An event winner and runner-up, and a very lucky World Champ. - WSL / Tim Hain
Taylor Jensen has won his third World Title in a winner-takes-all surf-off against Edouard Delpero at the Taiwan Open World Longboard Championship. It is only the second time in WSL history that a World Championship has been decided by a surf-off -- in this case, both surfers finished the season in equal-1st place on rankings. It was a thriller heat with the two trading clean, 4-to-6 foot waves at Jinzun Harbour.
After being eliminated in the Quarterfinals of the Taiwan Open WLC event earlier in the week, Jensen had a long wait to find out his fate. When Edouard Delpero beat Phil Rajzman in the Final of the Taiwan Open, he joined Jensen on top of the rankings, meaning that the event needed to run one more heat to decide the 2017 World Longboard Champion. Delpero had just won his first WLC event and was on a roll, but after a number of close second-place finishes over the last two years, nothing was going to stop Jensen from claiming the his third Championship.
Jensen displaying his masses of power. - WSL / Tim Hain
"This doesn't feel real at the moment, I'm totally tripping out on this," Jensen said. "It has been an absolute roller coaster of a week with losing in the Quarterfinals then watching everyone fall out, then realizing I still has a chance was mind-blowing. For it to go down to a surf-off is really cool. I was a mess all week, not sleeping and just constantly nervous. Then when I found out I would surf for it I just treated it as a normal Final."
Jensen has won World Championships in 2011 and 2012 in Italy and in China but rates this close call in pumping Taiwan waves as his sweetest yet. Taking out the Kumul PNG World WLC event earlier this season, Jensen was in the box seat heading to Taiwan.
Taylor Jensen chaired to victory after the surf-off for his third world title. - WSL / Tim Hain
"I was the first to win in Italy and the first to win in China so it is really cool to be the first to win in Taiwan," Jensen said. "This is definitely the sweetest of all of them. I have had a few close calls recently and it has definitely taken a toll emotionally. I came to this event with a lot of fire in me and I have worked super hard.
"Winning in Papua New Guinea definitely got me pumped up at the start of the year and I've just had to carry and manage that motivation throughout the year. This win has definitely alleviated the frustration of the last few years and to get it in great waves in a beautiful place like this is really special for me."
2017 Three's a Charm for Taylor Jensen
Tom Bennett
Taylor Jensen has won his third World Title in a winner-takes-all surf-off against Edouard Delpero at the Taiwan Open World Longboard Championship. It is only the second time in WSL history that a World Championship has been decided by a surf-off -- in this case, both surfers finished the season in equal-1st place on rankings. It was a thriller heat with the two trading clean, 4-to-6 foot waves at Jinzun Harbour.
After being eliminated in the Quarterfinals of the Taiwan Open WLC event earlier in the week, Jensen had a long wait to find out his fate. When Edouard Delpero beat Phil Rajzman in the Final of the Taiwan Open, he joined Jensen on top of the rankings, meaning that the event needed to run one more heat to decide the 2017 World Longboard Champion. Delpero had just won his first WLC event and was on a roll, but after a number of close second-place finishes over the last two years, nothing was going to stop Jensen from claiming the his third Championship.
"This doesn't feel real at the moment, I'm totally tripping out on this," Jensen said. "It has been an absolute roller coaster of a week with losing in the Quarterfinals then watching everyone fall out, then realizing I still has a chance was mind-blowing. For it to go down to a surf-off is really cool. I was a mess all week, not sleeping and just constantly nervous. Then when I found out I would surf for it I just treated it as a normal Final."
Jensen has won World Championships in 2011 and 2012 in Italy and in China but rates this close call in pumping Taiwan waves as his sweetest yet. Taking out the Kumul PNG World WLC event earlier this season, Jensen was in the box seat heading to Taiwan.
"I was the first to win in Italy and the first to win in China so it is really cool to be the first to win in Taiwan," Jensen said. "This is definitely the sweetest of all of them. I have had a few close calls recently and it has definitely taken a toll emotionally. I came to this event with a lot of fire in me and I have worked super hard.
"Winning in Papua New Guinea definitely got me pumped up at the start of the year and I've just had to carry and manage that motivation throughout the year. This win has definitely alleviated the frustration of the last few years and to get it in great waves in a beautiful place like this is really special for me."
Taylor Jensen
Taylor Jensen banks his fourth World Longboard Title in a bout against Kai Sallas at the 2024 Surf City El Salvador Longboard
All the excellent waves including Honolua Blomfield's 10-point switch barrel ride.
Taylor Jensen is back in the driver's seat ahead of the Abu Dhabi Longboard Classic presented by Modon. With a win at Bells and Huntington,
Taylor Jensen wins the 2024 Huntington Beach Longboard Classic.
The three-time WSL Longboard Champion, Taylor Jensen, took control of Finals Day from his first heat to the last with dynamic displays
Taiwan Open World Longboard Champs - Women's
The Californian clinches his third World Title in Taiwan.
The Frenchman nabs his first longboard championship victory, forcing a World Title showdown with Taylor Jensen.
A few shock exits at the Taiwan Open has turned things up a notch.
Stong winds force a lay-day and keep us waiting to find out who will become 2017 World Champ.
Phil Rajzman has put a spanner in the works, while other title hopefuls also fall out of contention.