How long have you been surfing? And when did you start to compete?

I started surfing when I was 12. Now I’m 19, so I’ve been surfing for 7 years.

What do you like about surfing?

I don’t know why I like surfing, maybe because my father is also a surfer. So at first I just tried it, then I became addicted to the sport, and now it has become my hobby.

How many siblings that you have?

I have 2 sisters; I’m the second daughter in the family. And I am the only one who surfs.

What are your sponsors?

Rip Curl, Electric, Skull Candy, Creatures.

What is the importace of a sponsorship and how do they affect your competitive career?

They are very important. They are the ones helping us day-by-day before the contests or pushing us during the contests. They became my extra motivation to do better and to represent them in the best way I can.

As we know the ASC is having their first event, the Rip Curl Pro Mentawais, now, what are you doing to get ready for ASC 2013 season?

As the 1^st stop of the tour, the Rip Curl Mentawai Pro, is a speciality stop; They don’t have the women’s heats, so I am training for the contest Cimaja.

How long have you been on the women’s tour?

I started in 2008 and since then I’ve been doing it every year till now (2013), so almost 5 years.

What’s your highest rank so far?

I ve been ranked 2^nd in 2011. I could have won that year but sadly I failed in one contest that year.

What is missing on woman’s tour to have more support?

I think we need more big sponsors, so we can think only of surfing and improve more and more. And of course more Indonesian women surfing, that would motivate us more.

Tell me about your first Surfing shot? Who took it and where was it?

I think  it was when I was 14 years old at Double Six, Bali, which is my homebreak. I was learning to surf. The photo was published in SurfTime magazine. I also had some photos taken at Medewi and Halfway when I was still a grommet.

We know you love Kuta, but what are the other spots you like in Bali?

I like Canggu, Serangan, Berawa and Twin Point.

What was your best surf trip ever?

It was G-Land last year, I went there around June – July 2012.

In February we reported that girls who surf were being attacked in remote spots of Bali, have you heard any attack stories and how do you feel about this?

I feel really offended for sure. In surfing we take care of each other, we are a team. Together we get motivated so we , as women can improve our surfing and get better and better. That attacks and incidents are not fair and it must be stopped. Everyone, especially woman should feel safe and free from all the fear that can keep us from surfing.

Do you have a female surfer that you look up to in your surf community?

Actually no, no female surfer, but I look up to all the Padma Boys. They are very supportive. The amazing Padma Boys!

What can we do, as media, to be more supportive and help women’s surfing?

I think there needs to be more equality in exposing both men and women in surfing. I mean, so far the media is always giving more attention to the men. With more exposure, women can show their surfing and they can be more motivated to surf.

What are your interests outside of surfing?

A lot! Playing basketball, traditional dance, etc. But nowadays I like to hang out with friends and watch movies.

Can you cook? What’s the best thing you can cook?

I can’t. I can only cook instant noodles.

What do you eat to stay in top form?

The main thing is to eat regularly, I prefer not to eat rice at night. For lunch I do eat red-rice and then a light meal for dinner. But it’s not a diet.

What kind of music are you into?

I like a lot kind of music. Such as acoustic, dub step, electro, etc. I don’t really like Rock and Dangdut (traditional Indonesian Music) music.

What are your plans for the rest of the year?

I have my plans made with my sponsors: we have a schedule of events to cover and I am very focused on trying to get the title this year, I am training a lot. It’s a year with only few contests for women so I am really into the contests and I will use maximum efforts to be the champion.

What kind of training you usually do?

Surfing, fitness training, physical training and sometimes yoga.

Do you have any message for IndoSurfLife.com’s readers?

Keep surfing and keep Bali’s beaches clean and beautiful, so it will remain one of the best tourist destinations in the world.

Thank you Diah, good luck for all your plan this year!

Interview by: Sakti | Photo: Calvin and Putri Ombak Doc.

Video: Network A on YouTube

The surfer girls in Bali. Pic: Iuri Borba/IndoSurfLife.com

It’s sad that anyone would be made to feel unsafe, let alone on our island of the gods. But the unfortunate reality is that, here, as anywhere, it’s not always a good idea to venture off alone. The possibility of injuries and such aside, we have received reports that women driving to more secluded spots have been attacked by groups of men. It’s absolutely heinous that these things are occurring, so rather than tempt fate, please buddy-up when you go surf somewhere off the tourist-track and keep an eye on each other. If you do come across the intrepid soul in search of waves for themselves, maybe gently remind them of these incidents and offer to drive up to the main road with them. Who knows, you may even make a friend….

