Usman Trioko: Indonesia’s First Desert Point Surfer

January 25, 2026 Alex Carter - Sports Editor Sport

Summary of the Interview Excerpt:

This excerpt is an interview with an Indonesian surfer, reflecting on his journey, family, and the history of surfing in Indonesia. Here’s a breakdown of the key points:

1. Family & Community:

* He comes from a large family – six brothers and six sisters.
* He feels incredibly supported by his family and community, especially in his hometown where he’s well-known and respected.people are constantly offering him food!
* His nephews are now avid surfers, inspired by him, and are becoming very skilled. He jokingly complains about being crowded out of waves by them.

2. Surfing Journey:

* He started surfing on a broken board and never imagined he’d be recognized by professional surfers like Gabriel Medina.
* He deeply admires Hawaiian surfers like Kalani Chapman, Rory Parker, Jamie O’Brien, and Rico, who were early supporters of Indonesian surfing.
* Akila Aipa was instrumental in his growth, providing him with a custom surfboard and opportunities like a trip to Bali.
* He emphasizes continuous learning and a childhood dream of mastering the waves.

3. History of Indonesian Surfing:

* He acknowledges the pioneers like Made Kasim, Ketut Menda, and Bobby Radiyasa but grew up knowing surfers like Rizal Tanjung, Pepen hendrick, Mega Semahdi, and the Balinese surfers made Llana more directly.
* His early exposure to Indonesian surfing was limited by a lack of technology (no phone or internet) and distance from Bali. He primarily learned through magazines.
* He remembers being inspired by surfers like Bol and Ratu.

4. influential Indonesian Surfers:

* The excerpt ends mid-sentence, asking about the most influential Indonesian surfers, but doesn’t provide an answer within this portion of the text.

Overall Tone:

The tone is humble, grateful, and nostalgic. He expresses deep appreciation for the support he’s received and joy in seeing the next generation of Indonesian surfers thrive. He also conveys a sense of wonder at how far he’s come in his surfing career.