Photo of the Day ~ Surfer rips Keremas Beach ~ Balifornian Villas, Tours and Travel Blog

Our friend and great young surfer Mas Ricko shreads the waves at Keramas Beach.  This was a fairly mild day of waves but this little known break (by foreigners) is perhaps the most publicized 'new' break in all of Bali.  Known for years by surf pros and locals as being one of the best spots on the island, the new Sunrise Road has opened up access to this amazing surf spot.  Few accommodations and restaurants in the area make it difficult to get to, but our new Balifornian Purnama Villas will solve this problem in style. Professional surf contests occur here frequently but it remains an uncrowded spot for the most part.

Our buddy Mas Ricko rips the lip on this wave near our villas while surfing Keramas BeachCheck Balifornian Tours and Travel Blog for much more surfing news and events.  http://www.balifornian.com

Planning a surfing vacation?  Let Balifornian Tours handle it for you and leave all the stress and hassle behind.  We know the best spots, hidden locations, ways to beat the crowds and we can help you get the very most out of your epic surf trip.

Our Adventure Photo Safaris ~ Are you a photographer or just love to take pictures?  Contact us to find out about our special tours for photographers.  Take a look at the images in the gallery, as they are good examples of the types of images you will be able to create on our tours.  The tours are led by Michael, a professor of art and photography as well as some very special guest teachers and pro photographers.  Contact us at photo@balifornian.com today for more information.

Do you have some great images from your Indonesian travels you would like to share? Want to submit your fantastic photo for the Balifornian Tour and Travel Blog Photo of the Day?  Please send your JPEG, location and description to photo@balifornian.com  Files must be under 500 kb.

Happy travels! Salamat Jalan!

Michael and Maryam ~

Balifornian Tours and Travel Blog ~ The best website for news and information on Bali and Indonesia.

Best of Indonesian Surfing Championship Tour Awards

 The crowning of the Coca-Cola ISC Tour surfing champions took place in the Discovery Kartika Plaza Hotel in Kuta - Bali, where hundreds of surfers, surf industry members, media, and supporters gathered to celebrate the 7th year of continued growth and success of the ISC and to applaud the achievements of the 2010 ISC champions.

The evening program got started at 8:30 pm with MC Tai Graham welcoming the attendees and introducing ISC CEO Tipi Jabrik, who also welcomed the audience and gave a brief summary of the year's activities, which included sanctioning and running a total of 19 events during 2010.

There were 7 Open/Women/Masters Division events (Oakley, Rusty, Reef, the government of West Java, the government of Rote Ndao, Quiksilver, and Rip Curl), 2 Pro Junior Division events (Billabong and Oakley), 8 Junior Division events (Rusty, Quiksilver and Rip Curl), and 2 Specialty events (Oakley World Pro Junior and Bali International Sport Week) for a total of 19 events.

Next, Jabrik presented appreciation awards to representatives of event sponsors Oakley, Rusty, Reef, the West Java government, the Rote Ndao government, Quiksilver, and Rip Curl, and surf industry supporters Baliwista (Bali Lifeguard Department), the environmental group GUS (Gelomban Udara Segar), and media including SurfTime Magazine, and Magic Wave Surf Community Newspaper.

Finally, Jabrik presented the largest appreciation award to Sri "Ipung" Purwanto, Coca-Cola Amatil Indonesia's Corporate Social Responsibility Coordinator. Earlier this year the ISC and CCAI signed a historic 3-year sponsorship agreement, and Mr. Puranto told the audience how pleased he was to be part of this program that is not only helping to grow the sport of surfing in Indonesia but also creating more awareness about the environment and working to clean up Bali's beaches and the ocean.

A buffet dinner followed, during which the audience was treated to a spectacular "Year in Review" video by ISC's videographer Sean Gilhooley.

Then it was on to the crowning of the 2010 Indonesian Surfing champions, with the highlight of the awards being the crowning of 18-year-old Putra Hermawan from Nusa Lembongan as 2010 ISC Open Division Champion. He takes home a check for an unprecedented Rp 100 million (approximately $11,000 USD), the largest amount ever given to an Indonesian surfing champion. He also won the Pro Junior Division Championship (under 21 years of age), for which he received another Rp 5 million ($550 USD). Hermawan was last year's Junior Division Champion as well, so in just two years he has won 3 division titles, indeed an impressive accomplishment.

The Women's Division championship was won by 28 year old Yasnyiar "Bonne" Gea, originally from Nias but now living in Bali, making this her 3rd consecutive ISC Women's Championship title.

Taking the Longboard Division Championship again this year is 29 year old Husni Ridwan from Batu Keras, West Java, and the Masters Division Championship (over 35 years old) was won by Ketut "Kombong" Juliarta in his first season competing as a Master.

Rounding out the awards was 14-year-old Jeren Kiring from Bali hoisting the Junior Division (under 16 years old) Championship trophy. In just two years of competition, this adept young surfer has risen from virtual obscurity to Indonesia's Junior surfing champion. Certainly this won't be the last time this young man will climb on a stage to accept another championship trophy.

With the awards presentations completed, it was straight into the music with the live band Shaggy Dog from Jogjakarta. They treated the audience to just over an hour of their upbeat tunes before calling it a night.

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