Bruce Irons

Bruce Irons from Kauai, Hawaii, carries a heavy surfing reputation and it’s easy to see why. Known as “Brucey” to friends and adoring fans worldwide, his surfing accomplishments at 28 years eclipse those of any average surf star. Before his competitive years Bruce was already famous for his freakishly progressive talent of landing high aerials and extreme turns on any wave with his trademark smooth style. His tube riding skills were top shelf from a young age and well documented at high-profile surf spots like Teahupoo, Pipeline, and Indonesia in countless surf magazines, oftentimes on their covers. Bruce also rips in big surf, something he proved by winning the prestigious invite-only Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau contest in 2004 where he achieved the only perfect 100 score in heavy 20-25 ft Hawaiian waves at Waimea Bay. He is also a Pipe Master after winning at his favorite wave, Pipeline, on Oahu’s north shore in 2001.

As the premiere sponsored surfer of clothing giant Volcom, Bruce has helped power the company to greatness through his constant media exposure. Bruce’s inspirational lead roles in Volcom’s surf film releases “Stoney Baloney,” (1995) “Magna Plasm,” (1998) and the 2005 Surfer Magazine Movie of the Year, “The Bruce Movie,” have made the titles famous. Today Volcom has gone from its underground board-culture roots and into public trading in the stock market and also real estate since purchasing a beachfront house at Pipeline.

In 2004 competitive hard work paid off and Bruce made the cut to join the World Championship Tour, also winning the Rookie of the Year award. Known as the Dream Tour because of the A-grade waves where the contests are held, Bruce made it to 9th place in 2005. This year he is looking to top that and after his first tour win ever at this August’s Rip Curl Search Somewhere… the door is wide open. Prior to his win, Bruce had announced plans to retire from the WCT and compete selectively, but if he gives it one more year who knows what could happen?


INTERVIEW
Congratulations on winning the Rip Curl Search contest. How do you feel about this win?
Very very stoked. Bali is one of my favorite places on earth. Lots of friend here. I’m stoked it happened here.

The world considers you as one of the most talented professional surfers on earth. But besides the Eddie (Waimea Bay special event), why do you rarely make it to the finals?
Because the waves are not always good.

What do you reckon about this WCT in Indonesia compared to other WCT contests?
Good waves, nice people, good food, beautiful scenery, good weather and the waves are always good.

From scale 0-10, how do you rate this “Somewhere” contest?
10 because I won and I love this place.

Does Indo/ Bali means something special after this win?
Bali has always been special to me. Lots of good friends and people. Now it means a little bit more. I will always love Bali. Forever.

Thanks Bruce!!!

I Komang “Gogo” Sujaya

Belakangan nama surfer yang satu ini banyak menjadi pembicaraan banyak orang dan membuatnya menjadi makin dikenal dalam komunitas surfing hingga tingkat internasional. Hal ini karena kesuksesannya memenangkan event Rip Curl Cup yang menghadiahinya “ticket to Somewhere”—wildcard entry untuk mengikuti event WCT Rip Curl Pro Search beberapa bulan yang lalu.
Kemenangan Gogo bukan hanya merupakan kejutan bagi banyak orang, namun juga bagi dirinya sendiri. Menurutnya.. merupakan impian setiap surfer untuk bisa mengikuti event WCT dan surfing dengan para surfer kaliber terbaik di dunia. Ini merupakan impian Gogo yang menjadi kenyataan dalam penantian satu dekade ia telah surfing. Walau jika dihitung-hitung terakhir diadakannya kontes WCT di Indonesia yang bertempat di G-Land adalah tahun 1997, bahkan Gogo belum mulai mencoba untuk surfing. Oleh karena itu dirinya sempat sangsi untuk mengikuti event tingkat dunia tersebut. Bukan karena kurang percaya diri atau enggak mampu berhadapan dengan surfer top 44 dunia. “Banyak surfer yang telah menyiapkan dirinya seumur hidup untuk bisa mengikuti event ini dan mereka telah lama menunggu. Sempat terpikir.. kenapa saya?”, ungkap Gogo.
Gogo mengaku bahwa untuk mendapatkan ‘tiket’ tersebut, ia enggak melakukan persiapan khusus. Ia hanya berlatih seperti biasa dan memang lebih banyak main di Uluwatu. Oleh karena itu ketika akhirya Rip Curl Cup yang biasanya diadakan di Padang Padang harus pindah ke Uluwatu, Gogo merasa ia selangkah lebih maju dari beberapa surfer lainnya. Ditambah lagi dengan keberuntungan Gogo yang enggak hanya memukau banyak orang pada saat kontes tersebut, juga mengagetkan dirinya.
Kembali mengingat ekspresi dirinya pada selepas menyelesaikan final heat nya, ia enggak pernah tampak selinglung itu. Pengumuman pemenang belum diadakan, namun semua temen-teman surfer telah memberinya ucapan selamat. “Aku bahkan enggak menyadari hal tersebut selama dua hari. Aku pikir hanya mimpi. Suatu saat aku bangun dan menemukan piala dan ‘tiket’ itu ada di depanku. Aku langsung menelpon Mus dan berteriak senang bahwa aku benar-benar memenangkannya!”
Gogo memang enggak berharap banyak dari kontes WCT tersebut. Pada saat upacara pembukaan di Pura Uluwatu, ia tampak takjub dan enggak bisa berkata-kata ketika didaulat untuk memperenalkan diri kepada komunitas surfing internasional dan duduk bersama idolanya.. Kelly Slater, Mick Fanning, dan Pancho.
Untuk persiapan kontes Rip Curl Pro Search tersebut juga Gogo mengaku enggak ada yang khusus. Di Round 1 ia sempat satu heat dengan Kelly Slater dan Tim Reyes, dilanjutkan di Round 2 ia telah menduga kekalahannya ketika berhadapan dengan Taj Burrow.
Gogo mengaku ia memang merasa lebih ‘dipandang’ setelah mendapatkan ‘tiket’ tersebut. Ada beberapa media dari luar negeri yang sempat mewawancaranya. Namun bukan ketenaran maupun hadiah yang begitu berarti bagi Gogo. Namun pengalaman dan kenangannya yang begitu bernilai baginya. Seorang surfer yang telah mewujudkan impian terbesarnya...

Made “Garut” Widiarta

Text: Lorca

I Made “Garut” Widiarta and Rip Curl share the same goal of putting an Indonesian on the World Championship Tour (WCT). Garut, the 20 year old goofy foot from Kuta, Bali, is Rip Curl Asia’s most promising sponsored surfer and was granted a wildcard into this August’s Rip Curl Search Somewhere to test his game against the big boys of the WCT. It was no doubt an overwhelming experience, but also one Garut can now apply to the World Qualifying Series campaign he is now on in the US and Japan. Garut made Surfer magazine’s New Hot 100 list of the world’s best youngest surfers and has also been featured in Transworld Surf, Surfer, and Surf Time, among other prestigious surf publications.
In local waters Garut is already making his own waves. He is currently ranked at #2 on the Indonesian Surfing Championship Tour, and with the final competition going down at his homebreak Halfway this October in Kuta, the advantage is clearly in his court. Yudha, Rip Curl Asia’s surf team manager, likens Garut to a young Kalani Robb with all the aerial tricks and power snaps down while showing no fear in the big stuff. Padang Padang is his choice spot and he is always a standout in its thick green tubes. Garut was born into a Balinese surf family from Kuta that includes relatives that rip - like Ganti, Budin, and Bol - so surfing is definitely in the genes. But for now, Surf Time wishes Garut success on his mission to represent Indonesia on the WCT. Go Garut!!!