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SURFTIME INSPIRATION # 137

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In honor of the 2025 Rip Curl Cup, Surftime asked Bali’s resident surfing artist Gene Kreyd for a spontaneous take on a surf spot he has been calling home for many years: “I’ve been surfing Padang since 1985. I first came to Bali to experience the Padang Padang tube and the Bali vibe. I met so many great lifelong friends surfing this wave. Having beers on the beach after the surf and watching the sunset. So many beautiful experiences. I was blessed to have so many amazing, mind-altering rides over the years. And even though I don’t surf as much like before, I am still in love with the Queen of the Coast. The world changed big time, and so has Bali, but “The song Remains The Same”. The Padang Padang magic is as strong as ever. Mystical, beautiful, and timeless. This sacred place will be in our hearts forever. I really enjoy the contests at Padang Padang and watching some of the world best tube riders get barreled. The 2025 event was unreal. Padang Padang generously offers the gifts...

SURFING GREATEST CONVERSATIONS: JON PYZEL IS SHAPING HISTORY

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Photography by Pyzel Archives Jon Pyzel’s pedigree runs much deeper than just being the shaper for the best surfer on the planet. You gotta go back a bit. As a teen surfer kid in Santa Barbara, Jon Pyzel was close witness to the birth of the 80’s Tommy Curren era and Al Merrick’s subsequent global design dominance. A powerful influence that caused Jon to pivot his dreams from a pro surfing career to an underground shaping career. At first mentored by shaper Matt Moore of the famed Rincon Designs surf shop (that was within sight of California’s best point break), Jon upped stakes when he moved to the North Shore in 1992. It was there, now mentored by maestro shaper Jeff Bushman and possessing a keen interest in modernizing the Hawaiian designs that came before his time, that Jon Pyzel developed a reputation as a shaper for the future. As it happened, John John Florence and his family lived right next door. A lifelong friendship with the Florence family grew and soon Jon Pyzel was ...

PERTAMA: THE RIO WAIDA MOVIE
Nusa Cana’s Telling His Real Story

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It’s a rare move within the surfing industry when a sponsor sets out to make a high quality, dramatic short film about one of their team riders. And not just a clip of his latest action in the water, but a very personal profile of what makes a certain surfer click. His very personal story, his motivations, his inner thoughts. But that is exactly what Nusa Cana, Indonesia’s leading rum company, set out to do with Pertama, the Rio Waida movie. Sparing no expense, Nusa Cana, who are also “bringing back the forgotten story of Indonesian rum”, wanted to highlight the rise of Rio Waida as a metaphor for their own company’s rise within its industry. And provide a re-invigorated passion for the beauty of Indonesia and its surfers. And indeed, something very special happened. Shooting between Australia, Bali and Abu Dhabi with four RED cameras and the best shooters behind the lenses, not only is the footage of this film remarkable, but a strong sense of purpose comes through. Never do...

INSIDE SNAPT 5: THE FINAL CUT
THE RISE AND FALL AND RISE OF FILMMAKER LOGAN “CHUCKY” DULIEN

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Photography Courtesy of Snapt 5 In today’s online surf media glutted world, it is not often that an honest voice arises. With endless surf clips at our beckon and call it seems as if everybody is just having a hell of a good time out there without having to offer any perspective or context on the vanguard performances of our sport. The meaning of it. It’s almost inhuman in a way. Scrolled. Disposable. Designed to simply be consumed without any nutritional value in regards to the soul of surfing. But now and then a saving grace occurs. That feature surf film that comes along. One created with concept and forethought. The one that barnstorms around to live audiences and inspires mass gatherings on big screens that swerve our attention away from our phones and back to the visual wonder that surfing is. Where we as a tribe can look on together and hoot ourselves hoarse at just how great surfing makes us all feel. How much it means to us. And see just how outrageous what we do in...

BALI’S NEXT GENERATION CLAIM THE CROWN

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Westen Hirst and Jasmine Studer Triumph at the Queen of the Bukit Photography by Nate Lawrence and Joey Griffiths • Words by Trent Cohune “It’s on when it’s on,” as the saying goes here in Bali. Surf competitions, as we know, can be a long and gruelling process, dragging on for days waiting for Mother Nature to produce adequate conditions. That agonizing wait is exactly what the locals endured through the month of July, which was meant to host the local trials for the Rip Curl Cup at Padang Padang. The Indian Ocean lay dormant as Indonesia’s best young surfers from across the archipelago waited on the cliffs of the Bukit for a chance to prove themselves on the global stage. The trial window was their shot, a moment to showcase a lifetime of love for one of the planet’s most iconic and technical tuberiding waves. But Mother Nature didn’t deliver. It was in fact, not on, and the fate of these young hopefuls hung in the balance as the opening ceremony kicked off on August 3rd. Th...

RIDE THE WAVE, FEEL THE FLOW, STAY IN THE MOMENT

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In Canggu, movement is more than motion, it’s the heartbeat of the island. At Holiday Inn Resort Bali Canggu, Where Movement Meets the Moment is a way of life, where the rhythm of the waves and the glow of each sunset shape your stay. Just a three-minute walk from the iconic Batu Bolong Beach, you’re perfectly placed to paddle out at first light or watch the surf roll in from the shore. After the ride, retreat to your sanctuary, with warm wood tones, plush bedding, a private balcony, and ocean-inspired design that carries the calm of the coast indoors. Couples and friends gather at the rooftop pool bar to toast Bali’s legendary sunsets with 180-degree Indian Ocean views, while families enjoy the Family Suite and the “Kids Stay & Eat Free” promise. Here, energy flows easily. Start your morning with a surf, explore Canggu’s vibrant streets by day, and unwind with yoga, boxing, or simply a crafted cocktail as evening falls. Whether you’re chasing the thrill of the swell or savour...

RIP CURL ULUWATU:
A TRIBUTE TO SURFING HERITAGE AND THE SEARCH

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Nestled less than a kilometer from Padang Padang, the spiritual heart of Indonesian surfing, Rip Curl Uluwatu isn’t just a store; it’s a statement. Inspired by The Search, this flagship space celebrates Rip Curl’s deep roots in the Bukit and beyond. Step inside and you’ll feel the soul of surfing: teakwood interiors, murals by local artists, and walls lined with boards from the pioneers to today’s world champions. At its core lies a dedicated Rip Curl museum, a tribute to 22 years of the iconic Rip Curl Cup and countless Search trips that shaped Indonesia’s surf history. It’s more than retail; it’s a home base for the community, a venue for athlete film screenings, and a canvas for Balinese art and culture. Exclusive to Uluwatu? The chance to meet legends like former CT winner Dean Morrison in the boardroom and immerse yourself in virtual experiences of the Search and Padang Cup. Every corner tells a story meant to inspire your next adventure. Whether it’s chasing waves across th...