Ketut Agus of Indonesia and Vittoria Farmer (AUS) are the winners of the Nias Pro 2018 World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 1,000 Men’s and Women’s divisions after an incredible 4 days of perfect surf at the idyllic wave location at Lagundri Bay on the remote island of Nias Indonesia.
Surfing one of the world’s greatest point breaks, finals day highlighted how fast surfing is progressing in the Asia region. The Men’s final saw Japan’s Kaito Ohashi place 2nd, a 3rd place finish from the event standout in local surfer Justin Bu’Ulolo and a runner-up finish from Kailani Johnson (Indonesia/Bali). Indonesian standout Ketut Agus held on to the end to take the biggest result of his career.
“I’m so happy to win for myself and for Indonesia!” exclaimed 17-year-old Ketut Agus after his best ever winning performance. “To win a WSL event is amazing and the field here was incredible with surfers from Australia, USA, Brazil, Japan and many more of the great surfing nations, I’m really very proud. We now all head to Simeulue Island for the next event and I feel stronger and I can go there and win again. It is so great to be surfing with and against international competitors.”
Australia’s Vittoria Farmer had dominated throughout the early rounds here and she carried that form into the final with an excellent opening 8.70 ride that allowed the 20-year-old Nossa native to control the heat from start to finish.
Bali surfer Kailani Johnson found some good rides during the final to hold the lead through the middle stages but a second solid 6.90 at the midway point from Farmer put the result beyond doubt. This is the best reuslt of Farmer’s young career.
“I have had such a great week here enjoying the perfect surf, and to win a WSL event on one of the world’s best waves is just the best feeling,” Farmer said. “Just surfing heats with one other girl in the water has been amazing – I really love coming here and surfing this wave”
Justin Bu”Ulolo (IDN), the local champion again surfed brilliantly in his Quarterfinal when he eliminated famous Indonesian surfer Dede Suryana. Then in his SemiFinal, Bu’ulolo was desperately unlucky not win after posting yet another excellent 8.00 point ride, the highest score in the Semi, but failing to quite find the decent back up second wave score and eventually going down to Japan’s Kaito O’Hashii.
USA surfer Skip McCullough (Cal/San Diego) also placed equal 3rd, defeated in a close Semifinal by eventual winner Ketut Agus. Throughout this event, McCullough was a tube riding specialist and posted many excellent scores. McCullough spoke highly of the event, typifying the thoughts of most internationals who travelled to Nias for this event.
“One of the greatest waves in the world and so much fun to surf an event in such quality waves – The Indonesian WSL circuit is incredible and I’m looking forward to the Simeulue Island event next week and more perfect waves.”
The Indonesian events are being dubbed “Perfect Waves Tour” and we look forward to seeing what the Simeulue Island event delivers later this week.