The land of the rising sun is ready for more men's Qualifying Series (QS) action for the Murasaki Shonan Open QS 1,500 beginning July 8 - 15. Plenty of Japan's rising stars are back to contend for valuable points toward the mid-year shuffle of rankings, with Vans US Open of Surfing noting the re-seeding at the end of July.
Defending event winner Joh Azuchi is back for more alongside an international contingent including Australia's Harley Ross, South Africa's Slade Prestwich, and a few American notables such as Ryland Rubens.
The QS 1,500 also has an array of events that coincide and provide a spectacle for all.
This marks the second QS event in the WSL Asia region for 2019 following the Ichinomiya Chiba Open. Reo Inaba is currently ranked 1st in the regional rankings, followed by Kaito Ohashi and Rio Waida in 3rd - both of who are in attendance for this year's event.
The 1,500 points on offer in Shonan will be the focus for these athletes moving forward in the season as a No. 1 finish by season's end earns that competitor a spot into the highest-rated events to begin 2020.
Azuchi's first QS chair-up came from this event last year and he's back for more following a great run in the recent Ballito Pro. - WSL / K.Kawana
The site of the event, Kugenuma Kaigan, Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture, is located in the center of the Shonan area, and is well known for the summer sightseeing spots surrounding Enoshima. This year's contest site welcomes more than 30,000 visitors and this year's Summer Festival will be held simultaneously on the 15th - which coincides with the Ocean Day National Holiday.
It will be a celebration of the sea and a major event that will start in the Kanto region, where summer officially starts on July 1 in Japan.
Jordan Lawler finished with a runner-up last year which helped earn his way into the marquee events to start 2019 and he currently sits No. 7 on the QS - which international competitor will rise to the occasion this year? - WSL / Kawana
This event will be broadcast live on the Internet. If you can not come to the venue, please enjoy the internet live broadcast including "Morning Show" broadcasted every morning.
The Murasaki Shonan Open QS 1,500 will run on the best days of conditions from July 8 - 15 at Kugenuma Kaigan.
2019 Murasaki Shonan Open Entry Seed list Top16
1. Joh Azuchi (JPN) 113th/2018
2. Slade Prestwich (ZAF) 115th/2018
3. Harley Ross (AUS) 133rd/2018
4. Hiroto Arai (JPN) 139/2018
5. Rio Waida (IDN) 143th/2018
6. Sheldon Simkus (AUS) 161th/2018
7. Kaito Ohashi (JPN) 170th/2018
8. Daiki Tanaka (JPN) 174th/2018
9. Ariihoe Tefaafana (PYF) 182/2018
10. Keijiro Nishi (JPN) 191th/2018
11. David Vlug (AUS) 196th/2018
12. Shun Murakami (JPN) 231st/2018
13. Takuta Ohta (JPN) 236th/2018
14. Sandon Whittaker (AUS) 250th/2018
15. Ryland Rubens (USA) 257th/2018
16. Noah Hill (HAW) 277th/2018
Stage Set for Murasaki Shonan Open QS 1,500
WSL
The land of the rising sun is ready for more men's Qualifying Series (QS) action for the Murasaki Shonan Open QS 1,500 beginning July 8 - 15. Plenty of Japan's rising stars are back to contend for valuable points toward the mid-year shuffle of rankings, with Vans US Open of Surfing noting the re-seeding at the end of July.
Defending event winner Joh Azuchi is back for more alongside an international contingent including Australia's Harley Ross, South Africa's Slade Prestwich, and a few American notables such as Ryland Rubens.
This marks the second QS event in the WSL Asia region for 2019 following the Ichinomiya Chiba Open. Reo Inaba is currently ranked 1st in the regional rankings, followed by Kaito Ohashi and Rio Waida in 3rd - both of who are in attendance for this year's event.
The 1,500 points on offer in Shonan will be the focus for these athletes moving forward in the season as a No. 1 finish by season's end earns that competitor a spot into the highest-rated events to begin 2020.
The site of the event, Kugenuma Kaigan, Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture, is located in the center of the Shonan area, and is well known for the summer sightseeing spots surrounding Enoshima. This year's contest site welcomes more than 30,000 visitors and this year's Summer Festival will be held simultaneously on the 15th - which coincides with the Ocean Day National Holiday.
It will be a celebration of the sea and a major event that will start in the Kanto region, where summer officially starts on July 1 in Japan.
This event will be broadcast live on the Internet. If you can not come to the venue, please enjoy the internet live broadcast including "Morning Show" broadcasted every morning.
The Murasaki Shonan Open QS 1,500 will run on the best days of conditions from July 8 - 15 at Kugenuma Kaigan.
2019 Murasaki Shonan Open Entry Seed list Top16
1. Joh Azuchi (JPN) 113th/2018
2. Slade Prestwich (ZAF) 115th/2018
3. Harley Ross (AUS) 133rd/2018
4. Hiroto Arai (JPN) 139/2018
5. Rio Waida (IDN) 143th/2018
6. Sheldon Simkus (AUS) 161th/2018
7. Kaito Ohashi (JPN) 170th/2018
8. Daiki Tanaka (JPN) 174th/2018
9. Ariihoe Tefaafana (PYF) 182/2018
10. Keijiro Nishi (JPN) 191th/2018
11. David Vlug (AUS) 196th/2018
12. Shun Murakami (JPN) 231st/2018
13. Takuta Ohta (JPN) 236th/2018
14. Sandon Whittaker (AUS) 250th/2018
15. Ryland Rubens (USA) 257th/2018
16. Noah Hill (HAW) 277th/2018
News
The North Shore delivered yet again to crown Eweleiula Wong and Luke Tema event victors and notching their first-ever QS wins.
Wong and Tema Claim Maiden QS Wins at Famed Sunset Beach
The 18-year-old Luke Tema overcame macking Sunset Beach and an elite field of proven QS contenders and fellow QS newcomers to emerge
A showdown of Hawaii/Tahiti Nui's premier QS contenders ended in elation for Eweleiula Wong to claim her first-ever QS win in pumping
Every 9+point ride as the world's best take on Sunset Beach as Jack Robinson and Molly Picklum push the boundaries and claim victory at the