Diah Rayahu, the only female pro surfer in Bali

By Ayu Dewi Sri. Canggu, Bali, Indonesia. March 27, 2016, at 6:00 p.m.
Translated from Bahasa Indonesia by Ayu Dewi Sri.
Photos curtesy of  Ni Kadek Diah Rahayu Dewi

SURFING IN BALI  IS ANOTHER SURF HAVEN, LIKE HAWAII.

If you love surfing, and I asked you the best place for surfing, surely you will immediately answer that a lovely place would be California, Australia or Hawaii. Wait a minute! You missed one very beautiful place for surfing. Its name is Bali. The famed island within the Indonesia province. Located in the Asian continent, Bali has been the ultimate mecca for surfers since the 60s and 70s. (I am told those were the golden years.) Blessed with 365 days of swell, good weather and warm water temperatures, the island of Bali is a favorite surf destination for travelers for decades.

With more than 40 surf spots scattered across the island, surfers are spoiled. Such choices as Sanur beach, Kuta beach, Uluwatu, Padang Padang, Balangan, Canggu, Mengwi beach, and many more known only to locals. Beaches in Bali always attract surfers. From first timers to professionals, they quickly grab their boards and race towards the water. They are ready to hit the waves and feel the beauty, as well as the grace of the break.

Balinese local SURFER is IMPRESSING the professional SURFING world.

As a person who was born and raised in Bali, I have always been interested in surfing. Not so passionate about being in the water myself, but seeing the way the local surfers ride the waves and how they overcome the fear in the wave… completely amazes me! Really very cool. Many learners to professional surfers are always out riding and fighting for the best waves in Bali. The World Surf League and Championship was also held several times here. Even prouder are the many local surfers from Bali who have won the world championship of surfing and been crowned the best surfer in the world.

I was very lucky to meet and have time to chat with one of the Balinese professional surfers, Ni Kadek Diah Rahayu Dewi. She is 23 years old this year, and she is the first and only female professional surfer in Bali at this moment. I arranged meet her at The Butter, a pretty and cozy café located around Canggu area. Chatting with her is very relaxed. She is a sociable and friendly girl. She offered me a drink and we started chatting.

Interview with Diah Rayahu

Slickster: You are very young to have become a pro surfer. How is that? 

Rayahu: I started surfing at 10–12 years old. I learned from my father and also my twin uncle. They are all “surf players.” Before their influence on me, I believe my passion of surfing came from my environment also. First, I lived closer to the beach at Seminyak Kuta, Bali. Every day I saw the waves and played in them. My father was a surfer and I used to see him practice and play in the surf every day. It is wonderful. I live, I feel, and I see the beach and the ocean every day. It makes me gradually feel peace and calm inside.

After a long time watching how my dad practiced surfing every day, I started to get interested in learning how to surf… but secretly! In the beginning, I used a small board or boogie board to surf. Why secretly? It was because my father did not agree that I took to surfing like him. He said, “play surf” could disturb my concentration in school. I was very sad but not disappointed. However, I did not give up so easily. I decided to learn surf with my twin uncle instead! They are both surf players and highly proficient surfing teachers. I was very lucky. My uncle taught me many things, until one day I decided to join the surfing championship.

When was your first championship? Your age is so young at that moment, are you ever afraid at all?

Haha! Yes, my friends and relatives around me said the same, but I am not scared. You know, I decided to join some championships when I was in primary school. I won the championship and I was very happy. Then I followed up with more races and won again. It was so wonderful. After some of the championships my father started to believe in my proficiency in surfing. I was getting excited and began to practice more frequently.

You finally joined with a big surfing company (Rip Curl) and became part of their professional surf team. Incredible! How did that happen?

It was not all good fortune, it was all of my hard work! Moreover, I can earn my own money from it! (Laughs)

Wow great!

When I was at high school, a big surf company from abroad became interested in my surfing skills. And one day they offered me a sponsorship for all my championships. I got everything: surf clothing, surf gear, and also a scholarship for my studies. I finished my university studies also with the funding of the company. Right now I feel very happy and proud of myself and my parents.

You have signed a new contract for the next two years with that company. Am I right?

Yes, you are right. (Big smile)

Is it possible for a pro surfer in Indonesia to follow the international surf competition without a sponsor?

I don’t think so, so a sponsor is very important. They are the ones helping us day-by-day before the contests, or are pushing us during the contests. In Indonesia, local surfers must perform and must compete often to advance. They must win some competitions to get the attention of the sponsors. Generally the sponsors are foreign companies. These sponsors will encourage the surfer to pursue the World Surfing Championship.

