Anwar on his way to winning the 2016 Taiwan Open of Surfing. - WSL / Bennett
A huge final day at the Taiwan Open of Surfing hosted by Taitung County has seen champions crowned across three WSL and local divisions. Indonesian sensation Oney Anwar has won the Qualifying Series (QS) 1,500 event, Frenchman Edouard Delpero has taken out the Men's Longboard Qualifying Series (LQS) event and the Women's LQS event has been taken out by Honolua Blomfield. Conditions were tough at Jinzun Harbour on the final day, with 4-foot waves and strong cross-shore winds.
Oney Anwar's QS1,500 win is the biggest of his career. Anwar came up against Australian Cody Robinson who, along with Anwar, had been a standout all event. Anwar controlled the majority of the final after he dropped a single-wave score of 6.25 out of a possible 10 and backed it up with an excellent 9-point ride. Anwar was on fire, throwing water everywhere with his powerful carves and boosting massive air-reverses.
Oney had air-reverse's on lock on finals day. - WSL / Bennett
"I'm so stoked I can't believe it," Anwar said. "I really enjoy the waves in Taiwan and even though it was stormy today the waves were still good. It's so good to finish the year off with a win, especially the biggest win of my career. I can't wait for 2017 and hope I can keep on winning."
Robinson consistently dominated heats throughout the contest, posting some of its highest heat totals. After trailing for the majority of the Final, with less than a minute left, Robinson took off on a set needing an 8.50. He nailed one massive turn and then attempted a huge air-reverse, which would have come close to earning him the score, but he came unstuck on the landing. Robinson is happy with his best QS result but is understandably somber for coming so close to the win.
Cody Robinson's backhand was on-point all week. - WSL / Bennett
"Getting that close and just falling at the end is shattering," Robinson said. "When you make it all the way to the Final all you want to do is win so it's gut wrenching when you don't. I'm really happy with how I surfed this event and can walk away with confidence for next year. I knew I had to go big on that last one to get a big score and I feel if it were deemed complete I would have earned the score."
The Men's LQS final was also an absolute thriller that came down to the final minute with Frenchman Edouard Delpero taking the win. Sitting in second position behind Australian Jack Entwistle in the dying minutes, Delpero needed a mid 6.00 point ride to hit the front. Finding a long right-hander with priority, Delpero took off and threw everything at the wave. He started with a beautiful, long hang-ten and completed it with a huge closeout hit. He was visibly ecstatic when he heard the score.
Delpero with toes over the nose. - WSL / Bennett
"I can't believe I won," Delpero said. "I have actually been sick all week so haven't been surfing much at all, it's been a really long, hard week. I have worked hard to make sure I got better and it has all paid off. I knew there wasn't much time left when that wave came and knew I needed a score. I just surfed the way I know how to and the wave gave me great sections. When I got to the end I knew it would be the score I needed."
The first Final to hit the water at Jinzun was the Women's LQS which was taken out by young Hawaiian Honolua Blomfield. Blomfield surfed a busy heat catching six waves, all of which she rode all of the way to the beach. Blomfield was a standout all event but saved her best performance for the final with long nose-rides and some critical re-entries. For her efforts she was scored an excellent heat total of 15.75.
Honolua is looking in good form in the lead up to WLC. - WSL
"I'm so stoked to win," Blomfield said. "That was really intense out there, there was so much water moving around. I've had a few LQS wins but never internationally, this is definitely up there with one of the best wins in my career. Hopefully I can carry this form into next week's World Championships in China."
Last year's Taiwan Open of surfing winner Tony Silvagni came just short of back-to-back wins. - WSL / Bennett
Chris Zaffis finished a respectable equal-third. - WSL / Bennett
Cody Robinson on his way to the best result of his career. - WSL / Bennett
Delpero with a solid explanation point. - WSL / Bennett
Jack Entwistle finished third in the LQS. - WSL / Bennett
Kevin Skvarna on a traditional longboard shape. - WSL / Bennett
Nicholas Squiers finished equal 3rd. - WSL / Bennett
Alice Lemoigne walking the plank. - WSL / Bennett
Three WSL Champions Crowned at Taiwan Open of Surfing
WSL
A huge final day at the Taiwan Open of Surfing hosted by Taitung County has seen champions crowned across three WSL and local divisions. Indonesian sensation Oney Anwar has won the Qualifying Series (QS) 1,500 event, Frenchman Edouard Delpero has taken out the Men's Longboard Qualifying Series (LQS) event and the Women's LQS event has been taken out by Honolua Blomfield. Conditions were tough at Jinzun Harbour on the final day, with 4-foot waves and strong cross-shore winds.