Her induction is part of the 2013 Australian Surfing Awards to be held at Doltone House at Jones Bay Wharf, Pyrmont.

The Awards will also mark a significant milestone in Surfing Australia’s history as it celebrates its 50th Anniversary after its formation in 1963 as the Australian Surfriders Association.

No competitor in the history of professional surfing has made such a dramatic debut as Gilmore did in 2007. Winning four of the eight events, the then 19-year-old won the World Title in her first year on Tour – a feat unprecedented in the sport.

5-times World Surfing Champion Stephanie Gilmore will be inducted into the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame.

After her debut World Title triumph, Gilmore retained the crown for the next three years. Sadly, it was not another competitor that would stop her in her tracks, but a brutal assault at her home at Tweed Heads just prior to the start of the 2011 season. Gilmore relinquished the crown that year to Hawaiian Carissa Moore but it fuelled a competitive fire inside and she emerged in 2012 with a fierce determination and swept back to the top in a blistering year to claim her fifth World Title.

A marvellous ambassador for Australian surfing on the world stage, Gilmore continues to win international accolades including the 2010 Laureus Action Sports Person of the Year Award and the 2011 ESPN ESPY Female Action Sports Person of the Year.

“This is such an honour,” Gilmore, 25, said. “Everyone in the Hall of Fame has had such an incredible impact on the world of surfing and to be included in that is unreal.

“I always feel like these awards are premature for myself, because I’m nowhere near retiring but it is very flattering and I love that my achievements in surfing are being recognised on larger scales.”

Gilmore is also a finalist for Female Surfer of the Year. Other awards to be announced on the night include the Male Surfer of the Year, Rising Star Award, Waterman of the Year, ASB Surfing Spirit Award, Peter Troy Lifestyle Award, Surf Culture Award and the Simon Anderson Club Award.

The Awards will also feature the Nikon Surf Photo of the Year and Nikon Surf Movie of the Year, which will showcase the finest work taken by Australia’s best surf photographers and filmmakers during the past 12 months.

The judging panel included 15 members of the surfing community including competitor, industry and media representatives.

As part of the 50th Anniversary celebrations, Australia’s 10 Most Influential Surfers 1963-2013 will also be named during the ceremony. The campaign was conducted through a public vote and through votes provided by the 34 Inductees in the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame.

Australian Surfing Awards – Finalists:

Male Surfer of the Year: Mick Fanning, Taj Burrow, Joel Parkinson

Female Surfer of the Year: Sally Fitzgibbons, Stephanie Gilmore, Tyler Wright

Rising Star Award: Wade Carmichael, Jack Freestone, Nikki Van Dijk

Waterman of the Year Award: Mark Mathews, Jamie Mitchell, Jeff Rowley

Australian Surf Business Surfing Spirit Award: Misfit Aid, Quiksilver Foundation, Russell Molony

Peter Troy Lifestyle Award: Pam Burridge, Jeremy “Wire” Curtain, Bob Smith

Surf Culture Award: The Reef by the Australian Chamber Orchestra and Tura New Music, Australian Open of Surfing, White Horses Magazine

Simon Anderson Club Award: Kirra Surfriders Club, LE-BA Boardriders Club, Noosa Malibu Club

Nikon Surf Movie of the Year: Dear Suburbia, Immersion, Storm Surfers 3D

Nikon Surf Photo of the Year: Top 20 finalists can be viewed from the video below:

The Australian Surfing Awards incorporating the Hall of Fame is proudly supported by the NSW Government, through Destination NSW, and is a key event on the NSW Events Calendar.

The Australian Surfing Awards is also supported by the Australian Sports Commission, Nikon, Destination NSW, VB, Suncorp, TravelSIM, Australasian Surf Business Magazine and the Federal Government’s Illicit Drugs in Sport Program.

Source: Surfing Australia | Author: Tim Brimblecombe

The last surfer we saw in the Swimsuit Edition was Brazilian Bruna Schmitz in 2011, and for this year’s edition, Alana was photographed by James Macari in Las Vegas, Nevada, with swimsuits by Rip Curl.

After watching the video below go and check out all Sports Illustrated pics of Alana, here.

Video: BottleSurf on Vimeo

Source: Red Bull