Waiting On The Right Wave. Deni Firdaus Win at the Pacitan Surf Fest
Nunggu Ombak Tepat: Kemenangan Deni Black Boy di Pacitan Surf Fest
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Matahari Agustus menyengat dengan terik di atas pasir putih Pantai Pancer, Pacitan. Gemuruh ombak dan sorak-sorai penonton berbaur menciptakan suasana yang bener-bener elektrik di hari terakhir Pacitan Surf Festival 2025. Di antara puluhan peselancar yang berdiri di garis pantai, seorang lelaki tampak tenang. Matanya mengamati dengan saksama setiap ombak yang lewat, mencerna dan menghafal polanya. Dialah Deni Black Boy, brand ambassador Deus Ex Machina Indonesia, yang sedang mempersiapkan mental untuk final Men’s Open Longboarding.
Perjalanan Deni ke babak final gak mudah. Di semifinal sehari sebelumnya, dia harus berhadapan dengan dua jawara lokal: Ryan dari Pacitan dan Riki Fauzi dari Batukaras. Ombak waktu itu boleh dibilang biasa aja. Ombak kecil ditambah air laut yang surut bikin para peselancar longboard kesulitan cari ombak yang bagus. Dengan sabar, Deni mengatur strategi di atas longboard biru Deus kesayangannya yang berukuran 9.6” dari Bang -Bang Boogie, yang dia panggil "Biru Bang". Dia akhirnya berhasil merebut posisi kedua dengan skor 5.25, mengalahkan Ryan yang cuma dapat 3.4, tapi masih kalah sama Riki Fauzi di posisi pertama dengan skor 6.0. Hasil itu bikin dia harus mengeluarkan semua kemampuan terbaiknya buat final keesokan harinya.
Di babak final, Deni berhadapan dengan para jawara: Gayung (anak Pacitan), Gilang (Batukaras), dan pemenang semifinal kemarin, Riki Fauzi. Tekanannya besar banget. Tapi dia belajar satu hal penting dari semifinal: dia harus sabar.
Di menit-menit pertama final, Deni gak terburu-buru. Dia memanfaatkan prioritasnya untuk memilih ombak dan terus mengamati kondisi, menunggu dan berharap laut memberinya sebuah hadiah. Dan itu datang di ombak kedua yang dia incar.
Dengan energi yang fokus, Deni mendayung dan menangkap ombak itu dengan sempurna. Biru Bang meluncur di atas permukaan ombak yang berputar ke kiri. Dengan keseimbangan yang luar biasa, dia mulai bergerak ke ujung papan. Pertama, dia mengunci gerakan Hang Five, siluetnya terlihat seperti patung dengan latar belakang Teluk Pacitan. Bahkan sebelum sorakan penonton reda, dia langsung melangkah ke gerakan Hang Ten, manuver longboard klasik yang butuh keseimbangan sempurna, keberanian, dan kontrol total.
Dia gak berhenti sampai di situ. Seperti konduktor yang menyelesaikan simfoninya, Deni menyempurnakan combo-nya dengan kick out yang sempurna dari belakang ombak tepat sebelum ombak itu pecah. Penonton di pantai pun heboh. Para juri, Kapten Hendrik dari Bali dan legenda lokal Pacitan, pasti mengangguk-angguk setuju.
Combo yang luar biasa itu, dalam kondisi ombak yang kurang ideal, langsung memastikan kemenangannya. Skor yang diberikan juri sangat tinggi, membuatnya unggul jauh. Para pesaingnya mencoba mengejar, tapi keunggulan Deni gak terbendung.
Saat speaker mengumumkan hasil akhir, suasana pun meledak:
"Di posisi pertama, dengan total skor 11.57... Deni Black Boy!"
Dengan senyum lebar, Deni mengangkat kedua tangannya, mengklaim kemenangan dan pialanya. Gilang dari Batukaras harus puas di posisi kedua (7.90), disusul Riki Fauzi di posisi ketiga (6.87), dan Gayung di posisi keempat (4.40).
Kemenangan ini bukan cuma soal piala. Ini membuktikan bahwa selain skill, seorang peselancar hebat butuh strategi, kesabaran, dan mental yang kuat untuk menunggu ombak terbaiknya.
Waiting on the Right Wave: Deni Black Boy's Win at the Pacitan Surf Fest
The August sun was in overdrive over the white sand of Pancer Beach, Pacitan. The sound of crashing waves and cheers from the crowd blended seamlessly to create a proper electric atmosphere for the final day of the 2025 Pacitan Surf Festival. Mixed amongst the dozens of surfers on the shoreline, one bloke stood calm, his eyes intently watching and mentally taking notes of the waves that passed through. That was Deni Black Boy, brand ambassador for Deus Ex Machina Indonesia, he was mentally preparing for the finals, making sure he was ready to come out on top in the Men’s Open Longboarding.
Deni’s journey to the final wasn't a walk in the park. In the semi-final the day before, he had to take on two local guns: Ryan from Pacitan and Riki Fauzi from Batukaras. The conditions were average to say the least. A small swell coupled with the low tide made it tricky for the longboarders to find a decent wave. Patiently, Deni navigated the line-up on his favourite blue 9.6" BamBamBoggie longboard, the one they call "Biru Bang". He managed to snag second place with a 5.25, beating Ryan, who only managed a 3.4, but just falling short of Riki Fauzi in first with a 6.0. It was a result that meant he had to dig deep for the finals the following day.
Deni was up against the best of the best in the finals. Gayung (a local Pacitan lad), Gilang (Batukaras), and the winner of yesterday's semi-final, Riki Fauzi. The pressure was on. But he has one big takeaway from the day before’s semi-final: he had to be patient.
In the first few minutes of the finals, Deni didn't rush. He used his priority to pick his wave and continued to watch the lineup, waiting and hoping for the ocean to deliver him a gift. And it came on the second wave he set his sights on.
With a focused burst of energy, Deni paddled into and caught the wave perfectly. Biru Bang glided across the face of the left-hander. With insane balance, he started working the nose. First, he locked in a Hang Five, his silhouette statuesque against the Pacitan Bay backdrop. Before the crowd even finished cheering, he stepped straight into a Hang Ten, the classic longboard manoeuvre that takes perfect balance, commitment and total control.
He didn't stop there. Like a conductor finishing his symphony, Deni completed the killer combo with the perfect kick out off the back of the wave just before it closed out. The crowd on the beach absolutely lost it. The judges, Kapten Hendrik from Bali and a local Pacitan legend, must have been nodding in approval.
That insane combo, in less than perfect conditions, sealed the deal. The score they gave him was huge, putting him way out in front. The other competitors tried to chase him down, but Deni's lead was unstoppable.
When the speaker announced the final results:
"In first place, with a total score of 11.57... Deni Black Boy!"
With a massive grin, Deni raised his arms, claiming both the win & the trophy. Gilang from Batukaras had to settle for second (7.90), followed by Riki Fauzi in third (6.87), and Gayung in fourth (4.40).
This win wasn't just about the trophy. It proved that besides skill, a great surfer needs strategy, patience, and the mental game to wait for their best wave.
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Waiting On The Right Wave. Deni Firdaus Win at the Pacitan Surf Fest
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