Defending champ Garut Widiarta prepares for Rip Curl Cup with Gabriel Medina and Matt Wilkinson in remote Indo

Garut Widiarta. Photo: Nate Lawrence

July 27, 2016

Bali, Indonesia – Garut Widiarta figured the best way to prepare for the toughest contest of his life would be to train with a world-class sparring partner – or two. So the reigning Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang champion, who will defend his title in August against the most lethal lineup of invited surfers in the event’s history, called up good friends and Rip Curl teammates Gabriel Medina and Matt Wilkinson to train this past week at a remote jungle reef pass known for serving up some of Indonesia’s longest and most powerful barrels.

Wilkinson, currently sitting atop the WSL world rankings, and Medina, the 2014 world champion and current world No. 3, were in a similar position as their friend Garut: looking to stay sharp heading into the next WCT event at Teahupo’o in a few weeks (Aug 19 – 30). The WCT pack leaders jumped at the opportunity for a Teahupo’o dress rehearsal with Garut in some heart-racing reefbreak barrels.

“The wave Garut invited us to surf for the swell was really good to prepare for Tahiti,” Medina said. “It was similar to Teahupo’o: it was a left; it was shallow; and it was powerful. We got some good barrels and it was perfect training for Tahiti.”

After trading 8-foot jungle barrels back and forth for the duration of the swell, the sparring partners returned to Bali over the weekend, and on Monday Garut invited them to Rip Curl Asia headquarters to learn more about this year’s Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang and show off his trophy as reigning champion. After reviewing the lineup of invited surfers to this year’s event, Wilkinson said he’s keen to have a go in the near future.

“I’ve been watching it the past couple years and I wish we could surf in it,” Wilkinson said of the prestigious WSL invitational event. “Last year Owen (Wright) and I had the opportunity to surf Padang during the waiting period with some of the competitors for the Expression Session. I’d love to compete in it one day. I’m a big fan of the way they have such a long time frame for the comp to wait for a perfect swell and get the wave at its very best.” With the WSL officially adding the Rip Curl Cup to its stable of world-class surfing events in 2016, CT surfers such as Medina and Wilkinson could potentially meet Indonesia’s finest surfers like Garut in the coming years at Padang.

“The invite list includes some pretty epic names, and you can’t count the locals out at this wave,” Wilkinson said. “Hopefully one day I can join them and compete here.” With the local trials slated to run at Padang on the best day of surf conditions this week (waves permitting), the opening ceremony set for Sunday (July 31), and a potential contest swell already looming for the start of the holding period (the window runs from Aug. 1-31), Garut is battle-tested and ready for his title defense. Meanwhile, his training partners Medina and Wilkinson will be watching to see how Garut’s preparation pays off. “I’ll be watching the webcast, for sure,” Medina said.

“I always watch the comps, especially this one because Padang Padang is such a good wave and there’s some good surfers and interesting matchups. I’m rooting for Garut to take the win again this year and keep the trophy at home in Bali.

” The 2016 Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang will be webcast live to the world at live.ripcurl.com.Fans can also visit the site to check real-time contest status and video updates from Bali.

Watch the official 2016 event trailer here:

For access to images, video, press releases and an extensive range of content for use in your coverage of the Rip Curl Cup 2016, please visit the following Box link: https://ripcurl.app.box.com/v/ripcurlcup16-multimedia

2016 Schedule of Events

Event Waiting Period
Aug. 1 – 31

Local Trials
To be held at Padang on the best day of surf conditions between July 25 – 30
(Note: If the waves at Padang don’t meet Rip Curl Cup standards for the trials, the previous year’s trials winner will gain entry to the main event)

Rip Curl Planet Beach Cleanup
July 29 @ 8AM, Padang Padang Beach, Bali

Opening Ceremony
July 31 @ 3 PM, Padang Padang Beach, Bali
Meet the surfers; press conference; and traditional Balinese kecak dance.

Rip Curl Cup Volcano Party
Aug 19 @ 8 PM
Rooftop extravaganza at Rip Curl Asia headquarters, Sunset Rd., Kuta, Bali.

Tom Curren Live Performance
Aug 27 @ 6PM, Uluwatu Surf Villas
Live performance by celebrated musician and three-time world surfing champion Tom Curren on the cliffs above Uluwatu.

About Rip Curl

Rip Curl is one of the world’s most recognized and respected brands, consistently at the forefront of the surf and snow scenes since its creation in the late 1960s.

Started by Brian Singer and Doug ‘Claw’ Warbrick in the coastal Australian town of Torquay in 1969, Rip Curl was initially a vehicle for the perfect lifestyle – a never-ending search by two mates for perfect waves, adventure and the fun that inevitably follows. They called it “The Search.”

