Mt.Batur ascent helps Bali's waterways

Mustofa Jeksen © Surftime

Environment Updates

Group reaches the summit in a symbolic climb of Mt. Batur

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 25 January, 2013 : - - Canggu, Bali -- Coca-Cola Amatil Indonesia (CCAI), Surftime Magazine, Deus Ex Machina, ESRU and the ROLE Foundation are proud to announce their great success with the Source to the Sea environmental initiative proyek. The SOS (Source to the Sea) Proyek was the second half of the Put Up Or Shut Up Freesurfing Championship that took place in late 2012 at Grajagan in Java.

The event was won by Tai Graham with Coca-Cola Surf Team Dede Suryana, Tipi Jabrik, and Mustofa Jeksen participating, along with Uluwatu’s Made Lana, Billabong’s Rahtu Suargita, and American Chris Ward. Each invitee to the Put Up Free Surfing Championship signed a manifesto on the night of the awards ceremony sealing a promise to honor all Indonesian waterways and seas.

On the afternoon of the January 19th, 2013, the SOS project got underway led by Coca-Cola Surf Ambassador Mustofa Jeksen, Billabong’s Rahtu Suargita, Rip Curl’s Diah Rahayu Dewi and Oakley’s Dewa Ardika. They traveled up to the sacred volcano of Mt. Batur overlooking Lake Batur.

Lake Batur is the source of all the water of South Bali and the surfers were going there to honor it. At dawn on the 20th, the pro surfer procession climbed Mt. Batur to its summit of 1,717 meters where all involved took part in a ceremony that honored all the waterways of Indonesia and gave thanks for the surf spots they provide.

Circle at the summit of Mt. Batur © Surftime

After the descent, the procession continued on, following the great Bali waterways and rivers down to Echo Beach in Canggu where over 100 people, including top Government officials, rolled up their sleeves and combed the beach for litter. By days end the surrounding beaches od Canggu were spotless. Mustofa, Diah, Rahtu and Ardika then took to the sea in a quiet ceremony where they gave personal thanks for the honor of being able to travel from the Source to the Sea all in one day.

“This was a real achievement for me” Said Rahtu Suargita, “To be able to stand on top of a mountain a realize that the lake below provides all the water for the rivers that give us sandbars to surf over. And that the rivers also shape the reef passes that give us our barrels. It was a spiritual journey that I will never forget”

During the climb on the 20th, three other great simultaneous beach cleanups were taking place involving the locals, Surfers, Government and Banjar leaders, took place at Barawa beach, Padang Padang Beach and Uluwatu.

After the beach clean ups the entire procession marched to the Deus Temple of Enthusiasm where a fundraising party kicked off in style featuring Bali’s own Rollfast band and Headliner Made J. It was a memorable evening of music and celebration of our great environment as the fundraiser got underway to raise money for ROLE FOUNDATION and ECO SURF RESCUE ULUWATU.

The fun went late as all celebrated our great environment and all the joy it provides for us. “It was an unforgettable journey of environmentalism and surfing celebration that we will never forget” said Curtis Lowe from ESRU.

Big thanks to Coca-Cola Amatil and the ROLE foundation for all the support. Get ready for next year, this is going to be an annual event.

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