When you watch Koa Smith surf in the Padang Cup, it's easy to forget that he's only 15. Last year, the youngest competitor in the event looked completely at ease in the heavy conditions. He also didn't seem fazed to be competing against local legends like Rizal Tanjung and Made Switra, who were getting pitted at Padang well before Koa was even born.

His confidence at Padang might have something to do with the fact that Koa's been coming to Indo at least twice a year since he was 10 years old. Sometimes it's for a boat trip, sometimes a Rip Curl Search trip to a lesser known island in the archipelago (He calls last year's Search trip to Sumbawa “the trip of my life.”) Koa also comes to Bali regularly with his family, including brother Alex, who also rips. The Smith clan always stays at their friends' place at Bingin. Koa will post up at the machine-like left all day, eat in the warungs, and perfect his tube threading act.

Last year Koa narrowly lost his opening round heat to Danny Fuller and Mustofa Jeksen. He nearly made it out of what would have been one of the best waves of the contest and surely a perfect 10.

“It started getting narrower as it got to the channel and one of these little chops just knocked me off my board at the very end when I was almost out,” recalls Koa. “I've had a lot of time to think about those waves. This year I can't wait to see how far I can get.”

Ironically, as comfortable as the grom looked in last year's comp, Koa says he was unprepared for the scale of the event last year. He knew it was a big deal, but he didn't realize just how big Indonesia's longest-running and most prestigious surf contest has become. When he showed up at 7 a.m. for the call at Padang, he was first surprised to see fans already filling the parking lot and staking out spots on the beach. He was even more shocked when he saw the most perfect waves imaginable freight training in over the reef below the limestone cliffs, with no one out in the water. By the time the TV cameras and small army of photographers showed up, Koa felt like he was back in Hawaii at the Pipe Masters.

Obviously, he made sure he got a spot in the event again for 2010. Says Koa: “This year, I'm ready."