Top 10 Rip Curl Cup Moments – Part I
A stroll down memory lane at Padang Padang
In its 20-year history, the Rip Curl Cup at Padang Padang has created too many amazing moments to choose only ten. And when Padang Padang awakens for this year’s 20-year Anniversary of the Rip Curl Cup, we’ll undoubtedly see at least ten more jaw-dropping turn of events that could make this list. But just for fun, and in no particular order, let’s re-live some of our all-time favorite performances from the Rip Curl Cup at Padang Padang, starting with the first 5…
10. Bol’s barrel to jetski hurdle (2018)
In Semifinal 1, the heaviest set of the day stormed in from the horizon and 2x champion Made “Bol” Adi Putra took off impossibly deep, angled around a mountain of thundering whitewash and weaved through into a top barrel section. Then he emerged and bottom turn-stalled into the double up inside bowl, stood straight up in a giant cave, arms spread wide, before the wave spit its guts out and shot him onto the shoulder. A water patrol ski had drifted too close to the shoulder, not expecting such a large, wide-breaking set, and Bol, with catlike reflexes jumped clear over the front of the jetski, narrowly avoiding disaster. The stunt earned roars from the crowd and earned Bol a 9.55 and trip to the Championship Final. Fortunately, no one was hurt and Bol was able to continue on to his record-fourth Rip Curl Cup Finals appearance.
9. Bruce Irons’ perfect 10 disappearing act (2016)
Competing at Padang for the first time since his WCT victory in Bali in 2008, Bruce Irons seemed to pick up right where he left off during his Round 1 heat. Bruce’s Houdini-like disappearing act was not only the best rides of the 2016 Rip Curl Cup, it stands as the longest tube ride in event history.
8. Family Affair – Cousins Meet in the Final (2014)
Local Kuta Beach surfers and cousins Garut Widiarta and Raditya Rondi became the first family members to ever face off in the Finals of the Rip Curl Cup. And what an epic final it was. The waves were perfect and beyond heavy at dead low tide in the afternoon. Rondi opened with an amazing 9-point ride and then scored an 8 after that. Rondi had priority and a good set come through, but took the first one and it wasn’t good one. Then Garut, needing an 8.3 with only a couple minutes remaining, nabbed a dredging throaty tube and somehow emerged from super deep on near dry reef to secure the victory. It was a special moment for the Kuta family and Indonesian surfing, as the cousins grew up surfing together since the age of eight, represented Indonesia together at the Asian Beach Games, and still surf together regularly to this day.
7. Jack Robinson scores a near perfect 19.90 in the Final (2018)
On the heaviest day at Padang in recent memory, 20-year-old Jack Robinson went on a tuberiding tear, scoring three 9-point rides and a perfect 10 en route to perhaps the most impressive achievement of his young career. Robinson’s 19.90 Finals total was the highest of the event and left his fellow finalists in a combination situation they could never recover from. The victory was a long time coming for the Western Australian, who received his first invitation to compete in the prestigious WSL specialty event back in 2013 at the age of 15, but never got to cash in his golden ticket until 2018, when Padang awakened with treacherous 8-foot square barrels. “It was worth the wait,” Robinson said.
6. Bol tops Rizal in the first-ever Rip Curl Cup at Padang Padang (2005)
Padang was all-time and to no one’s surprise that the two best Padang surfers of the early 2000s met in the championship final. Bol vs Rizal was the matchup everyone wanted to see and it didn’t disappoint. When the dust settled, Bol was holding the Cup, and a legendary surf contest had been born.
