TEMPO.CO, Kuta - Female surfers in Bali will showcase their skills in riding surf boards in Indonesian traditional dress kebaya ahead of the commemoration of the Kartini Day.

“This is the seventh year. We hope the number of participants will increase,” Bagus made Irawan with surfing magazine Magic Wave that organizes the event said on Tuesday, April 18, 2017.

The event was launched on Thursday morning, April 20, 2017 at Kuta Beach, Bali. In addition to participants of the event, tourists are welcomed to participate in the event called the Kartini Surfer.

“It’s an open invitation, and it has been disseminated to local communities,” Bagus explained, adding that two Germany female students Sarah Krause and Kristin Ebeliing working as interns at his magazine will participate in the event.

According to Bagus, in addition to celebrating women’s emancipation, the event is also aimed at promoting women involvement in the sport. Currently, there are only 10 female professional surfers in Indonesia.

Indonesian Surfing Association chairman Made Supartha Karang said that the event is expected to promote surfing that will be recognized in the Olympics in Japan. In addition, female surfers will boost surfing tourism promotions.

“Kuta became a tourist destination because of surfers,” he said.

ROFIQI HASAN