BLUE OASIS BEACH CLUB - BALI - INDONESIA - Surfing, Diving, Kitesurfing and KiteBoarding

Check out the previous editions, click on the links here below!

HOT AIR 2006

HOT AIR 2007

HOT AIR 2008 3rd Edition

What seemed like a quiet start roared into an awesome rocking final on the last day of Bali’s premier kite surfing event, Hot Air 3^rd edition held in front of major sponsors restaurant chain, Stiff Chilli in Sanur, over the weekend of 20- 22nd June 2008.

The three day event began with a 2.5km marathon, starting upwind outside main sponsor, Stiff Chilli. In the light winds many struggled to make it round the first buoy in front of the Blue Oasis Beach club, but it was Kade Pande who came in first,(winning an 18metre Airush ‘Reactor’), followed by his brother Comang (Ripcurl board shorts & DVD) and Blue Oasis’s Lollo, in third place (Ripcurl rash guard & DVD). The wind at this point began to drop unnervingly and as the water was ebbing away, subsequent events were postponed to the next day.

The following day took off in the most promising of ways as the judges’ tent went into a back flip on Semawang beach in 17 knot winds just before competitors assembled for ‘son of marathon’ as race director Mario Bari says ‘the high wind allowed all 17 competitors to take part in all the disciplines, despite the size of their kites plus the generous number of prizes allowed us to run another long distance event’. First place of this round of the marathon went to Bernie (winning a Monkey kite), second was Kade Pande (Ripcurl board shorts & DVD) and third was Mike (Ripcurl rash guard & cap).

The water and wind was still there for the start of the freestyle section 90 mins of tricks and turns including lovely handle passes from Komang, thrilling front and back loop transitions from Bernie and some sweet unhooked manoeuvres from Kade Pande, but there was not enough wind to finish the event so the remainder was put off until the next day.

As all 17 competitors charged from the from the previous day’s action, arrived by 8.30am, the second half of the free style section got underway early at the Blue Oasis Beach Club on the final day of the event. A blistering 20 knots helped Bernie with his stylish skills, winning a twintip Cabrinha board. Second was Comang (Ripcurl board shorts and DVD) and third, Ketut kecil (Ripcurl rash guard and cap).

Kite Surfing in Bali - Hot Air 2008 - Sanur - Bali - Indonesia

In the hang time event, competitiors win for the longest time in the air won by Lollo (winning a 12m Cabrinha ‘Switchblade’ kite) and separately for cumulative time in the air, won by Bernie (winning an Ocean Rodeo harness) Putu Eka (Ripcurl board shorts & DVD) and Kade (Ripcurl rashguard and DVD).

The signature jump for cash event was for safety reasons postponed until the water went sufficiently down in order for the organizers to place the stiff chilli at the appropriate height upwind to avoid any entanglement, so to enjoy the perfect conditions a free expression session was enjoyed by all in front of the Blue Oasis Beach club. It brought out the best and most impressive in all the competitors, wowing the crowd whilst international deejays played and food provided by Ryoshi was served. It took approx 10minutes for local favourite and previous winner, Putu Eka, to win the 5million rupiah cash prize to finish off what was so far the best day for conditions for the event and setting a high standard for next year’s edition.