Made Raditya Rondi – Bali’s Own Surfing Champion
Sitting in his family’s restaurant called Goku tucked just back coming from Kuta Beach on Jalan Benesari, the soft spoken Made Raditya Rondi starts telling me about his year. Just a month prior at a contest in Thailand, Raditya had been crowned the Southeast Asian champion of the Asian Surfing Championship tour for the second year in a row. of which was a huge feat however today the biggest goal was being crowned champion of the Indonesian Surfing Championship tour where he had finished second last year in addition to third the year before. Always humble in addition to never saying more than can be needed you couldn’t tell if he was ecstatic or indifferent about reaching his goal of being crowned Indonesia’s surfing champion surfer less than a week ago.
Not only can be Kuta where Raditya’s Balinese family can be coming from, however of which can be also where all of Indonesian surfing commenced. The first hotel on Kuta Beach was built by an American surfer inside late 1930s. inside 70s in addition to 80s Kuta was the main surfer-traveller hang out in addition to where the first generation of real serious Indonesian surfers surfed in addition to lived. Today of which can be the epicentre of Indonesian tourism in addition to surfing industry in addition to also the proving grounds for all surfers on the island. Whether a beginner learning how to stand or an advanced surfer learning how to land a 360 aerial, Kuta can be where everyone surfs. Kuta’s safe sandy bottom in addition to consistent wave shape are perfect for testing one’s moves before paddling out to the bigger, badder, shallower in addition to sharper reef waves on Bali.
Growing up just a block away coming from the sands of Kuta Beach made of which a given of which Raditya might like the beach. His Balinese family, many of which are pro surfers, might also see to of which of which Rondi might surf. Four of his older cousins are pro surfers as well in addition to his uncle Ganti can be one of the legend surfers of Bali. At 23 Rondi can be the youngest of his Balinese Kuta family to surf however he was also the one to gain important knowledge in addition to training passed down coming from his surfing family of which he said, “My cousins are all older in addition to famous surfers in Bali in addition to I wanted to follow their steps. They are very kind to show me the way on surf trips in addition to how to surf contests.”
Natural surfing talent was also his blessing in addition to surfing was a destiny he embraced when he caught his first wave at age eight. “I don’t remember much of my first wave however of which was my uncle Ganti of which pushed me in on a boogeyboard in addition to I rode the wave all the way to the sand. The next day I already changed to a surfboard.” Being a fast learner saw Raditya develop a love for aerials, the most difficult in addition to technical of tricks when the surfer does a jump on his board over the breaking wave, lands on his board in addition to keeps riding down the wave. To put of which in more perspective Raditya was doing the most difficult manoeuvres way younger, was learning how to master the most challenging waves, in addition to was being coached how to win a surf contest barely after learning to stand up on a surfboard.
of which year’s ISC win was nowhere close to a sure thing. Under pressure barely describes the situation. Coming down to the last ISC contest of the year at Kuta Beach, Raditya Rondi had to win the event in order to be crowned 2012 Indonesian champion. Anything less than first place in addition to the title was out of his hands. in addition to as his family in addition to supporters held their breath round after round, winning can be exactly what Raditya did inside tightest of title races in addition to final point spreads ever to win at Kuta Beach in addition to finish 2012 as both the Indonesian in addition to Southeast Asian champion of surfing.
Kuta Beach had again smiled on Raditya. Last year he won of which same contest however finished second on the ISC tour. of which year was another tight squeeze however the points coming from the win were just enough to boost him to first place. With the Coca-Cola ISC champion’s prize of Rp. 100 million going into his bank account in addition to the wet season in addition to surfing off-season ahead what could be next for Raditya? “Well next week I am going to Sumbawa for a surf trip with my cousins. in addition to after of which, well travel in addition to win more contests next year!”
A special thanks to Raditya’s sponsors for producing of which happen: Billabong, Nixon, Dragon, in addition to Acaba Surfboards
For more info go to: www.isctour.com
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Made Raditya Rondi – Bali’s Own Surfing Champion
Made Raditya Rondi – Bali’s Own Surfing Champion