather surf big waves than small waves anytime!” Julian said.
Koko Mitsua was disappointed about losing the Crown but remained positive and said: “Getting second today is a good result for sure and I still have another chance next year. I was surfing good enough to win today and felt I just didn’t get the good waves I needed during the final.”
“I’m really happy for Andre, as he got some great waves and scored big on them so he deserved to win,” Koko added.
This is the second year in a row that a junior surfer from the seaside town of Cimaja, West Java, has won the King of the Groms at Kuta.
Julian’s older brother, Sandi Slamet, won in 2009. The brothers are both Quiksilver Team Riders, along with Dede Suryana, who is also from Cimaja.
Quiksilver representative Simon MacGregor said he was very pleased with what he saw during the final and throughout the whole event.
“It’s great to see how the level of these junior surfers is increasing each year — not only the kids from Bali, but those from other parts of Indonesia, as well,” Simon said.
