Raditya “the Bull” Rondi Takes Down Pepen “the Tiger” Hendrik to Win the Rusty Rumble in Da Jungle

Sanur-Bali: Raditya Rondi bested last year’s Rumble in Da Jungle winner Pepen Hendrik today in a 30 minute man-on-man battle in testing 5-6 foot wave conditions yesterday to claim victory and the additional distinction of being the first goofyfooter to ever win the legendary event.

The stylish and aggressive goofyfooter from Kuta nicknamed “the Bull” takes home a winners check for Rp 15 million and 3,000 Coca-Cola ISC Championship points, and now sits in second spot in the 2011 rankings, having finished equal third in the first event on the Coca-Cola ISC Tour in April.

“Wow, it feels so good to win!” said Rondi after receiving his winner’s check. “There weren’t many great waves out there in the final and I was so lucky today that Pepen didn’t get any. I felt like I barely made my earlier heats today with kind of low scores, first against Gogo (Komang Sujaya) in the quarters and then against Robot (Wayan Susiana) in the semi’s. I was really happy just to be in the final, because the way Pepen has been surfing I didn’t think I had a chance against him. I was having a rough time during the first half of the heat, but then I got a couple of the smaller waves and somehow got the lead, then managed to hold on, hoping Pepen didn’t get a good one” he finished with big smile.

Hendrik was understandably disappointed, saying “I don’t know what happened out there, but I just couldn’t find a good scoring wave. I felt good and my board felt good, but somehow I couldn’t get more than a couple of turns in on a wave. My waves scores coming into today were all really good, and I wasn’t having much trouble winning my heats, even today up until this final. I shouldn’t be too unhappy with second, but I really should have won today, I was so close.” But he can be consoled by the fact that has the number one spot in the rankings now, having finished in the runner up spot in the first two contests of the 2011 season.

This was the third and final day of competition at the 2011 Rusty Rumble in Da Jungle, the first day having been held at Bangsal Beach in Sanur Reef on April 27th with a trial heat and Rounds 1through 3, then Round 4 was completed at “Da Jungle” on April 30, and today the quarterfinals through finals were run once again at “Da Jungle.”

The early morning check of Sanur Reef revealed smallish conditions whereas “Da Jungle” had solid 4-6 foot sets on offer, so the decision was made to get started and completed both the Open and Master’s Division today as the forecast showed a quickly decreasing swell beginning tomorrow and through the remainder of the waiting period that ends on May 8.

Though the wave conditions were challenging, almost maxing out the capability of “Da Jungle” to handle them, and torrential rain was pouring down for more than an hour mid way through the morning, the Open Division and Masters (over 35 years of age) contestants battled through the pounding waves and inclement weather starting from 7:30 am til the final horn blew at just before 12:30 pm. Often a paddle back to the outside would take a full 5 minutes or more, giving them a testing workout.

In the Master’s final, last year’s Rumble runner up and 2010 Coca-Cola ISC Masters champion Ketut Juliarta staged a come-from-behind charge to leapfrog last year’s winner Wayan Budayasa and take the victory, blasting a medium sized set wave apart with a series of searing turns and posting a 7 point score, the highest of the final. He was elated with his win, thanking everyone profusely from the podium while being sprayed with Coca-Cola by his fellow competitors. With a second place finish in the first event and yesterday’s runner up finish, Wayan Budayasa now sits in the number one spot in the 2011 Master’s Division rankings.

Rusty GM and Contest Director Kane Faint congratulated the surfers for their efforts as well as his Rusty crew, the Coca-Cola ISC judges and crew, the event sponsors, and last but not least the local community for sharing their waves and beach for the event. “In true “Jungle” style it was man against the elements today, in the water and on the beach, but that’s what makes it an even more exciting finish to a great event. Great work everybody, and looking forward to next year so we can do this again!” said Faint.

The next stop on the Coca-Cola ISC tour will be on the island of Nias in Sumatra from June 1-6th.

Rusty Rumble in Da Jungle Results:

Coca-Cola ISC Open Division
1. Raditya Rondi
2. Pepen Hendrik
3. Dedi Santosa – Wayan Susiana

Coca-Cola ISC Masters Division
1. Ketut Juliarta
2. Wayan Budayasa
3. Ketut Wirtawan
4. Made Lapur

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Republished with the kind Permission of BaliWaves Bali's #1 source for up to date surf news and events.

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