Rip Curl Cup 2014 Padang Padang: Expression session
Surf stars warmed up yesterday, August 4th at Padang Padang for the Rip Curl Cup 2014, the 11th annual event of its kind. Although organisers were looking to have another warm-up or search session today (the 5th), the contest is on hold at the time of writing this post. But if the warm-up/expression session was anything to judge by, get ready for some serious tubes to come.
The Rip Curl Cup is Bali’s longest running pro contest and is also known as the “Ultimate Tube Riding Contest”, reflecting the quality of the barrels at Padang Padang. The window for this year’s contest ends in just 12 days on August 17th. 24 competitors are vying for the $10,000 in prize money as well as the Cup itself, a hand-carved teakwood beauty, inlaid with silver and shaped like a piece of the Padang Padang reef. Made by local Balinese artists from MOD Jewellery, the cup will be filled with Bintang beer, which the winner is expected to down, though I wouldn’t be surprised if a hefty portion of it ends up running down their chest or onto the ground.
On hand for the warm-up session were Matt Wilkinson, Owen Wright and local star Rizal Tandjung. Also present was Bethany Hamilton, who has been on fire of late, winning gold at the Surf n Sea Pipeline Women’s Pro held at Banzai Pipeline back in March. Bethany wowed crowds and judges with her first round performance at the 2012 Rip Curl Cup.
From Ripcurl:
More than contest, the Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang has always been more of a gladiatorial feat. Pitting 12 of the world’s finest tuberiders against 12 of Indonesia’s best locals. Locals who have literally grown within the shadows of Padang Padang’s howling barrels. As always, the visiting surfers will have their work cut out for them, but with emerging young talents like western Australia’s Jacob Wilcox and seasoned veterans like Chris Ward and Anthony Walsh, sparks are sure to fly.
Check out photos from the warm-up event at Wake Wind & Surf and this awesome highlight video below.
Lead image credit — Waves at the 2012 Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang. Pic: Don’t make me think (Flickr CC)