Brad Masters, FRAMED

After years of shooting Indonesia's amazing waves and culture for the world's leading surf mags, Brad Masters is now offering his photographs to the public in the form of custom framed prints. His works can be printed to your own specifications and framed with old recycled teak wood if desired. Printed on fine art paper, the colours are vibrant, sharp, and long-lasting. To see some samples head to Betelnut Cafe in Canggu.
They can be ordered without the frame, rolled up, and shipped world wide. To find out more email Brad directly ( bradleymasters@me.com ) or find him on Facebook.

America, love it or leave it - Betet Merta



“My head look like condom,” says Betet Merta. The diminutive Balinese surfer is clad in rubber from head to toe, including a tight-fitting neoprene hood that makes his dome look like something on the back of a Durex box. Betet does not look comfortable under all that thick rubber. We are about to go surfing at a sharky spot on the rugged coast between San Francisco and Santa Cruz – if Betet doesn't back out when his toes feel the icy water.
On this January morning the water temperature is a prickly 11 degrees Celsius, but it feels more like 7 or 8 °C with the wind chill from the brisk offshores. Betet hasn't surfed since leaving Bali in late October. For weeks he's been stationed at the mall in Petaluma, California, helping his wife at her store and taking care of their newborn daughter, Hannah. From Petaluma it's an hour-drive to the nearest beach, and two hours to any decent waves. Betet's been calling me incessantly about going surfing. “When can we go to Santa Cruz?” he says. “I miss the ocean. I need to surf.”
Now we are finally at the beach and the waves are looking pretty damn good. Bowly, overhead rights are winding down an offshore reef surrounded by large strands of floating bull kelp. But as soon as we get our feet wet, Betet starts to fidget and looks anxious. We paddle out. Halfway out to the break, I look back and see Betet floundering on the inside. He's lying on his board, staring down at the water. He looks like he's about to puke. He turns to me and gives the international sign for surrender. “No way!” he shouts, shaking his head. “Too cold!”
When a five-wave set comes cracking down the reef and into the channel, Betet's wave lust takes over and he powers out to the lineup. We last about 25 minutes, at which point we can't feel our hands or feet and can barely stand up. We retreat to the warmth of the car. Three waves, that's all we have to show for our long drive down the coast. It still beats a day at the mall. Driving back north, Betet presses his hands to the car's heater vents, and we discuss his ongoing love-hate relationship with America.
We just went surfing north of Santa Cruz and you almost passed out from the cold. What's the worst thing about surfing in cold water?
I hate the cold water. The wave today was so fun, but I can't feel my feet on my board.
Why don't you wear booties?
I can't wear booties. I never wear them.
How long can you stay out in water that cold before you feel like you're gonna die?
I don't know, today after 25 minutes I'm already done. After just three waves I can't feel my feet. On my last wave I'm like, oh my god, where is my feet! It's not worth it for me. I can't live here. Santa Cruz has a lot of good waves. It's almost like Bali, everywhere you go good wave. But the water is just too cold.
Maverick's is just thirty minutes north from here. Any interest?
Fuck that. Those guys are crazy. I can't surf three-foot wave in cold water, how can I surf a 20-foot wave in freezing water. That's so heavy. I wish I can do that. Then maybe I can live here.

