There’s this, and there’s that. This ain’t that. This is our day to day. It’s get in the car. On the road. Upside down, inside out. This is mediocrity of the utmost. Celebrating real times with real people. This is done proper. For the joy. Chippa Wilson and Robbie Rickard on their a-game.
Pumping swell has arrived at the Vans US Open of Surfing, Stop No. 4 of the World Surf League (WSL) Challenger Series (CS), with four-to-six foot, building toward eight foot sets pulsing into the southside of the Huntington Beach Pier. Women’s contingent overpowered the conditions with big performances while dealing with raging current and massive closeouts throughout the Round of 64 Heats 9 – 16 and Round of 32 in its entirety.
Former Championship Tour (CT) threat Bronte Macaulay (AUS above) started her Vans US Open of Surfing campaign with a flurry to post an excellent 8.17 (out of a possible 10), making for a heat total of 14.17 (out of a possible 20). The Western Australia competitor powered through her second heat of the day in even heavier conditions and overpowered the walls of water once again to accrue a 7.33 with Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) notching an all-important advancing position.
“That was probably the most exhausting heat of my life (laughs),” said Macaulay. “It felt more like a triathlon or something. Just run, paddle, and hopefully you get a set out there. But, I guess when you have days like that it makes it easier for the rest of the event you hope.”
Proven qualification threat Sophie McCulloch (AUS) earned massive, back-to-back heat wins alongside the likes of Macy Callaghan (AUS), who continued her winning form with another decisive victory to join her fellow compatriots into the Round of 16.
Marks unleashed her ferocious forehand once more to earn an excellent 8.50 and 14.33 heat total with Picklum advancing on to take a big upset over Peterson in the pumping afternoon conditions on a massive one-turn wonder to earn a 7.90.
“It was actually fun coming up against those girls,” said Picklum. “Caroline (Marks) and I were chatting on the walk down, and it’s always good to compete with them. They’re really good and they push my surfing to that next level. I’m just stoked to make it through such a tough heat in waves like that.”
Bella Kenworthy Showcases Her Event-Threat Potential
The Southern California contingent continued to shine with the likes of San Clemente’s own Sawyer Lindblad and Vans wildcard Bella Kenworthy taking down their respective heats. Kenworthy made her presence known with a near-excellent 7.67 to take control of a formidable affair against 2022 CT rookie Luana Silva (HAW), former CT elite Keely Andrew (AUS), and Costa Rica’s top qualification threat Leilani McGonagle (CRI), also advancing.
“I was definitely nervous, but luckily I’ve had a lot of heats in Huntington Beach and know this lineup,” said Kenworthy. “It’s nerve-racking to be in an event this big with everything going on. I’m super thankful to Vans for this opportunity and to get the experience at this level.”
Also, reigning Vans US Open of Surfing victor Caitlin Simmers (USA) surged into the Round of 16 alongside two-time event winner Sage Erickson (USA, below) to round out California’s remaining contenders.
The next call will be made tomorrow, August 2 at 7:05 a.m. PDT for a possible 7:35 a.m. PDT start for men’s Round of 64 Heat 1.
Watch LIVE
The Vans US Open of Surfing begins July 30 – August 7 at Huntington Beach, California. The broadcast will begin on Monday, August 1 at 7:30 a.m. PDT, and fans can watch LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com, WSL’s YouTube channel, and the free WSL app. Check local listings for coverage from the WSL’s broadcast partners.
The Vans US Open of Surfing is proudly sponsored by Vans, Visit Huntington Beach, Red Bull, Flying Embers, Hydro Flask, Shiseido, 805, Pacifico, Sambazon, StillHouse, Youtheory, BF Goodrich, Fu Wax, Boxed Water, Just Egg.
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.
What would you give to be trading waves with a friend in the middle of nowhere? I know, it’s as insane as it sounds…
We Scream Alone is a surf short film by Igor Bellido. The adventure of two friends sharing tubes in the middle of the African desert. Is there anything better after that?
Surfers: Kepa Acero @kepaacero and Natxo González @natxogonzalez1
Made Adi Putra “Bol” put his years of Padang-Padang tube riding prowess on full display to top the leaderboard of the Rip Curl Cup Trials yesterday with an almost perfect two-wave score of 19.45 points (out of a possible 20 points), posting first a 9.95 in his first round heat and then backing it up with a 9.50 in his second heat to earn his spot in the Main Event where he’s hoping to come away with his third Rip Curl Cup win. He has won the Rip Curl Cup twice before, in 2004 and 2005, and is keenly looking forward to another victory in 2022.
“This was such a great day, I saw everybody getting big scores, 8’s and 9’s, everybody getting such good waves, getting barreled and having fun, it was beyond expectation’s really,” said Made Adi Putra. “I was surprised, to be honest, as I thought it wasn’t going to be on, but it was pumping! I’m stoked to be in the Main event, as I’m going to be 42 years old in August, so I hope to be the Rip Curl Cup champion as my birthday present,” he added.
