Former event winner Perth Standlick progressed into Round two on the opening day of Competiton. - WSL / Tim Hain
The final QS1,500 event for 2017, the Taiwan Open of Surfing, has kicked of today at Jinzun Harbour. In super fun, wind affected 3-to-4 foot peaks the event ran through all of Round One and 12 Heats of Round Two.
Japanese surfer Shun Murakami was a standout on Day 1 of competition posting the highest heat total of the event so far. Marakami's excellent 17.76 came from a display of powerful rail turns and progressive aerial surfing. He even posted a near perfect 9.46 for a giant backhand air-reverse.
Shun Murakami posted the highest heat total of the opening day. - WSL / Tim Hain
"That was a super fun heat," Murakami said. "The waves just kept coming and I was able to find a good rhythm. The waves here a similar to some places at home so I'm really comfortable here. At the end of the heat I already had a good score so went for the big air and landed it - I knew it was going to be a good score when I rode out."
Indonesian prodigy Rio Waida put on a searing display in his Round Two heat posting the highest single wave score of the event so far, a 9.67 for a series of critical snaps and a massive air reverse. With another solid result here in Taiwan, Waida will take out the WSL Asia QS for 2017.
Rio Waida dropping a 9.67 on the opening day of the TOOS. - WSL / Tom Bennett
"It's always good to get a solid score on your opening ride," Waida said. "Once that is locked in you can feel free to just have fun. That is what I did today and the scores seemed to come for me. I love these waves here they are really high performance."
Fresh off a second place finish in China last week, Californian Kei Kobayashi continued his solid form into his opening heat at the Taiwan Open of Surfing. The super fast natural footer posted a modest heat total of 11.97 to progress into Round Three in top spot.
Kei Kobayashi throwing caution to the wind. - WSL / Tim Hain
"Last week in China was my first ever final which was awesome," Kobayashi said. "I'm hoping to continue this run here in Taiwan. It's my final event for the season so I'm super fired up for a good result. The waves are so fun out there today, it's a really cool place for an event so I'm stoked to be here."
Australian charger Riley Laing was another top seed to progress through Round 2 with a solid heat win. Laing utilized both the lefts and rights of Jinzun Harbour to post his winning total of 12.96. After a tough event in China, Laing was pumped to be in Taiwan and scoring some pumping waves."
Riley Laing was relishing the conditions on offer at Jinzun Harbour on Day 1. - WSL / Tim Hain
"Although it's windy the waves are pumping out there," Laing said. "It was cool to have a heat with Nick (Callister), he surfed really well. After tough conditions in China it's nice to be here and getting waves like this, you'd take waves like this for any contest."
Action Aplenty For Day One of Taiwan Open of Surfing
WSL
The final QS1,500 event for 2017, the Taiwan Open of Surfing, has kicked of today at Jinzun Harbour. In super fun, wind affected 3-to-4 foot peaks the event ran through all of Round One and 12 Heats of Round Two.
Japanese surfer Shun Murakami was a standout on Day 1 of competition posting the highest heat total of the event so far. Marakami's excellent 17.76 came from a display of powerful rail turns and progressive aerial surfing. He even posted a near perfect 9.46 for a giant backhand air-reverse.
"That was a super fun heat," Murakami said. "The waves just kept coming and I was able to find a good rhythm. The waves here a similar to some places at home so I'm really comfortable here. At the end of the heat I already had a good score so went for the big air and landed it - I knew it was going to be a good score when I rode out."
Indonesian prodigy Rio Waida put on a searing display in his Round Two heat posting the highest single wave score of the event so far, a 9.67 for a series of critical snaps and a massive air reverse. With another solid result here in Taiwan, Waida will take out the WSL Asia QS for 2017.
"It's always good to get a solid score on your opening ride," Waida said. "Once that is locked in you can feel free to just have fun. That is what I did today and the scores seemed to come for me. I love these waves here they are really high performance."
Fresh off a second place finish in China last week, Californian Kei Kobayashi continued his solid form into his opening heat at the Taiwan Open of Surfing. The super fast natural footer posted a modest heat total of 11.97 to progress into Round Three in top spot.
"Last week in China was my first ever final which was awesome," Kobayashi said. "I'm hoping to continue this run here in Taiwan. It's my final event for the season so I'm super fired up for a good result. The waves are so fun out there today, it's a really cool place for an event so I'm stoked to be here."
Australian charger Riley Laing was another top seed to progress through Round 2 with a solid heat win. Laing utilized both the lefts and rights of Jinzun Harbour to post his winning total of 12.96. After a tough event in China, Laing was pumped to be in Taiwan and scoring some pumping waves."
"Although it's windy the waves are pumping out there," Laing said. "It was cool to have a heat with Nick (Callister), he surfed really well. After tough conditions in China it's nice to be here and getting waves like this, you'd take waves like this for any contest."
Taiwan Open of Surfing
Epic surf continues for the Taiwan Open of Surfing at Jinxzun Harbour.
The young Aussie takes his first ever QS win at the Taiwan Open of Surfing.
Mitch Parkinson has had the win of his career against his mate Sheldon Simkus at Jinzun Harbour.
Opening Rounds of The Taiwan Open of Surfing QS1,500
Only 16 competitors remain at the final QS1,500 of the 2017 season.
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