In a riveting 30 minute final at the Billabong Pro Java in Cimaja with just four minutes remaining, ISC Number 2 ranked surfer Lee Wilson came from behind and took over the lead in a hard fought victory against Number 13 ranked Dedy Santoso, scoring a 8 out of 10 on smallish wave that he literally ripped apart all the way into the beach.

Wilson was behind for most of the final and needed a 6.25 to take the lead, true to his trademark style he didn’t hold anything back, almost landing on top of a large rock on the inside section on his last maneuver. Santoso bravely fought back, but couldn’t get the 8 point wave he needed to regain the lead that he had held trough the majority of the final.

Then to leave no doubt about his intent to claim a decisive victory, the Billabong team rider spotted a worthy wave and again ripped it apart, this time adding an air on the end which got him a 9.0 from the judges, as well as the Coca-Cola ISC Best Maneuver Award. “I’m super stoked to have won the event” Wilson beamed, “Especially in Dede’s (Suryana) home town. The people, waves, and hospitality in Cimaja have been great I’m looking forward to getting back here next year”. Wilson wins Rp 10 million (about $1,000 USD) and tallies up 3,000 ISC Championship points.

Sentoso was a worthy opponent, and jumped out into the lead with a series of huge and stylish turns on several waves, leaving Wilson to search the horizon for a suitable wave for his aggressive style of surfing. The ocean would go flat several times during the final as if to be purposely building up the tension to its maximum level, and then a two or three wave set would roll through to give each competitor a chance to show off their best surfing. The crowd on the beach would go crazy after each maneuver, rooting on their chosen favorite.

Local hero Dede Suryana didn’t make it into the final, but gave a brilliant display of surfing to his home fans in Semifinal 1 against Dede Santoso. Normally unflappable, perhaps the pressure of all the expectations got him rattled at the start as several mistakes got him behind. In the final minutes he needed a score of 9.6 to take the lead and seemed to have gotten it, but fell just short getting a 9.35. He lost by a mere .15 of a point.

In Semifinal 2 Lee Wilson got behind Garut Widiarta in the early going. Widiarta’s, backside attack on the Cimaja waves was incredible to watch, but when Wilson got his rhythm going he soon posted a 6.35, to which he added a 9.5 to bust his way into the final.

The day’s competition began at 7:00 am with the Masters Division semifinals. On the high tide there were 3-5 foot sets rolling through, giving the wily legends some great conditions in which to compete. At the end of the two semifinals, it was an all Balinese final, with Wayan Widiartha, Made Artha, Wayan Gantiyasa and Made Lapur left to fight it out in the finals. After giving them a break and running the Women’s Division final, they were back out in the water and ready to go.

Made Artha’s powerful frontside surfing had him out in front early, but soon Wayan Widiartha came from behind on his backside and ripped his way into the lead, punching out turn after turn all the way to the inside to stop just short of the rocky beach, getting him the lead. Artha struggled with a few smaller waves but just couldn’t find any magic, so when the horn blew it was Widiartha who would be standing on the top spot of the podium.

The Women’s Division final was a challenging affair, as the 4-5 foot sets rolling through were intimidating as well as physically demanding. But the girls bravely paddled out and tackled the waves head on, with 15-year-old Rohaye from Sumatra being the first to take off and get the lead in the final. But soon she was overtaken by Ayako Miyashita, whose greater experience both at Cimaja and in surfing competition had her overtaking the younger girl and posting the highest score of the final, a 7.0, to win.

In addition to the cash prizes given by Billabong, the first place winner in each division received a first run limited edition watch from Nixon. The Billabong Pro Java was sponsored by the Desa Resort located directly on the break at Cimaja, in addition to Von Zipper sunglasses, Nixon accessories, Kustom shoes, the good people of Jawa Barat, Sakura Logistics, and is sanctioned by the Coca-Cola Indonesian Surfing Championship Tour.

This event was the second stop on the 2009 Coca-Cola Indonesian Surfing Championship Tour, boasting a total prize purse of Rp 40 million between the Men’s Pro, Masters, and Women’s Divisions. The 6-star Billabong Pro Java competition was held over a four-day period between May 20-23, with almost 90 competitors from Bali, Nusa Lembongan, Java and Sumatra making the journey to scenic Cimaja to surf for money, glory, and ISC championship points.

Coca-Cola ISC Men’s Pro Division Results

1. Lee Wilson
2. Dedy Santoso
3. Dede Suryana – Garut Widiarta

Coca-Cola ISC Master’s Division Results

1. Wayan Widiartha
2. Made Artha
3. Wayan Gantiyasa
4. Made Lapur

Coca-Cola ISC Women’s Division Results

1. Ayako Miyashita
2. Nyoman Satri
3. Rohaye (Febri Rohmaningsih)
4. Chika

SOURCE: Indonesian Surfing Championship Tour