Now that you have become a pro surfer in Bali, winning several world surfing championships, you also set a record as the lone pro female surfer in Bali. Tell me about that.

Thank you very much. I think I still have much to do. More practice, practice, practice! I have to focus about what I want to do in surfing. I will follow and compete in more world championships and I have to win.

What are your plans for the next competition?

I have my plans that I made with my sponsors. I am very focused on trying to get the title this year, and I am training a lot. Only a few contests are for women, so I am really into those contests and I will use maximum efforts to be the champion.

You won several world championships can you tell me what are they?

Hmm… Wait, I have to remember first. (Laughs)

Many to remember, ya? 

(Laughs) No, not because of that! Okay, I remember now. My first world debut was in the Asia Surfing Championships in 2008, but my major breakthrough came from the Asian Beach Games in the 2008, which were held in Bali. I won the bronze medal then. I am very proud of it because I met the President of Indonesia (Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono) and had an interview with him.  I won third place in the Asian Surfing Champhionsip 2011 in Cimaja West Java, while competing againt Yasnyiar Bonne Gea from Nias.  Then in 2011, I competed in the Asia Surfing Championships and I got the runner-up position.

Do you feel satisfied with all your achievements?

Of course I will never be satisfied. I have competed in the Asia Surfing Championships and I will keep practicing and concentrating on winning the championship next year. I also have been planning to follow the championship in Europe and Australia next year. Wish me luck! (Laughs)

I will. You will bring the good name of Indonesia to the world.

Thank you very much.

So who is your biggest female inspiration for surfing?

Ohh! I met lots of great women leading the way in surfing competitions, but my two biggest inspirations came from Australians Stephanie Gilmore and Sally Fitzgibbon. Also Carissa Moore from Hawaii. That’s all I know… Haha.

Does Bali have any other female surfers? 

As far as I know, there are no other female surfers in Bali at this time.

Now you are the only female pro surfer in Bali, tell me more about your view of woman surfing and how do you defeat fear? 

I think I am the luckiest one. I love the beach and I love to go surfing. Nowadays, surfing is not dominated only by men. As surfing continues to blow up as an international sport, more and more women are picking up boards and learning to surf. There are pro female surfers impressing the surfing world and becoming stars.

Yeah. Just like you, ya? 

Haha… Thank you. And many more, but unfortunately there are not many women surfing in Indonesia. It seems they have too many hesitations in their minds. You know, such as the sun, big waves come to you… For me, surfing is not terrible and scary. It is so amazing. I can always do something different with it. Everything in my life now is about surfing.

You love surfing very much. Where are your favorite surf locations in Bali?

Wooow! Are you going to learn to surf, Dewi?

No. Not yet. I will try one day… Haha.

A great spot, where the waves attract me so much, is Berawa, Serangan. But the best for me is Canggu Beach. Canggu, I think it’s still a quiet area. White sandy beaches with different waves. It is so powerful and offers suitable conditions for novices and other surfing adventures. Surf lovers may say, “Hawaii is the best,” but for me Bali is heaven.

Before the world championship to follow, what have you been doing lately? Any new projects?

Beside busily practicing, currently I manage and run a small café in Canggu around my home in Seminyak Kuta. This café will be my perfect place whenever my friends and colleagues come over to Bali. I like to hang out with my friends and my latest project is, I just signed a contract to host six episodes on a TV station in Jakarta.

Wow… You have a lot of activity. So what do you do to stay in top form then?

Eat good food, but no diet. Fitness training, physical training, and sometimes yoga. I listen to music to help myself relax.

Really? What kind of music are you into?

I like a lot kind of music such as acoustic, electro, and indie, but I don’t really like rock or metal.

Any message for the ocean and surf girls? 

Keep the beaches clean and keep our ocean healthy. “Clean” means free of trash and marine debris. For surf girls, keep practicing and focus to be the best surf player. It’s really good to get more girls surfing, especially in Indonesia. Surfing is fun! Go get in the water. Do not be afraid and enjoy life.

One last question, what are your biggest dreams?

My biggest dreams are… I want to improve my surfing skills and ability, get more world surfing championship invitations, and win the competition. I want to bring the good name of Indonesia to the international stage.

This year will mark the 12th year of the World’s Greatest Tube Riding Contest, the Padang Padang Cup 2016, on Bali’s famous Bukit Peninsula Uluwatu, Bali. The eyes of the surfing world will be focused on Bukit to see if the international and Pro local surfer are invited. And Ni Kadek Diah Rahayu Dewi will be one of the local pro surfers who will be competing in this event. Good luck, sista!!!

Denpasar, March 27, 2016
Copyright ©: Ayu Dewi Sri