Billabong Presented The Rote Open 2011

Denpasar (Antara Bali) - The Regency of Rote Ndao and Billabong Indonesia are proud to announce the annual Rote Open 2011 presented by Billabong.

"International surfing competition that will take place on the eastern Indonesian island of Rote from September 14-18 this year, boasting a record $25,000 USD in total prize money across five divisions of surfing competition, spokeman said here Saturday.

The International Division winner will come home $4,000 richer, and the winner of the Coca-Cola Indonesian Surfing Championship Ultima Open Division pockets $3,000 in addition to valuable championship points.

The Rote Open 2011 presented by Billabong is sanctioned by the Coca-Cola Indonesian Surfing Championships; for Indonesian surfers there is the Ultima Open Division with a total prize purse of $9,500 USD and Grade 2 Master’s, Women’s and Rote Local Divisions (prize purse per division $1,200 USD) in addition to the International Division that is open to all non-Indonesian surfers.

Last year's Rote Open boasted a $20,000 prize purse, and this year Regent Leonard Hanning has generously added another $5,000.

"The government and the people of Rote very much appreciate the value of surfing and professional surfers, and we want to reward them accordingly when they come to visit our island. We are very enthusiastic about promoting our beautiful island and welcome everybody to come for a visit to see what Rote is all about,” Regent Leonard Hanning added.

The world class righthand reefbreak of Boa Beach is one of the most consistent surf breaks in Indonesia, offering up barrels and long walls as well as a perfect end section from which to punt big airs during the competition, and the famed lefthander of T-Land directly fronts the surfers’ accommodations in the town of Nembrala for free surf sessions.

Last year’s winner and 2010 Coca-Cola Indonesian Surfing Champion Putra Hermawan is really looking forward to returning to Rote this year.

"The wave at Boa is just perfect for my style of surfing, a perfect right-hand reef break with side to offshore winds making it fantastic for barrels, airs, and every high performance maneuver. My win last year at the Rote Open was the start of my run for the championship, so it will also be a special place for me. I just hope I can do it again this year," Putra said.

In addition to great surf spots, Rote Island has lots of reefs and lagoons for snorkeling and fishing as well as the unique culture of the Rote people that include their special ikat weavings, the peculiar Sasando “guitar”, tuak (energy rich palm juice), and the traditional Rotenese pointy hat, all derived from the ubiquitous lontar palm, their “Tree of Life.

Bali-based Trensa Tours has prepared a travel package for contestants or anyone that would like to experience Rote Island in a group setting at a bargain prize of $425 per person, leaving Bali on the 12th of September and returning on the 19th, which includes airfare, transfers, transport, accommodations, meals and contest entry fee.

Amos Lillo from Tresna Tours is proud to again be the travel agent and liason for the event.

"I’m very grateful to again be able to bring the Rote Open to my beautiful island, and I want to say a special thanks to Regent Lanning of the Rote Government and Billabong for being the presenting sponsor. We hope that this event not only draws lots of surfers for the competition but also other tourists that have always wanted to experience the unique culture, landscape, people and the waves of Rote. You won’t be disappointed, I promise you,” he said.

Equally pleased to be part of the event is Paul Anderson from Billabong Indonesia.

"I’m very happy we could come aboard again this year as the presenting sponsor of the Rote Open, as Rote is a very unique island with some world class waves and represents the kind of place Billabong wants to both support and be a part of,” he said.

Natural, beautiful, and unspoiled, a great combination of surfing, nature, and culture, that’s what is so attractive about Rote, and helping the local community by supporting a national and international surf competition is a great opportunity for us. We’re very excited about being a part of it again this year, Paul Anderson said.(**)