Oney Anwar's QS1,500 win is the biggest of his career. Anwar came up against Australian Cody Robinson who, along with Anwar, had been a standout all event. Anwar controlled the majority of the final after he dropped a single-wave score of 6.25 out of a possible 10 and backed it up with an excellent 9-point ride. Anwar was on fire, throwing water everywhere with his powerful carves and boosting massive air-reverses.
"I'm so stoked I can't believe it," Anwar said. "I really enjoy the waves in Taiwan and even though it was stormy today the waves were still good. It's so good to finish the year off with a win, especially the biggest win of my career. I can't wait for 2017 and hope I can keep on winning."
Robinson consistently dominated heats throughout the contest, posting some of its highest heat totals. After trailing for the majority of the Final, with less than a minute left, Robinson took off on a set needing an 8.50. He nailed one massive turn and then attempted a huge air-reverse, which would have come close to earning him the score, but he came unstuck on the landing. Robinson is happy with his best QS result but is understandably somber for coming so close to the win.
"Getting that close and just falling at the end is shattering," Robinson said. "When you make it all the way to the Final all you want to do is win so it's gut wrenching when you don't. I'm really happy with how I surfed this event and can walk away with confidence for next year. I knew I had to go big on that last one to get a big score and I feel if it were deemed complete I would have earned the score."
The Men's LQS final was also an absolute thriller that came down to the final minute with Frenchman Edouard Delpero taking the win. Sitting in second position behind Australian Jack Entwistle in the dying minutes, Delpero needed a mid 6.00 point ride to hit the front. Finding a long right-hander with priority, Delpero took off and threw everything at the wave. He started with a beautiful, long hang-ten and completed it with a huge closeout hit. He was visibly ecstatic when he heard the score.
"I can't believe I won," Delpero said. "I have actually been sick all week so haven't been surfing much at all, it's been a really long, hard week. I have worked hard to make sure I got better and it has all paid off. I knew there wasn't much time left when that wave came and knew I needed a score. I just surfed the way I know how to and the wave gave me great sections. When I got to the end I knew it would be the score I needed."
The first Final to hit the water at Jinzun was the Women's LQS which was taken out by young Hawaiian Honolua Blomfield. Blomfield surfed a busy heat catching six waves, all of which she rode all of the way to the beach. Blomfield was a standout all event but saved her best performance for the final with long nose-rides and some critical re-entries. For her efforts she was scored an excellent heat total of 15.75.
"I'm so stoked to win," Blomfield said. "That was really intense out there, there was so much water moving around. I've had a few LQS wins but never internationally, this is definitely up there with one of the best wins in my career. Hopefully I can carry this form into next week's World Championships in China."
Honolua Blomfield
The surge from Honolua Blomfield continues in dynamic form, this time in head-to-head fashion against No. 3 seed Alice Lemoigne. A battle
After surging through Match 1, Honolua Blomfield found her world-class form to post an excellent 8.50 for a commanding Match 2 victory over
The three-time WSL Longboard Champion Honolua Blomfield showcased her clutch form, posting a heat-best 7.03 under the 10-minute mark to
The three-time WSL Longboard Champion Honolua Blomfield didn't waste any time posting excellence with a 8.67 to get Finals Day in Abu Dhabi
The three-time WSL Longboard Champion Honolua Blomfield kicked off women's competition in Abu Dhabi with a jaw-dropping, 16.33 heat total.
Taiwan Open of Surfing
Despite strong winds, there were solid performances across both longboard and shortboard disciplines.
The wind and the waves showed up for Day 1 of the last QS for WSL Japan and Australasia regions.
QS and LQS hit the water as Jinzun Harbour turns on for Day 2 of the Taiwan Open of Surfing Hosted by Taitung County.
Strong winds and pumping surf greet competitors on Day 1 at The Taiwan Open of Surfing hosted by Taitung County.