Who Is Indonesia’s Best Surfer?

Rio Waida had a breakthrough year in 2022.

He won two contests on the WSL Challenger Series, qualifying to compete at the highest level for a professional surfer - the first Indonesian ever to do so.

This is a short edit of some of Rio's best sessions in Bali during 2022, showcasing the form that brought him all that success in a competitive setting.

The first event of the Championship Tour kicks off at Pipeline in Hawaii in a few days, so make sure to keep an eye out for Rio and follow his journey as he enters the newest phase of his career.

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[HoStevie]

1:35 Just tried that in my living room... Definitely my new pre-surf stretch

[th_St_Air]

@1:40 I’ve never seen anyone intentionally do this move before. Crazy voodo.

[davidcoleman]

The answer to your question is; whoever's having the most fun.

[nicoloiudica]

Watching this at 0.5 no sound with "a national acrobat" playing in the background and finding it so inspiring. Every subtle movement has great effects. Efficiency at its best, it's lovely to watch. He doesn't need to win anything as these images say it all already. Makes me reminisce on my time spent around Keramas, never felt more productive and joyful on a surfboard.

[kallenlittle]

That’s what Hawaii was back in the day I live Oahu.
Beautiful waves and awesome talent

[kirktaylor]

Great surf and talented riders makes for an inspiring video!

Well done you all!

[mitseraffej]

Indonesia has to produce a world champion sooner or later.

[mikemorrissey]

He sure as shit seems like the best! Good Luck Rio!

[TheGmcFilms]

Poetry in motion. He's beautiful. He was cutting lines there like a Fender Jaguar in the hands of Dick Dale ...G...

[robinbanks]

Seen quite a few local indo shredders and always great to watch✌️❤️

[RadRumblings]

I saw the video title and was immediately thought "its Rio Waida or your wrong"... thankfully you were right! lol

[roberthallstrand]

1998 In Bingin there was a young local who was called Slater, he surfer with a broken board, nose was missing 30cm... What ever happened to him, he was great at that time.. Robert, Emil, Johan and Jennie says hi :)

[daymongray]

2:08 what a leap. This is what I’m working on currently, except I’m goofy and I’m going right.

[larryphillips]

Wow, these guys some serious air time. Geez. Most impressive.

[georgeacenas]

They all are above my level, beautiful cutbacks, lip slides, aerials. I'm a regular footer and on my kind of wave too -a right.
Now the California vertical Dogtown bowl skateboarding makes sense!
Off topic I must say aerial shot of Grajagan point breaks seem to spiral-like a Nautilus shell in cross section ...never seen anything like that anywhere.
These dudes all rip (for background music play the Gamelan for 'em)!.

[frodobagins]

Those backhand solid attack got rio won 1 Chalenger series event

[wolverwolf]

1:44 WHAAATTT??? That was insane, never seen it.

[vickryan]

I liked wave#3 alot. Some proper backside snaps. The previous 2 waves you see the guy gets hung up, in the lip, a little too long, during each turn. You are supposed to smack the lip then return downward smoothly and quickly, not get hung up. It's a common mistake.

[PapaBaush]

Floaters and aerials are underrated. Let’s get more of that in pro tour I reckon

[surfstoomuch]

I would say the guys in the carpark slashing people's car tyres . They get my vote 👍👍