Bali (MidLand) – Rip Curl Padang Padang 2024 is sending a message of gender equality by hosting a special women’s wave surfing competition alongside the men’s competition for the first time in 21 years on Padang Padang Beach, Bali.
James Hendy, President and Director of Rip Curl Indonesia, explained that the decision to create a special women’s division this year is based on the experience of Canadian wave surfer Erin Brooks who competed with men when at the 2022 Rip Curl World Cup, Erin had the opportunity to play with the men until reaching the final.
“There are female surfers in the world today who are just as good as male surfers, so they deserve the same opportunities we give men,” James said during the opening ceremony on Padang Padang beach, Bali, on Saturday.
Padang Padang Beach was chosen because it has the characteristics of large waves, but they occur rarely. This makes the event have a waiting period of one month from August 1 to 31, 2024.
“The Padang Padang waves probably break every three or four times a year. So we wait. It’s mid-winter now so we get the best storms, which are the best waves in Indonesia,” James said.
A total of 16 male surfers and eight female surfers, with 50% from Indonesia and 50% from around the world, including Hawaii, Australia, Portugal and South Africa, competed in the Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang 2024.
Read also: Rip Curl Cup participants prepare to take part in Padang Padang competition next year
24 male surfers and four of Indonesia’s top female surfers competed for the final six spots in the main event in Padang Padang.
The local government hopes that the Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang 2024 can be an event to improve the skills of Indonesian surfers.
“Also, the participants are 50 percent local surfers and 50 percent international surfers,” said Sujendra, Assistant 1 Regional Secretary of Badung.
Recognized Surfer
Ziggy’s surfer girlfriend, Aloha Mackenzie, sees the event as an opportunity to give voice to the greatness of female surfers around the world.
“The golden days of women’s surfing are coming soon. It’s actually very strong and stable. I mean, this is the Padang Padang Cup, it’s been going on for a long time and finally women can compete,” Ziggy said.
Read also: West Sumatra Surfer Dylan Looks Hot at Rip Curl Cup in Bali
Ziggy also sees more and more female surfers competing with him at the junior level, including Jasmine Studer, who is now pursuing a professional wave surfing career.
“Me and Jasmine grew up surfing competing against each other, and it’s nice now that all the little girls have grown up surfing, it’s definitely progress,” Ziggy said,
The growing number of competitions has pushed the Australian surfer to dare to aim to become a world champion and become an Olympian.
The 2024 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship U16 world champion dreams of winning an Olympic gold medal.
Jasmine herself hopes that more girls like her and Ziggy will start surfing the waves.
“I think it’s really cool that there are so many young girls surfing, and I hope that in the coming years there will be more girls taking part in competitions,” Jasmine said.
Read also: Rip Curl Padang Padang Surfing Competition to be held again
Reporter: Arindra Mediadia
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © MidLand 2024
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