TAINA IZQUIERDO AND PARIS NALENDRA SECURE THEIR SPOTS IN THE RIP CURL CUP PADANG PADANG 2026 MAIN EVENT
Indonesia’s best female tube riders delivered an unforgettable afternoon of barrel riding as taina izquierdo claimed victory in the rip curl cup padang padang women’s local trials, earning one of two coveted positions in the rip curl cup padang padang 2026 main event alongside runner-up paris nalendra.
The decision to run the Women's Trials proved to be the right one, with Swellnet forecaster Craig Brokensha's prediction unfolding almost exactly as forecast. A powerful south-southwest groundswell generated by a storm-force polar low peaked through the middle of the day before the afternoon tide began to fall, transforming Padang Padang into the world-class barrel it is renowned for.
As forecast, the swell reached its maximum size around midday. However, with the high tide coinciding with the peak of the swell, conditions remained inconsistent throughout the afternoon, making it impossible to conduct a fair Men's Local Trials competition. Instead, the invited men's field was given exclusive access to the lineup for a 90-minute warm-up session, allowing competitors to enjoy their home break without free surfers in the water while contest officials continue to monitor upcoming swells for a potential Men's Trials day before the end of July.
By 5:00pm, the tide had dropped to one metre and Padang Padang came to life. With conditions improving rapidly, contest officials extended the Women's Final from the scheduled 45 minutes to a 70-minute showdown, ensuring the athletes had every opportunity to capitalise on the building swell.
The final announced itself immediately when a solid six-foot set marched into the lineup. All four finalists fearlessly turned and committed, setting the tone for one of the most exciting Women's Local Trials finals in event history.
2024 standout Kailani Johnson struck first, threading the opening proper tube of the heat before riding cleanly into the channel to earn an excellent 7.33.
The very next set delivered the highlight of the contest.
Paris Nalendra disappeared completely from the judges' view behind the curtain before emerging cleanly through the doggy door, earning a spectacular 7.93. Moments later, Taina Izquierdo answered with an equally committed ride, getting spat from a heavy set wave into the channel for a 7.87, setting up a thrilling battle for the title.
Izquierdo backed up her excellent score with a clean barrel on a smaller wave worth 4.50, giving her the two-wave total of 12.37 required to secure victory.
Behind her, Nalendra and Johnson battled for the crucial second qualifying position. Despite Johnson's strong opening score, Nalendra found the backup score she needed to edge ahead by just 0.43 points, booking her place in the Main Event alongside Izquierdo.
After her victory, an emotional Izquierdo reflected on what the win meant to her.
"It means so much to me. My friends know how much I've doubted myself, especially when it comes to surfing waves outside my comfort zone. They're the reason I paddled out today because they've always believed in me more than I've believed in myself. My goal was simply to make it out of one barrel, and I did it. Now I know I'm capable, and I'm so proud of myself. This one's for my friends who never stopped believing in me, and it's also for myself—for showing up even when I was scared."
Lidia Kato also displayed incredible courage throughout the final, repeatedly committing to heavy set waves on her backhand before finding a clean mid-sized barrel to earn a 4.47, showcasing the fearless approach that has made her one of Bali's standout tube riders.
With the result, Taina Izquierdo and Paris Nalendra qualify for the Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang 2026 Main Event, where they will join event wildcards Kya Heuer and Jasmine Studer when the world's most prestigious tube-riding contest begins.
The Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang 2026 waiting period runs from 1–31 August, with organisers monitoring the forecasts for the first world-class swell of the season.
Fans are also invited to the Official Opening Ceremony on 1 August from 4:00pm at Padang Padang Beach, featuring a headline performance by Australian indie-rock band Floodlights as competitors, locals and surf fans come together to celebrate the opening of the 2026 event.
Contest organisers will continue monitoring the forecast throughout the remainder of July in search of a suitable swell to complete the Men's Local Trials.
For the latest event updates, visit ripcurl.co.id or follow @ripcurl_indo across social media.
The Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang 2026
It’s on when it’s on
Watch it live at ripcurl.co.id
The 2026 Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang will be webcast LIVE to the world at ripcurl.co.id. Fans can also visit the Rip Curl website to check the official event swell forecast, real-time contest status, and video updates from Bali.
RIP CURL CUP PADANG PADANG 2026 EVENT SCHEDULE:
Local Trials Waiting Period
1–31 July 2026
Opening Ceremony
Saturday, August 1st at 4 PM, Padang Padang Beach, Bali
1. Meet the invited athletes
2. Press conference
3. Traditional Balinese Kecak Dance performance
4. Live Music Performance by Floodlights
Main Event Waiting Period
1–31 August 2026
Official Party
Thursday, 27 August 2026 at Ulu Cliffhouse
Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang 2026 sponsored by: Radisson Blu Resort & Villas Bali Uluwatu, Island Brewing, Dragon, Yukk Payment Getaway, BGS, Indo Amazon Acai, YUMMY Dairy, Biznet