"Fuck booties!"
What's your favorite thing about America?
Obama. I love Obama. I'm just pissed at him because he never call me when he come to Bali. I wanna hang out with him, but he don't call me. Last time he was in Bali, I saw his plane – what's it called?
You mean Air Force One?
Yeah, Air Force One. I was surfing Serangan with Benji (Weatherly), and we saw his plane, and we started yelling, Obamaaaa! But he didn't hear me (laughing).
Ok, what's the worst thing about America?
Everything is so far away here. You wanna go surf that wave? Far. You wanna go to that place? Far. You wanna go see your friends? Far. And you have to drive in the car and find parking. Sometimes you have to pay like $20 for parking. In Bali you can jump on the bike and get there quick, and park wherever.
Have you been to the East Coast of America?
Where's East Coast? Oakland?
No, like New York.
Not yet. I really want to go to New York. If I have money, I want to go there for sure. That's my dream.
What do you think of Petaluma, your wife's hometown?
It's pretty mellow. The town is pretty small, almost like Kuta. I like that. But sometimes it can get really boring.
What is the biggest difference between America and Bali?
Here the roads so big, the car so big. The internet is really fast. Whatever you want to download, it's so good. At my wife's house we have really fast internet. That's all I've been doing here is staying home and watching surf movies on YouTube and watching webcast of surf contest like the Pipe Masters.
What do you miss most about home when you are away?
I just miss surfing. In Bali you're in shorts and the waves are better. The waves can be good here, but the water is too cold. You don't have fun. In Bali there's more people on the beach, more chicks, it's just nice. I miss the beach lifestyle – warm water, surfing with all my friends. Bali is the best place to live. It's paradise.
What's the first thing you will do when you get home?
Go surf. I have three new boards from YU waiting for me right now. I can't wait to get home and wax them up, and paddle out in shorts, and surf some warm waves.
And no condom head.
For sure, no condom head.
By Leo Maxam / Balibelly.tv
Photos: Gibbs

Kapal Karam - Terengganu "Shipwreck" 25-27th January 2012

Location: Kapal Karam, Kuala Terengganu
Date: 25-27th January 2012
Credits: Terengganu Surf Community
Photographer: Abang Aziz











Quiksilver Opens New Store in West Jakarta’s Summarecon Mal Serpong 2







28 January 2012, Jakarta-Indonesia:  Quiksilver Indonesia in partnership with PT Gagan Indonesia are proud to announce the opening of their latest Quiksilver sportswear and fashion store in the Summarecon Mal Serpong 2, a new family style mall located on the western edge of Jakarta in Serpong best known by its initials “SMS 2.”

Filled with the latest and most complete range of premium beachwear, sportswear and fashion products and accessories from Quiksilver, Roxy, and DC Shoes, the new store offers everything from high fashion to casual wear as well as skateboards by Freedom Dolly, sunglasses, watches and more to the families of this popular and growing suburb of Indonesia’s ever-growing capital city of Jakarta.

The new Quiksilver store is conveniently located on the ground floor of the “SMS 2” mall, making it easy for the millions of visitors that the mall attracts to check out the premium product categories that appeal to everyone from suburban fashionistas to stranded beachgoers and everyone in between.

“This latest store opening is a continuation of the Quiksilver and Roxy store expansion in Indonesia by Quiksilver and PT Gagan Indonesia,” says PT Gagan Indonesia COO Anil Konidena, “and our second one in the greater Jakarta area. It’s a great opportunity for us both to have a new store in this growing suburban area, and we look forward to a great 2012,” he added.

Quiksilver and PT Gagan Indonesia now have five concept stores together on the island of Java; the other is the Quiksilver Store in Pondok Indah Mall 1 Jakarta, Paris Van Java Bandung, Grand City Mall Surabaya, and Roxy and DC stores in Surabaya’s Tunjungan Plaza Mall Surabaya.

Quiksilver South East Asia CEO Paul Hutson is very proud of the new store opening and is very optimistic about the future growth of Quiksilver and its Roxy and DC brands in Indonesia, stating, “We continue to see tremendous opportunities as the Indonesian economy steams ahead, with new areas like Serpong and Tengerang growing quickly.  Together with a fine partner like PT Gagan we can provide the thousands if not millions of these residents the opportunity to be part of the Quiksilver crew and its boardriding heritage by giving them access to our great products.”

The Summarecon Mall Serpong is located on Jl. Boulevard Gading Serpong in Tangerang, and the Quiksilver store is open 7 days a week from 10:00 am until 11:00 pm.


For more information contact:

Quiksilver SEA
Rossi Chesarah - Public Relations

PT. Gagan Indonesia

Sutarto Wiryo - Brand Manager

Tioman Surf Contest 3-5th February 2012


Support our local surf event!!!

Tioman Surf Contest 2012

Date: 3-5th February 2012
Location: Juara Beach, Tioman, Pahang
Category: Bodyboard Open , Surfboard Open
Details: www.tiomanboardriders.blogspot.com

4th Annual T.C Thick Pipes Surf Challenge 2012


Support our local surf event!!!

