Photos: Rip Curl Cup // Warm Up

Last week, an expansive low in the Indian Ocean put surfers in Western Australia and all of Indonesia on notice.

Thursday morning saw very large waves at select bommies down south, though there was only a short window of good winds. Besides core strength, the low extended far up into the northern reaches of the Indian Ocean, almost to tropical latitudes, assisting delivery to NW WA and Indonesia, the eastern end in particular.

With the swell ticking the size box, the organisers of the Rip Curl Cup at Padang Padang started asking the hard questions.

However, in the face of great conditions, forecaster Craig Brokensha demurred:

"While most of the charts showed the swell peaking in Bali on Saturday, the reality of the timing was that the swell was due to kick strongly on Friday afternoon, peak overnight, and then ease steadily Saturday while going more south in direction."

"With big midday high tides, the window for a full day of competition was never going to co-operate."

He gave it the thumbs down and the organisers followed suit. As it happened, late on Friday the swell reached 10ft+ late at exposed reefs. Around the corner at Padang, the sets were 4-6ft and sparkling in the late arvo light; the tide was draining, while the trades airbrushed clean the sets.

By Saturday morning, however, the swell was already on the wane, and with the tide coming in and swell swinging more south, that was all she wrote at Padang Padang. A great swell, but unfortunate timing for the contest.

There was some salvation with a three-hour warm up session at Padang, featuring 18 of the 24 invitees split into three hour-long sessions. 

The swell forecast remains active, however the next possible Padang swell isn't likely till late next week. Working as the comp forecaster, Craig's watching it closely and will give updates as the date draws nearer.

14-year old Dylan Wilcoxen leans into the bowl

Kailani Johnson

Rather than a fade or stall to link barrel sections, Koa Smith hit the open face

Lidia Kato

Classic style from Made 'Bol' Adi Putra

Mason Ho

Miguel Blanco hard off the bottom

Taj Burrow