It might just be the best field of surfers ever assembled for a specialty event. This year’s Uluwatu Single Fin Classic boasts five former world champions across various fields, a selection of retro-board specialists and a bunch of world-class rippers who aren’t afraid to lose a couple of rudders.

The field of entering surfers consists of Mark Occhilupo, Joel Parkinson, Mikey February, Made Lana, Joel Tudor, Tosh Tudor, Jay Davies, Bruno Santos, Noah Collins, Jared Mell, Luke Cederman, Alex Knost, Harrison Roach, Ryuki Waida, Alejandro Moreda, Rizal Tandjung, Oscar Langburne, Ozzie Wright, Koby Abberton, Mega Artana, Adi Bol Putra, Mason Ho, Tai Buddha, Westen Hirst, Varun Tandjung, Koa Rothman, Eli Olson, Balaram Stack, William Aliotti, Othmane Choufani and more…

Last year’s Uluwatu Single Fin event, which was the first since the Covid pandemic, was held in pumping waves at Outside Corner and garnered significant attention from all corners of the surfing world. Contest organiser (and competitor) Tai Graham is eager to make this year’s edition extra special.

“I’m pinching myself looking at the lineup for this year. When we first started the event, prior to the pandemic, I could barely convince guys to get out there and now it is by far one of the best comps in the world. No one leaves when they lose, everyone hangs out, drinks beers and it’s offshore all day. I’m just so stoked to see so many people putting their hands up and flying in for this. Occy and Parko just top that off.”

Quizzed about how he wrangled such an exceptional field of competitors he chuckles proudly; “I knew last year when we got the waves we had, that everyone would take notice. We had perfect six to ten foot outside corner for two days straight and I think we had nine 10-point rides during the event. So I knew this year guys were going to come knocking. We’ve got surfers from all over the world and it’s funny because we’ve got some of the best surfers who just happened to fly to Bali a couple days before and they tell me it’s a coincidence but I think some of them made sure they were intentionally here for the event.”

Tai expressed having Occy on the list was particularly special.

“Anyone who visualises Uluwatu on a single fin and someone who could still lay it down in this day and age, it kind of gives me Occy vibes. I tried to get him a few years ago but he was busy and then I showed him footage from last year and he told me was going to be there.

“I’m going to give Occy an hour before the final to just go out there and surf. He said he’d only do it if I came out, but I might just give it to him and Made Lana for an hour and the rest of us can just watch, I think that would be a bit of a crowd pleaser.”

Competition will run over Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 August. Surfers will compete in six man heats, bar round one which will be nine man heats as Tai admitted he has had a hard time saying ‘no’ to people.

“It’s just going to be a normal criteria mixed in with a bit of style; guys were throwing cheetah fives last year and soul arching the whole way. We in the commentary booth also had a bit of influence on the judging last year too, we were throwing 10s before they had even scored the wave. So it’s a real fun event in that way too.”

While competition will be fierce at times, the day is also about fun and celebrating a wave that acts as the epicentre of Bali surfing.

“From what Uluwatu was, the goat track, the temple and jumping on the back of Suzuki TS’s to nowadays where Uluwatu is thriving and even busier than Canggu. You’ve got the most beautiful white sandy beaches and waves, offshore winds all day and all the beaches and restaurants there. Our bar, Single Fin, has probably been one of the longest standing up there. Our Sunday nights have turned into somewhat of a religious event.”

“The event kicks off with an opening ceremony down in the cave on Friday at sunset with all the invitees and anyone else who wants to spectate it. It’s the first time we’ve done something like that, we thought we’d tie in some tradition, it’s going to be super special. We will then be doing a talk with a panel on the deck that consists of Jim Bank, Occy, Parko, Mikey Feb and Joel Tudor. It will be amazing to hear their insights. We then have two competition days and a big after party afterwards.”