4th Annual T.C Thick Pipes Surf Challenge 2012

Date: 28-29 January 2012
Location: Teluk Chempedak Beach, Kuantan
Category: Bodyboard Open , Surfboard Close (for T.C surfers only)

Glen Hall Wins Hainan Classic in China Monday, January 16th, 2012

WANNING, Hainan Island, China (Saturday, January 14, 2012) – Despite smaller conditions on the final day of the competition at the Hainan Classic, the Final was an action-packed, wave-for-wave affair. Glenn ‘Micro’ Hall managed to take control early with a long, excellent-scoring wave mid-way through the heat and hold off Royden Bryson (ZAF) in order to be crowned the first-ever champion of the Hainan Classic, an ASP 4-Star Men’s World Tour event.
“China’s been amazing, I was honestly stoked to come here regardless of the contest, but to come here and have fun, uncrowded waves, was great. The first couple days were two-foot and fun then it got to four-foot and pumping and then it got bigger and it’s just been a good week,” said Hall, after his win, which is the highest-rated event win by an Irish surfer. “I’m pumped, it’s been the funnest week of surfing, so to have a win and a $15 000 cheque to go with it is amazing.”
Both surfers have been putting in countless hours over the last week getting to know the various waves around the contest area, and that experience proved vital on the final day of action of the inaugural Hainan Wanning Riyue Bay International Surfing Festival presented by Quiksilver.
Today, both finalists dedicated their morning to watching. Both were at the contest venue at first light to do research.
“I got here early trying to dissect it and find out which ones were actually the good ones,” Hall said. “I was up at 5:30, I didn’t even free-surf; I figured today would be a lot different, so I just sat and watched.”
In the first semifinal of the morning, Hall was up against Dion Atkinson (AUS), the powerful regular-stance surfer. Atkinson actually was the one to get off to the fast start, registering an 8.33, but he struggled to find an adequate back-up.
Hall kept active, posting a 6.9 to close the gap, before stroking into one of the best set waves f the heat. After two big floaters and couple turns the wave came through at an 8.17 and sent forced the Australian to scramble. Atkinson’s wave in the dying moments of the heat wouldn’t be enough.
In the second semifinal, Bryson managed to advance past Marc Lacomare (FRA), who’s been one of the top-performing competitors in the two-event Surfing Festival. The South African was on the choice waves of the heat and tallied the highest total heat score of the day, at 16.87.
In the final, Bryson wasn’t finding those same waves. It was Hall who kept most active and was finding the waves that lined-up all the way through the bay, allowing for multiple turns and maneuvers. Bryson did complete the trick of the heat, landing a perfectly executed double-grab air-reverse.
In the end, Bryson couldn’t find enough to out-point Hall, who was surfing fast and smooth on the waves of the heat, for a heat score of 16.33. Bryson had a few opportunities late in the heat, but couldn’t find the scoring-potential in the waves that remained. He finished the heat with a score of 16.16.
After the heat, at the water’s edge, a pair of Australians was able to pull Hall away from the mob of Chinese media and chaired him up the beach. Hall spends half of the year living and training in Australia.
“I’m stoked for Hally, he’s a good friend of mine, so I couldn’t have picked a better person to win the final, besides myself,” said Bryson, with a laugh. “All in all, I am just stoked to have come here; it’s an amazing place, and I cannot believe the quality of the waves. It’s a place I’ll definitely visit again in the future.”
After the final, at the Award Ceremony, Hall was presented with the $15,000 USD winner’s-check and the ornate jade dragon trophy.
The entire contest is available to watch On-Demand at hainaninternationalsurfingfestival.com/hainan-classic/live

Raditya Rondi Wins 6th Annual Monsoon Mayhem International Surf Challenge in Malaysia














9 January 2012, Desaru - Malaysia:  Current Asian Surfing Champion Raditya Rondi from Indonesia took the Men’s Open victory yesterday in the 6th annual Monsoon Mayhem International Surf Challenge at Desaru Beach in Malaysia, battling it out in a 25 minute challenge against Mohd Nazrin “Super Yen” from Malaysia, Abdullah Areef from the Maldives, and Gilang from Indonesia.

