This Year Is Becoming The Golden Year For Surfing In Indonesia

After being absent for a few editions, Kim Bradley is back this month having just returned from a trip to visit friends in Sumatra. Kim suffers from skin cancer and is looking much healthier than the last time we saw him.   

Kim still has high hopes that surfing in Indonesia will become a national sport and part of the national sport competition (PON). He feels that surfing is one way of promoting Indonesia and Bali in particular.

One example is Nusa Lembongan, previously unknown, it is now a popular tourist destination. This island, which is in the Klungkung regency, has perfect waves for surfing, which has contributed to the increase in tourism and the economy.      

Talking about the Asian Beach Games to be held 18 until 26 October 2008 Kim said ”maybe this is the way for surfing to be accepted as a national sport and then surfers would not be representing a brand or their local area but they would be part of the national team of Indonesia”

Kim, who has lived in Indonesia since he was 19, explained that the last international standard contest in Indonesia was 10 years ago in 1998 so this year is becoming the golden year for surfing. Starting with the re-launch of INSA and surfing brands taking an active role putting on contests so that surfers have more motivation to improve their skill and surfing progressing from being not only a sport but also a lifestyle.

Kim salutes Rip Curl as being the brand he sees to be the most active with contests not just for the guys but also for the increasing number of surfer girls. He is a bit shocked that so many Indonesian girls are scared to surf because they are worried about their skin being dark but said that he now sees a lot more girls surfing.