Niti Island Treasure Hunts premiere: Cla and Pedro take the win
Niti Island Treasure Hunt marks the beginning of a new era for wakeboarding in Asia – Claudia Pagnini and Pedro Caldas not only won the premiere, but also went away with a full bag of prize money.
What a weekend! A brand-new format, tropical vibes, and world-class wakeboarding. For the very first time, an international pro contest took place on a private island just off Jakarta – and the crew around Manu Rupp wrote a new chapter in wakeboarding history.
New stage. New format. New level.
19 riders from 14 countries travelled to Niti Island with one mission: to bring top-level wakeboarding to Indonesia and push the Southeast Asian scene forward.
“We’re still blown away by those days and by all the feedback we’ve received. With such a strong team, we were able to make something truly special happen for wakeboarding.” – Manu Rupp (organizer)
Chief organizer Manu Rupp
New and exciting format right from the early rounds
The morning eliminations already set the tone: 15 men in three groups, but no classic heat winners. Instead, the six best overall scores advanced to the finals. For the first time, riders could combine their Best Run and Best Trick scores, opening up brand-new strategic possibilities.
Liam Peacock, Pedro Caldas, and Dom Hernler secured their finals spots with two consistent runs, while Luke Carrick, Daniel Grant, and Joe Battleday advanced thanks to a mix of strong runs and creative tricks. Dary Znebel narrowly missed the cut despite impressive style and originality, falling short by just four points.
Women’s Final: a young talent shines
In the afternoon, the women hit the water for their finals–handling the fast-paced setup and tropical heat with confidence. The lineup: Claudia Pagnini (ITA), Katinka Buiting (NED), Bhraebhim Pipatsawaddhi (THA), and Deanna Hatten (AUS), who stepped in for the injured Elena Bodi (ESP).
Claudia put down two solid runs to claim a well-deserved win. Katinka impressed with a stylish kiss-the-rail BS Noseblunt over the pirate ship, earning Best Trick and third place, while 14-year-old Bhraebhim surprised everyone with her composed riding and took second place.
Katinka Buiting
Claudia Pagnini
Elena and Claudia
Womens podium
Men’s Final wih scores in the 90s
The men’s final lived up to the hype and delivered a show that made waves far beyond Asia. The highlight was the Best Trick showdown: Pedro Caldas threw down a flawless Double Crowmobe, Dom Hernler sent a 540 over the stairs of the Unit Kaesen feature while Joe Battleday showed a classic technical sepha-trick including a perfectly locked in Hardway 270. All three scored in the 90s.
In the end, Pedro Caldas (BRA) took home the win with a nearly perfect run and his Best Trick, followed by Dom Hernler (AUT) whose Best Trick earned him second place, and Liam Peacock (GBR) in third after two consistent, high-scoring runs.
Dominik Hernler
Joe Battleday
Pedro Caldas
Mens podium
More Than Just a Contest
Alongside the athletes, representatives from both politics and sports administration in Indonesia were present, as well as key figures from the Asian wake scene–including Leo Reuter from Cambodia Wake Park, Tom Soupart from Siargao Wakepark (Philippines), Carlo dela Torre from Decawake Clark (Philippines), and Long Hatta from Singapore Wake Park. Their presence brought valuable perspectives beyond the competition, and the event offered an opportunity to exchange ideas and discuss shared goals for the further development of the sport and the regional scene.
Missed the event? Watch the full finals here 👇
A weekend that proved what’s possible when passion meets vision – made real thanks to the Niti Island family, whose belief in wakeboarding in Asia turned an idea into reality. Thank You!
Photos: Strauss
Ähnliche Artikel