An international field of over 70 competitors have arrived in India ahead of the inaugural Tamil Nadu International Surf Open World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 3,000 event which is set to start this week at the perfect right-hander of Mahabalipuram Beach. The event is the first of its kind in India and will play a massive part in qualifying competitors from the Asia region for the 2024 WSL Challenger Series.
Opening Ceremony crowds were huge at Tamil Nadu. - WSL / Tim Hain
"It's great to finally be here in India and see what a great location we have for this event," said WSL APAC Tour Manager Ty Sorati. "We've had a really warm reception and can't wait to get competition underway for all of the fans who have travelled from around the country to see this historical event. It looks as if there is some swell filtering in later in the week so we expect to be up and running in the next few days. It's a fantastic setup here and some of Asia's best up-and-coming surfers are on hand so it's bound to be a really exciting event."
Two surfers who have travelled to India to compete for the first time are Filipino representative John Mark-Tokong (PHL) and Sara Wakita (JPN) from Japan. Both surfers have had a strong year of results and are hoping to see the waves in India turn on so they can continue their success.
"I'm stoked to be here in India, the waves here look really fun," Tokong said. "I've come here straight from an event in California so am just getting settled. We are staying nearby and have been enjoying ourselves so far. The set-up for the event looks good and it sounds like there are some waves coming so I'm looking forward to the competition."
Lineup - WSL / Tim Hain
Wakita is fresh off a third-place finish at the recent Bonsoy Chiba Ichinomiya Open and is in need of another big result to move up the Asia regional rankings from sixth place where she is currently sitting.
"I've been getting some fun waves here since arriving from Japan and the water is so warm," Wakita said. "Even when the waves are small here they line up really well. I can't wait to see what it does when there is swell on it and I'm excited to start the competition."
A call to start the competition will be made tomorrow, Tuesday, August 15, but is likely to commence on Wednesday with a more promising forecast for swell later in the week.
The inaugural Tamil Nadu International Surf Open will run from August 14 - 20, 2023.
Competitors Arrive in India Ahead of Inaugural Tamil Nadu International Surf Open
WSL
An international field of over 70 competitors have arrived in India ahead of the inaugural Tamil Nadu International Surf Open World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 3,000 event which is set to start this week at the perfect right-hander of Mahabalipuram Beach. The event is the first of its kind in India and will play a massive part in qualifying competitors from the Asia region for the 2024 WSL Challenger Series.
"It's great to finally be here in India and see what a great location we have for this event," said WSL APAC Tour Manager Ty Sorati. "We've had a really warm reception and can't wait to get competition underway for all of the fans who have travelled from around the country to see this historical event. It looks as if there is some swell filtering in later in the week so we expect to be up and running in the next few days. It's a fantastic setup here and some of Asia's best up-and-coming surfers are on hand so it's bound to be a really exciting event."
Two surfers who have travelled to India to compete for the first time are Filipino representative John Mark-Tokong (PHL) and Sara Wakita (JPN) from Japan. Both surfers have had a strong year of results and are hoping to see the waves in India turn on so they can continue their success.
"I'm stoked to be here in India, the waves here look really fun," Tokong said. "I've come here straight from an event in California so am just getting settled. We are staying nearby and have been enjoying ourselves so far. The set-up for the event looks good and it sounds like there are some waves coming so I'm looking forward to the competition."
Wakita is fresh off a third-place finish at the recent Bonsoy Chiba Ichinomiya Open and is in need of another big result to move up the Asia regional rankings from sixth place where she is currently sitting.
"I've been getting some fun waves here since arriving from Japan and the water is so warm," Wakita said. "Even when the waves are small here they line up really well. I can't wait to see what it does when there is swell on it and I'm excited to start the competition."
A call to start the competition will be made tomorrow, Tuesday, August 15, but is likely to commence on Wednesday with a more promising forecast for swell later in the week.
The inaugural Tamil Nadu International Surf Open will run from August 14 - 20, 2023.
Asia
Jahly Stokes and Keijiro Nishi Finish Runners Up as Jinzun Harbor Turns on Pumping Surf For Finals Day and Kerr Wins Second QS 5000 Event
Women's Top Seeds Dominate Round of 32 -- Stage Set For Potential Finals Day in Taiwan.
Only Four Heats of the Men's Round of 96 were Completed on Day 3, with a Promising Forecast For the Coming Days at Jinzun Harbor.
Super Fun Waves on Offer at Jinzun Harbor allows for a Huge Day and Sees the Completion of 20 Men's Heats.
Women's Round of 48 Completed in Taiwan as Olive Hardy Top Scores on Day 2 of Competiton.
News
The 18-year-old Luke Tema rose to the occasion at Sunset Beach and now prepares for another formidable field once more.
No stranger to righthanders with his WSL Longboard Tour experience, Kaniela Stewart now awaits the first WSL Longboard Regional QS on the
Natalia Wunderlich earned her spot on the 2024 WSL Longboard Tour courtesy of this 9-point ride and now looks to push it on the North Shore
From a pair of 10-point rides courtesy of Kepa Mendia and Cannon Carr in the same heat to Taro Watanabe's 9.57, Day 2 was stacked.
Just when Day 2 was wrapping up from an action-packed Round of 64, Kepa Mendia and Cannon Carr closed it out with Perfect 10s to rattle