The surfing conditions on the final day lived up to the moniker of “mayhem” for the most part, with 3-4 foot waves closing out on the inside sandbars and rain squalls blowing in and out, but for the Men’s Open finals the conditions cleaned up and allowed thrilling finale to the three-day Monsoon Mayhem competition.

Rondi was all smiles back on the beach after the final, pleased to be starting the 2012 ASC tour season with a win.  “This is my first time coming here to Desaru and it’s been lots of fun, so to take the win today just caps it off.  It’s a great way to start off the year.  We were really lucky that conditions got better in the finals, with the wind all but stopping so it got pretty good, which made it easier to find a couple of nice waves.   It was also cool to see all the Malaysian crew again, as I really enjoy surfing with these guys here and the whole experience,” he said.

When asked about the significance of his win today Rondi replied, “Yes it’s great to win the first event of the season, but there are a lot of good surfers on the ASC tour now and there will be lots more events, so I’ll have to work hard and travel if I want to retain my title in 2012.  But I’m going to do my best, and this is a great start!”

Abdullah Areef from the Maldives was satisfied with his third place finish, saying “I’m glad I got into the finals, so I can go back home with a trophy.  The waves got much cleaner for the final, which made for a great ending.  I’ve really enjoyed the event, and I want to do a lot more ASC events this year for sure, that’s my plan for 2012.”

The Asian Surfing Championship tour is just starting its second season, after having sanctioned a total of 9 events held in four countries, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Thailand in 2011.  The Monsoon Mayhem is the first event of 2012 season.

The Monsoon Mayhem International Surf Challenge took place on the golden sands of Desaru Beach, located an hours drive east of Johor Baru and approximately 1.5 hours by car from Singapore.

During the three days of the event, the surfing action included the Men’s Open Division, Women’s Division, Masters (over 35 years of age) Division, and a Bodyboard Division, with over 80 participants coming from Australia, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, the Maldives, Singapore, and of course Malaysia.

In addition to the surfing, there was also a skateboarding Slide Jam competition held on a hill just behind the Lotus Desaru Beach Resort followed by a DJ party at the hotel, giving the attendees a full weekend of fun activities.

To close the event at the awards presentation on the beach on Sunday afternoon, the Director of the Malaysia Tourism Ministry in Johor, Mr. Mohamad Isa Bin Abdul Halim took to the podium and said, “I first want to thank all the surfers from around the world that came to participate in the event, and all the governmental agencies that came together to support it to make it happen.  We really hope that next year you all will come back again, as we hope to make an even bigger and better event for you.  So thanks again everyone, and have a safe journey back to your home countries.  See you again next year!”

Nazir “Ajill” Salleh from Bigfoot Industries was very pleased with how the event all came together, saying, “We’re very happy with the great turnout this year, and next year we plan to make it even bigger and better, hopefully with more prize money for the contestants.  It’s been gratifying to see the event grow from just a couple of small tents on the beach and a dozen surfers, to having the ASC come and help us run the event and draw dozens of surfers from other countries.  We had over 80 contestants from 7 countries here this year, and I’m sure next year we’ll top that.  We feel honored that they all came to our event, as this isn’t exactly a dream wave that everybody is frothing to surf, so it’s the spirit and stoke of surfing and competing that is so good to see. So I thank all the surfers, my Bigfoot team, the government and the sponsors, and the ASC for making it such a great event.”

To see a video clip with all the highlights from the  2012 Monsoon Mayhem, click


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bP0DRcLGCU
To see more photos and results from the Monsoon Mayhem, see www.asiansurfingtour.com and look up the Asian Surfing Championship (ASC) and Bigfoot Industries on Facebook.

The Monsoon Mayhem event is supported by the Malaysian state of Johor as both a tourism promotion activity and in support of the growth of surfing in Malaysia.

