Borneo Surf Festival at Nexus Resort & Spa Karambunai

Post Event Text by Feizal Karim

The Inaugural Borneo Surf Festival Nexus Resort & Spa Karambunai which kicked off on the 20^thand concluded on the 21^st of December 2014 at Nexus Resort & Spa Karambunai was met with great success. Jointly organized and sponsored by the Sabah Surf Club and Nexus Resort and Spa, saw competitors for the Short Board Competition and Body Board Shoot Out came from Kota Kinabalu, Miri and the Federal Territory of Labuan. On top of that there were  surf lessons, Stand Up Paddle (SUP) Board demonstration and lessons, Skim Boarders exhibitions, live musicalperformace by Ahmad Nahri of the Djezna’s Stalker band, Sunset Zumba and surf movie screenings at the Resorts DarlinDarlin Fun Pub in the evening.

In the Short Board competition, 24 surfers vied in near perfect condition. Wave height of an average 4 to 5 foot glassy face, the surfers traded scored waves after scored waves. While in between the Short Board heats, the Body Board Shoot out heats ran to a different tune. It was turning more into a battle of stamina in the winner stay format.

The Nexus Resort Karambunai beach break is notorious for producing chucking close outs, the experienced surfers were hunting for the occasional peelers. The judges noted attempts made and rewarded points to those who succeeded. The Final Four finals between Jeaner Alex, Nazrul Bin Jefri, Muhammad Bin Sulaiman andAderian Shah Shamsudin went down on the 2^ndday of the competition. The 20 minutes final saw a tactical error by the other finalist as Jeaner Alex was left alone on the right of the competition area to pick out his perfect waves undisturbed while the others were left fighting for inconsistent left breaking wave on the left. As the final buzzer sounded the winner was as clear as the blue waters of Karambunai. Jeaner Alex was lifted out of the water and onto his fans shoulders a winner. The results were announced; fourth place went to Muhammad Bin Sulaiman, third went to Aderian Shah Shamsudin and second went to Nazrul Bin Jefri.

Meanwhile in the Bodyboard Shoot Out winner went to DayangMaisara. The 2 day battle of stamina saw the two favourite FarisAkmal Abdul Gafar and Al-Pian battling out numerous times. Challenging and re-challenging the winner between the two of them, DayangMaisara kept her cool and waited for the right time to challenge the winner. On the final heat of the last day, she stepped up and entered the waters facing a tired FarisAkmal.  Barely able to paddle for a wave, DayangMaisara had the luxury of picking out her waves and rode into the winner’s podium.

All the winners received trophies and prizes sponsored by Rip Curl Malaysia and Deep Borneo. An excellent ending to the year, and a promising start for the fledgling club.

Photo Credit to Charles Mawan.