The Search is the driving force that led to the creation of Rip Curl. It’s the one true thing that Rip Curl has that no one else does and it lives in the spirit of everything the Rip Curl crew do. It’s what makes Rip Curl unique. It defines who we are.

Rip Curl remains a company built by surfers for surfers. Endeavoring to make the best products, run the best events, support the best athletes, deliver the best customer service, communicate the best brand message and socialize with the best crew of people helps Rip Curl hold a vision of being regarded as The Ultimate Surfing Company.

With 3x WSL World Champion Mick Fanning, 2014 WSL World Champion Gabriel Medina, and fellow team riders Owen Wright, Matt Wilkinson, Tom Curren, Tyler Wright and Alana Blanchard all surfing with Rip Curl, and a global events platform including the historic Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, Rip Curl Pro Portugal and the unique Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang, the brand is the leader in professional surfing.

For more information on Rip Curl, please visit www.ripcurl.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ripcurl
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/ripcurl

About the Rip Curl Cup

Now in its 13th year, the Rip Curl Cup Invitational at Padang Padang is Indonesia’s longest-running surfing competition and the first World Surf League invitational contest to feature top international surfers alongside Indonesia’s best.

Having joined forces with the WSL as an officially sanctioned specialty event, the 2016 Rip Curl Cup will feature the most exclusive field in event history: just 16 invited surfers; eight of Indonesia’s finest and eight of the world’s elite. The official invite list will be announced on July 18th.

The reduced number of competitors ensures this will be a “one-day, one-swell” event, increasing the likelihood of spectacular conditions and incredible performance. When official forecast partner Coastalwatch alerts contest directors of an ideal Padang swell lining up in the Indian Ocean, the green light will be given and competitors will have 24-hours to make it to Bali’s Bukit Peninsula.

The waiting period for the 2016 Rip Curl Cup spans the entire month of August, the peak of Indonesia’s prime swell season, providing the event with the highest chance of scoring the spitting green barrels the Balinese Pipeline is world famous for.

“The Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang is the highlight event of the year for us, providing an amazing opportunity to be able to showcase the best Indonesian surfers against some of the world’s most renowned and talented tube riders in pumping conditions at Padang-Padang,” Rip Curl Southeast Asia marketing manager James Hendy said. “With the live webcast into its fourth year, surf fans from all corners of the globe will again have the chance to witness the insane level of world class surfing that is coming out of Indonesia right now.”

With an exciting lineup of invitees including Tom Curren (USA), Mason Ho (HAW), Bruce Irons (HAW), Jamie O’Brien (HAW) and Jacob Willcox (AUS) lining up to take on last year’s winner Garut Widiarta (IND) and the rest of the Indonesian contingent, surf fans will be excited to get online and view all the action when Padang Padang turns on. The unique invitational format, a $15,000 prize purse and the superb quality of the barrels on offer at Padang, makes the Rip Curl Cup the most anticipated event of the Indonesian surf season.

Following is the complete surfer lineup for the 2016 Rip Curl Cup:

International Surfers:
1. Tom Curren (USA)
2. Pat Curren (USA)
3. Mason Ho (HAW)
4. Damien Hobgood (USA)
5. Bruce Irons (HAW)
6. Clay Marzo (HAW)
7. Jamie O’Brien (HAW)
8. Dillon Perillo (USA)
9. Jack Robinson (AUS)
10. Bruno Santos (BRA)
11. Jacob Willcox (AUS)
12. Tim Bisso (FRA)

Note: Only 8 international surfers will receive a spot in the event; entry granted on first-come, best-dressed basis.

Indonesian Surfers:
1. Bol Adi Putra
2. Raditya Rondi
3. Mega Semadhi
4. Rizal Tandjung
5. Usman Trioko
6. Garut Widiarta
7. Lee Wilson
8. TBD (winner of local trials)

The 2016 Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang will be webcast live to the world at live.ripcurl.com. Fans can also visit the site to check real-time contest status and video updates from Bali.

Watch the official 2016 event trailer here:

For access to images, video, press releases and an extensive range of content for use in your coverage of the Rip Curl Cup 2016, please visit the following Box link:
https://ripcurl.app.box.com/v/ripcurlcup16-multimedia

The Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang 2016 is sponsored by: TELKOM INDIHOME, HIDDEN VALLEY RESORT, BINTANG, JOSE CUERVO and ALBENS CIDER.

Media partners: Coastalwatch.com, Surfing World, SurfTime, BaliBelly.com, GUVERA  and Indosurflife.com.

Rip Curl is proud to support Project Clean Uluwatu, the non-profit organization working to keep Bali’s beaches clean.