Monsoon Mayhem 2012 was organized by Bigfoot Industries, sanctioned by the Asian Surfing Championships with official event partners Tourism Malaysia, Tourism Johor, Pejabat Memeterian Pelancongan Negeri Johor, sponsored by UNKL347, Wavehouse Sentosa, Satu Suku Surf, Fatimah Mohsin The Wedding Gallery, SaltySkin Dive & Surf, JOHO and Journey, and supported by the Surfing Association of Singapore, Johor Surfing Association, and MRB. The official accommodation for the event was the Lotus Desaru Beach Resort.

Monsoon Mayhem International Surf Challenge 2012 Contest Results:

Men’s Open Division

1.     Raditya Rondi (Indonesia)
2.     Mohd Nazrin “Super Yen” (Malaysia)
3.     Abdullah Areef (Maldives)
4.     Gilang (Indonesia)

Women’s Open Division

1.     Annissa Flynn (Thailand)
2.     Nur Hawani (Malaysia)
3.     Michaela Partin (USA)
4.     Brenda Lee (Malaysia)

Master’s Division

1.     Toshikazu Kirusji (Japan)
2.     Sean Gilhooley (Australia)
3.     Decha Sithidej (Thailand)
4.     Hideyuki (Japan)

Bodyboard Division

1.     Ali Khusruwan (Maldives)
2.     Ibrahim Shiman (Maldives)
3.     Ali Javeed (Maldives)
4.     Mohamed Luhushan (Maldives)

Best Local Johor Surfer – Haikal (Tanjung Balu, Malaysia)

Best Malaysian Surfer – Mohd Nazrin “Super Yen” (Cherating, Malaysia)

Best Wipeout – Ismail Miglal (Maldives)



Media Contacts

Bigfoot Industries
Nazir “Ajill” Saleh
Event Coordinator
Mobile: +6581484900


Asian Surfing Championships
Tim Hain
Media Director
Office:  +62361768293
Mobile:  +628123606674

History is Made as Asian Surfing Champions for 2011 are Crowned in Singapore














18 December 2011 – Singapore: The inaugural Asian Surfing Championships Awards were held on Saturday evening December 17th at the Wave House on Sentosa Island in Singapore to honor the Asian region’s first professional surfing champions, Singapore’s surfing champions, and to celebrate the media partnership of the ASC with the Outdoor Channel for 2012.  The event was attended by over 100 members of the Asian surfing community and various media.

It was a historical landmark in the progression of Asian surfing, as it was the first time that Asian surfing champions have been crowned as a result of competing in a multi-country and multi-event professional surfing competition circuit. The 2011 Asian Surfing Championship circuit saw a total of 9 events held in four countries, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Thailand.

22-year-old Made Raditya Rondi from Bali Indonesia took top honors as the champion in the Open Division, having won the Quiksilver Thailand Surf Competition in Phuket last September, the Rip Curl Surf & Music Festival in Bali in October, and just last week the Billabong Cherating Pro in Malaysia.  He is also the runner up on the Coca-Cola Indonesian Surfing Championship tour for 2011.

The significance of what he had achieved was evident in his acceptance speech, as he said, “Thank you very much for this award, as this is one of the biggest honors of my life so far, and I’ll always remember this. I want to say thanks to my sponsor Billabong and the ISC and ASC crews for making this all happen, and I hope that next year surfing can grow in Asia so we can make more contests. Should be lots of fun…thank you!”

Unfortunately 2011 ASC Longboard Champion Arip Nur Hidayat from West Java Indonesia was not present to receive his award, as he was attending his brother’s wedding, but he was acknowledged in absentia with a around of applause.  Hidayat is also the 2011 Indonesian Longboard Champion.

In the Women’s Division it was Yasnyiar “Bonne” Gea from Sumatra Indonesia who received the ASC Women’s Champion award, having competed in all six women’s events and having won three of them.  She thanked her sponsor Billabong, her family, the Asian surfing community and the ASC for their support in making it possible for her to be able to surf and to win this award.  Gea is also 4-time and current Indonesian Women’s Champion.

