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What a great event for surfing and the surfers, coaches and officials involved. Their smiles told the whole story as the event unfolded. Historically, Asia has hidden undoubtedly some of the jewels in the surfing crown as far as classic world class surf is concerned. The travelling surfers know it and, increasingly, the local surfing communities are growing and appreciating it as well. Indonesia is seen as a surfing gateway into Asia for the expanding surf industry but, for the ISA, there are few national surfing associations functioning, at least over the 45 countries which are members of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA). Some are landlocked, some seasonal, some just being born into the “way of the surfing lifestyle”. As the surfing program for the Bali Asian Beach Games (BABG) was being planned, we were always uncertain as to the ability of surfers without national surfing associations to link with their National Olympic Committees to become part of their official teams. In this area we had mixed success, but those who attended were certainly stoked they made the effort. The Indonesia Surfing Federation (National Governing Body –NGB) set up the site and infrastructure. We had scaffold platforms for judging, announcers, media, VIPs at the waters edge and a secured line of tents behind for teams, administration, official media, drug testing, volunteer administration, sponsors and a tiered viewing platform for the public. Our site at Kuta was one of three Games sites housing the 17 sports involved and ran like clockwork. All the surfing teams travelled with and were involved within their respective national Olympic teams. Various national officials moved between event sites so in the final stages we had many VIPs arriving to view proceedings and follow their surfers’ progress. It was great to see all the surfing results appearing in the list of sports and achievements. The Indonesian, Philippines, Japanese and Maldives teams shared the medals and all received good media coverage in Bali and at home. From the comments of the various Chef de Missions (national team managers) who visited the surfing site, the surfing athletes were indeed an integral part of their teams, respected for their skills and treated equally with other sports. Presentation night saw winners receiving their medals under the raised flag and anthem of their country - an experience that many surfers thought would never be available to them. So the conduct of this event was in the true Olympic style, fanfare, strong competition, big infrastructure, media attention, drug testing, team participation and uniforms, all under the national flags of competing countries. All the surfing officials have the next Asian Beach Games in their sights in 2010. Surfing put on a professional showing this time and, by then, surfing in Asia will have taken a big leap forward. Final Results of Surfing Competition in the Bali Asian Beach Games Aloha Cup: Men’s Shortboard Division: Women’s Shortboard Division: Men’s Aerial Division: Men’s Longboard Division: About International Surfing Association
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