Darmaputra Tonjo Takes First Contest Victory at Billabong Pro Junior Over Field of Indonesia’s Top Pro Junior Surfers
1 August 2011, Kuta-Bali: Bali’s Darmaputra Tonjo took his first-ever Coca-Cola Indonesian Surfing Championship victory yesterday at the inaugural all-Indonesian Billabong Pro Junior event, held at the surfing destination known as Shipwrecks on the small island of Nusa Lembongan, just a short boat ride away from the island of Bali.
Besting Indonesia’s top pro junior (under 21 years of age) surfers including Oney Anwar, Putra Hermawan, Jeren Kiring, Sandi Selamat, Dewa Ardika and others during the three day contest, Tonjo capped of his stellar performance by barreling, blasting and boosting to the highest single wave score of the entire event in the final, an almost perfect score of 9.5 points out of a possible 10, in his man-on-man final dual against Sumbawa’s Gazali Hamzah. He ended the final with the highest heat score of the competition as well, 16.25 out of a possible 20 points.
Tonjo was elated with his win, and his trademark grin was bigger than life as he climbed aboard the boat after the final, saying, “This is my first time to win a contest, so I’m so stoked! I’ve only ever come in third until now, so to win here is so great. I love this wave and I love this place, so big thanks to Billabong and especially to all the locals for sharing it with us.” Tonjo hails from Legian and his home break is Padma Beach. He receives Rp 5 million in cash, a Nixon watch and Von Zipper sunglasses for his win, as well as additional Nixon watch for his Nixon Top Scoring Wave Award.
Runner up Gazali Hamzah was also happy to be on the podium after being off the Coca-Cola ISC tour circuit this year, saying “I haven’t been competing on the tour this year, so do this well is very satisfying, so I’m really happy even with second place.” Gazali was a clear standout and surfing aggressively, besting younger brother Oney Anwar in semifinal two where he put up first a massive 8 point ride to take the lead and then sealed it with an excellent 6.5 point effort for a 14.50 total heat score, which Anwar failed to best. Hamzah receives Rp 3 million in cash in addition to a Nixon watch and Von Zipper sunglasses.
In Saturday’s session, Oney Anwar showed off a brilliant aerial performance and looked to be the in form surfer to beat, but seemed a bit out of rhythm against his brother in both the quarterfinal and the semifinals yesterday. Anwar did however receive the Von Zipper Best Aerial Award for having the best air of the event. Gazali and Oney are both from Lakey Peak in Sumbawa, but Oney currently lives and goes to school on the Gold Coast of Australia.
Nusa Lembongan local Ediana Putra shared equal third place with Anwar, and was also the winner of the Under 16 Division competition that was held on Saturday, competing in both the Under 16 and Pro Junior Divisions.
The Under 16 finalists all received a trophy, certificate, Nixon watch and Von Zipper sunglasses
The special Coca-Cola Surfboard Award for best achievement went to local Juniarta, selected by group of his Lembongan peers, and will receive his first brand new custom shaped surfboard.
Worthy of mention was the fact the Billabong Pro Junior awards presentation is thought to be the first ever in Indonesia that went down on a moving boat in transit from the contest site back to the mooring. The fast dropping tide necessitated an immediate departure from the surf break, or the boat would have been dry docked on reef until the evening high tide!
And unfortunately due to the low tide conditions and subsequent lack of time, the planned Von Zipper/Lines Magazine Air Show could not be run.
In addition to the exhilarating surfing action going down all during the three-day event was the Beach Cleanup event organized by Billabong, GUS, and the Coca-Cola ISC on Saturday, both at the beach and at the nearby elementary school. Competitors , staff, and locals joined in to pick up trash at the beach, and the GUS staff gave a presentation as well as instructional materials to the elementary school kids at SD Negeri 1 Jungut Batu, teaching them how to better care for their environment. Several of the surfers including Atris and Dennis from West Java came along to assist the GUS crew. Hopefully the school children will bring their new found knowledge home and share it with their parents and friends, and all work together towards making a clean and healthy Nusa Lembongan for all of us to enjoy.
The parting words from Billabong’s Paul Anderson at the closing of the awards ceremony were greeted by a big cheer from all gathered on the boat: “Thank you Nusa Lembongan, Billabong loves you. See you again next year!”
Billabong Pro Junior Indonesia Results
Pro Junior Division
- Tonjo (Bali) – Rp 5 million
- Gazali Hamzah (Sumbawa) – Rp 3 million
- Equal 3rd – Oney Anwar (Sumbawa) and Ediana Putra (Nusa Lembongan): Rp 1.5 million each
Under 16 Division
- Ediana Putra (Nusa Lembongan)
- Komang Sastrawan (Nusa Lembongan)
- Andre Julian (West Java)
- Koko Mitsua (Bali)
- Nixon Top Scoring Wave Award – Darmaputra Tonjo (Bali)
- Von Zipper Best Aerial Award – Oney Anwar (Sumbawa)
- Coca Cola Custom Surfboard Award – Juniarta (Nusa Lembongan)
Check out a video of the Billabong Pro Junior and to see heat draws, heat scores, photos, and more see www.isctour.com/events/billabongprojr.
The Billabong Pro Junior is presented by Billabong, Nixon, Von Zipper, Kustom, Playground Resort, Island Express, and Ware-Ware Surf Tours, with media support by Alam TV Bali, Baliwaves.com, Balibelly.tv, Lines Magazine, SurfTime Magazine, Surfersvillage.com, and Magic Wave.
The Billabong Pro Junior is sanctioned by the Coca-Cola Indonesian Surfing Championships
News and picture source: ISC Tour
patricia mccarty on Mon, 11th Feb 2013
I am trying to get in touch with SD Negeri 1, Jungut Batu. I visited the school in January and would like to send them supplies. I spoke with the teachers and the English teacher. I taught math for 33 years and I want to give back to the friendly, honest, beautiful people of Lembongan Island!
patricia mccarty on Mon, 11th Feb 2013
Please contact me so that I can contribute to the school mentioned in the above article. I visited them last month. I spoke with the teachers, especially the English Teacher. Help!