Decha Sithidej is now Thailand’s first surfing champion, having won the Master’s Division (over 35 years of age) of the Asian Surfing Championships.  It has only been in the last several years that Thailand has been recognized as having a surfing community, and it has grown rapidly as a result.  In his acceptance speech, Sithidej was liberal in his praise of the ASC for their support of surfing in Thailand, saying “Thanks to Tipi Jabrik and Tim Hain at the ASC for helping and supporting us in Thailand, without them this wouldn’t be possible.  Also big thanks to the crew at Quiksilver Thailand and to Joob at Surfing Thailand for their dedication and support.  This award is only possible because of all of you, and I’m so proud to represent Thailand as the first surfing champion.”

After the ASC champions had been called up together on the stage for a group photo, ASC Media Director Tim Hain took the microphone and called on Mr. Kevin Sim from Multichannel Asia to receive a placard in appreciation of the ASC and Outdoor Channel agreement for 2012.  By mid 2012, the Outdoor Channel will be broadcasting a series of programs that revolve around the ASC and its events, in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, and other Asian countries. 

“On behalf of Outdoor Channel, I would like to say that we’re very happy to be a partner with the first even Asian Surfing Championships, for next year and in the years to come” said Sim.  “We believe it’s the perfect platform from which to inform and entertain both the mainstream and sports enthusiasts in the Asian region, bringing the exciting sport of surfing into the living rooms of millions of people.”

After Sim’s speech and a big round of applause, MC Nazir “Ajill” Sallah from Big Foot Industries and president of the Singapore Surfing Association made a surprise declaration…the announcement of Singapore’s surfing champions for 2011. 

Receiving the Singapore Women’s Champion award was Cheryl Tang, who though taken by surprise delivered a heartfelt speech when asked by MC Sallah how she felt to be Singapore’s first woman surfing champion, especially given that there is no surf in Singapore.  She replied, “I think that if there is a will there is a way.  I’m really happy to see that surfing has grown so much in Asia, especially South East Asia, and I want to see more girls surfing in the current generation and the younger generation, and thanks to the ASC and the Outdoor Channel I know that’s going to happen.  It’s been a long road but it’s a really good thing for Asian surfing."

Singapore’s Men’s Champion Nasri Banadhaj was all smiles as his name was announced, and from the podium said, “First of all I want to thank the Indonesians and the Malaysians for sharing their waves with us, as we don’t have any waves in Singapore, so thanks so much for that.  And a big thanks to my crew of friends that has been surfing with me and supporting me for so many years!

With a final thanks to the attendees and the sponsors by MC Ajill, the formal part of the evening was over and then it was time for some entertainment at the Wave House Flowrider, where ASC Men’s champ Raditya Rondi and Women’s champ Bonne Gea tried their hand at surfing a different kind of wave than what the ocean can deliver.  With a bit of coaching and hands-on help, they both succeeded in spending a few seconds on their feet in the Flowrider.  “It’s way different than surfing for sure,” said Rondi.  “I started to get the hang of it at the end and it was really fun…really different but really fun.  When you fall its crazy, because you get swept away and rolled around so different than in the ocean, but it’s all good. With a bit more practice I’m sure I can get good at this!”

Billabong's Peter Thew and Wave House's Jeff Ranta as well as several other local experts jumped in to do a little demo to the crowd and show how it was supposed to be done.  DJ music accompanied the performance and and soon the crowd was dancing to the beats...until long into the night.

The ASC Awards was held in conjunction with the B.Y.O.B (Bring Your Own Board) event that included a full day of Flowboarding, Skateboarding, Wake Surfing, Stand Up Paddling, BMX and Bodyboarding, followed by their awards presentation and a night of partying with top local bands and DJ’s.

The Asian Surfing Championship Awards was sponsored by the Wave House Sentosa, the Surfing Association of Singapore, and Bigfoot Industries with the support of the Coca-Cola ISC Tour, Billabong, Oakley, Quiksilver, and Rip Curl, and media partners Outdoor Channel, Surfersvillage.com, Lines Magazine, Baliwaves.com, Thai Surfrider Magazine, SurfTime Magazine, and Royal Video Magazine.


For more information about the ASC, see www.asiansurfingtour.com

Media Contact:
Asian Surfing Championships
Tim Hain
Media Director
Office:  +62361768293
Mobile:  +628123606674