RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Indonesia’s presence at the US Open of Surfing 2026 in Huntington Beach, California (July 25–29) is shifting focus.

While longboarder Dhea Natasya saw her debut on the WSL Longboard Tour 2026/2027 end in the elimination round, three Indonesian shortboarders are preparing to take center stage in the Challenger Series (CS).

Dhea, who made history as the first Indonesian woman to qualify for the WSL Longboard Tour, was unable to advance past the opening rounds.

She placed third in her first heat with 7.04 points, behind American Taylor White (10.50) and Germany’s Marie Schremmer (8.40). In the elimination round, she narrowly lost to Italy’s Giorgia Caimi, finishing with 7.53 points against Caimi’s 8.40.

National team coach Arya Subyakto noted that Dhea showed promise despite the result. “She had the highest single-wave score in her heat, but her backup score was not enough. The cross-shore winds made the waves unpredictable and difficult to read,” he explained, as quoted by Antara.

Although her run ended early, Dhea arrived in California with momentum, having finished third at the WSL Siheung Korea Open QS 6,000 and winning the Hamamatsu Open 2026 in Japan, which secured her place on the elite tour.

Now, Indonesia’s hopes rest on Rio Waida, Ketut Agus, and Dylan Wilcoxen, who will compete in the CS shortboard division. Arya expressed optimism about their chances, citing strong training performances. “Our athletes are ready and showing good form. Hopefully nature will favor us during competition,” he said.

This transition highlights Indonesia’s growing depth in surfing -- Dhea’s breakthrough in women’s longboarding and the rising competitiveness of its shortboard athletes.

The US Open of Surfing offers Indonesia a chance to showcase talent across disciplines and reinforce its ambition to become a consistent force on the global stage. ***