Photo: Rip Curl
Conditions at Padang Padang didn’t shape up to standards when contest organizers hoped to run the Rip Curl Cup on August 13. It’s likely the surfers and the powers that be who put the event together were more than happy they waited it out another week to finally get the call. The 23rd edition of the single-day contest for Indo’s biggest tubehounds went off Thursday in incredible conditions, with head-high (and bigger) barrels dished out for everybody wire to wire.
This year’s trophies belong to two more teenagers, Australian Lucy Darragh and Lakey Peak local Rajo “Barrel” Saputra.
Saputra was locked in for both of his heats in the leaderboard format. He collected an 8.17 and 8.57 in his first heat of the day and a perfect 10 in round two, each advancing him through the day and into the men’s four-person, winner-take-all final. He faced Makana Pang in that final, who was holding the overall lead heading in, last year’s men’s champion, Westen Hirst, and Tosh Tudor. All four surfers put up big scores with nine-point rides through the full four-person field, so Saputra one-upped them all with his second perfect-10 of the day and a big 9.73 as his backup score.
“I can’t even talk right now, I’m so happy,” he said after the win. “I had a dream last night that I was going to win the comp. It’s crazy. My dad got second in this contest in 2006, so I’m so stoked to win it this year and bring it back home for him.”
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Darragh also put together a solid showing throughout the whole day en route to her win. She nearly notched a 10-point score herself in the first round (9.93), and went into the women’s final with the overall lead. Like Saputra, she faced last year’s champion, Jasmine Studer, as well as Australian Ruby Berry and Hawaiian Vaihitimahana Inso. She posted another big heat total against the ladies, with another nine-point ride and an 8.17 to take home the win.
“This is such a sick comp. I’ve been watching it for years, since I was a grom. I just can’t believe I’ve won it,” said Darragh. “There’s honestly no better feeling than just standing in a massive Padang tube. I’m so stoked.”
Rip Curl’s Harry Mann said after the long day the conditions “couldn’t have been more perfect” at Padang Padang. “This event has such a rich history and the best energy, and today was no different. We saw some insane performances from Rajo and Lucy, and it was truly one for the ages.”
