<div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Rip Curl has officially announced the 16 men and 8 women surfers invited to compete in the 20-Year Anniversary of the Rip Curl Cup at Padang Padang. The announcement was made on Sunday at the Opening Ceremony, held at Padang Padang Beach in front of a crowd of several hundred fans gathered from all over the world to join in blessing the event with good waves, a safe competition, and officially christen the start of the holding period (Aug. 1st-31st) to the one-of-a-kind tube-riding invitational.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">See the full list of 24 invited surfers as well as the heat draw matchups for the opening rounds of competition below.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Among the international invitees this year are defending champion Clay Marzo (HAW), WCT legend Taj Burrow (AUS), Kolohe Andino (USA) Mason Ho (HAW), and 15-year-old surfing prodigy Dylan Wilcoxen (USA). Indonesia will be represented by 2x Rip Curl Cup Champion Mega Semadhi, 2x champion Bol Adi Putra, and 2014 champion Garut Widiarta, among others.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Among the elite female tube-riders invited to the first-ever Women’s Rip Curl Cup at Padang Padang are Erin Brooks (CAN), who last year claimed third place in the men’s division, as well as Sierra Kerr (AUS) and Sky Brown (ENG).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Two-time Rip Curl Cup Champion and pride of Balinese surfing, Mega Semadhi, said he’s looking forward to a rematch with the big names, and surfing alongside Indonesia’s up-and-coming female chargers as they give it their all out at Padang Padang in the heaviest conditions of the year.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“Padang Padang is one of the most amazing waves in Indonesia and the Rip Curl Cup is for the best of the best out there,” Semadhi said. “If you want the opportunity to surf out there for the Rip Curl Cup, you have to be able to perform with the best. And I think these women are up to the challenge.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Meanwhile, all eyes are focused on a powerful Indian Ocean swell that is forecast to reach Bali this week. Contest directors are monitoring the swell closely, <strong>with a potential contest run day of Friday, Aug. 4th</strong> looking increasingly likely. Stay tuned to <a href="https://www.ripcurl.com" target="_blank">ripcurl.com</a> for the latest event status updates.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Following is the complete lineup of 24 surfers invited to the 2023 Rip Curl Cup:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>INTERNATIONAL SURFERS:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Kolohe Andino (USA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Miguel Blanco (PRT)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Taj Burrow (AUS)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Nathan Hedge (AUS)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mason Ho (HAW)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Clay Marzo (HAW) *Defending Champion*</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Koa Smith (HAW)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Dylan Wilcoxen (USA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>INDONESIAN SURFERS:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Made "Bol" Adi Putra</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mega Artana</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mustofa Jeksen</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Raditya Rondi</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mega Semadhi</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Tommy Sobry</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Agus “Dag Dag” Sumertayasa</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Garut Widiarta</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>WOMEN SURFERS:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Erin Brooks (CAN)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Lidia Kato (IND)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ziggy Mackenzie (AUS)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Jasmine Studer (IND)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sierra Kerr (AUS)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Kailani Johnson (IND)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sky Brown (ENG)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Taina Izquierdo (IND)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">The 2023 Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang will be webcast LIVE to the world at <a href="https://www.ripcurl.com" target="_blank">ripcurl.com</a> and at <a href="https://www.worldsurfleague.com/" target="_blank">worldsurfleague.com</a>. Fans can also visit the Rip Curl website to check the official event swell forecast, real-time contest status, and video updates from Bali.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div> </div>