Pommie Travels

Rip Curl Padang Padang 09

“It’s On When It’s On” is Rip Curl’s tagline for this event and Padang Padang 09 certainly was ON on Saturday 15th August. With a big swell expected over the weekend, the green light was given on Saturday with 32 international invites battling it out at Padang Padang, Bali.

Hundreds of Bali’s best looking girls and guys turned up in the baking heat to watch the spectacular display. There were Bintangs and portions of Nasi Goreng all round, with the people in the Warungs on Padang Padang working flat out to satisfy those hungry and thirsty stomachs.

Press and spectators were trying to capture the perfect shot from every rock and vantage point around Padang Padang. Some people saw the big swell as an opportunity to go surfing themselves and several young kids were having a go in front of the crowds.

26 year old Jamie O’Brien from Hawaii took first place after beating Balinese surfer Made “Bol” Adi Putra in the final. O’Brien scored a record 4 perfect 10s in the event, with two in the same heat.