Only 8 competitors out of the 32 that started out the competition in near perfect 4-5 foot Padang-Padang made it into the exclusive Main Event invitee list at the end of the day, and none in more dramatic fashion than 2014 Rip Curl Cup winner Made “Garut” Widiarta, who was in the last heat of the day having only two small scores from his first round heat, the odds truly against him.
“I had almost given up as there was a long lull with no waves for the first 20 minutes, so I was starting to think I should just paddle into the beach when some sets starting coming in so I changed my mind and said I gotta go for it” said Widiarta. Threading through an excellent barrel ride on his first wave, he was back in the game. “Getting that 8.5 score gave me confidence, then when I was paddling back out I got that 5.5, so it was my lucky day I guess. So happy to make the cut and can’t wait for the Main event!” he exclaimed.
Perennial favorite Mustofa Jeksen was a member of the exclusive “Perfect 10” club in the Trials yesterday, earning a perfect score in his first wave of his Round 1 heat to start his charge for a spot in the Main Event, and in the final of the day Nyoman “Blacky” Satria joined that club as well with a perfect 10 score, but unfortunately didn’t have a backup score with enough points to join into the Final 8.
When the final horn sounded the end of competition, Head Judge Wayan Pica was asked for his thoughts on the day, to which he replied, “It was a certainly a challenging day in the judging tower, but it was great to see all the amazing barrel riding going on. Differentiating between the surfer’s waves when on their backside and those on their forehand, how deep they were getting, how cleanly they got out of the barrel, keeping all those variables in mind required a lot of focus and concentration, but it was both exciting and rewarding and our panel did a great job today. Congratulations to all the surfers that are now in the Main Event!”
Rip Curl Cup Trials 2022 Results:
1. Made Adi Putra – 19.45 points
2. Mega Artana – 18.38 points
3. Mega Semadhi – 17.58 points
4. Raditya Rondi – 16.50 points
5. Mustofa Jeksen – 16.13 points
6. Agus Sumertayasa – 15.39 points
7. Tommy Sobry – 15.01 points
8. Made Garut Widiarta – 14.08 points
Congratulations to the top 8 who will be in the Main Event, and will join the other 8 international invitees that will be announced in the Opening Ceremony, to be held at Padang-Padang Beach on the 31st of July. The Rip Curl Cup Opening Ceremony marks the start of the one-month event holding period that runs the full month of August. The Opening Ceremony celebration will begin promptly at 3 PM, followed by a meet and greet with the surfers and contest organizers. The evening will conclude with a traditional Balinese Kecak dance performance.
All media wishing to attend the Opening Ceremony event may RSVP to Geby at +62 812 3727 7863 by Friday, 29th July 2022 before 3 PM to secure their credentials.
But before the Opening Ceremony, please join our Rip Curl Planet program starting out with the Rip Curl Beach Clean Up atPadang Padang Beach on Friday, July 29th at 8 am. The cleanup is open to anyone who would like to volunteer. Cleanup teams will collect trash from the beach, the car park, and the valley behind the beach. Trash bags and plastic gloves will be provided. Wear shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. Come have some fun while cleaning up one of Bali’s most beautiful beaches and the home of the Rip Curl Cup.
The 2022 Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang will be webcast LIVE to the world at ripcurl.com and at worldsurfleague.com. Fans can also visit the Rip Curl website to check the official event swell forecast, real-time contest status, and video updates from Bali.
RIP CURL CUP PADANG PADANG 2022 EVENT SCHEDULE:
Event Waiting Period
August 1st – 31st
Rip Curl Planet Beach Cleanup
Friday, July 29th at 8 AM, Padang Padang Beach, Bali
Opening Ceremony
Sunday, July 31st at 3 PM, Padang Padang Beach, Bali
1. Meet the surfers
2. Press conference
3. Traditional Balinese Kecak Dance
Official Rip Curl Cup Party
Friday, August 26th 2PM – Midnight.
Live performance by special guest at Ulu Cliff House
The Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang 2022 is sponsored by:
SAMUDERA INDONESIA SPORTS, ISLAND BREWING and ULU CLIFFHOUSE.
Official Resort Partner: Anantara Uluwatu Bali Resort.
Official Internet Provider: Biznet
The Rip Curl Cup is Padang Padang 2022 is suppported by: Yamaha & Persatuan Selancar Ombak Indonesia (PSOI).
Media partners: BaliBelly.com and The Asian Surf Cooperative (ASC).
Mick Fanning meets up with the Ho family for a fun day of surf in Hawaii! This morning had some nice swell at Rocky Point located on the North Shore of Oahu.
Surfers: Mason Ho, Michael Ho, Coco Ho, Mick Fanning & Dave Rastavich.
Kelly heads to Teahupo’o, Tahiti, a place he’s won five events at in his legendary career. Though he reconnects with the amazing people, the idyllic setting, and the perfect but dangerous wave, he has trouble finding success in the contest.
Kelly Slater: Lost Tapes gives fans the rare opportunity to witness never-before-seen footage of the best surfer on the planet. From free surfs to travel to adventures around the world, these are uncut and unfiltered moments from before, after, and outside competition. Follow 11-time World Champion Kelly Slater as he navigates another transformative season of his legendary career.
