SABANG BEACH, Baler, Philippines (Friday, February 2, 2024) - Qualifying Series (QS) action came thick and fast on day two of the inaugural Baler International Pro, with semifinalists in both men's and women's divisions decided by day's end. Competitors were able to find long waves, going both right and left, in the slightly onshore two-to-three foot surf hitting the beach-break at Sabang Beach. The Round of 16 and Quarterfinals were held in the World Surf League (WSL) QS 3000 event, while the Longboard Qualifying Series (LQS) was once again called off for the day.
As the final event in the Asia region before two co-sanctioned events with the Australia/Oceania region take place in Australia to determine qualifiers for the Challenger Series, today's QS 3000 results held utmost importance for many of the surfers.
Amuro Tsuzuki (JPN) progressed through to her fourth straight Finals Day out of four events entered this season. Deciding to focus solely on the Challenger Series in 2023, Tsuzuki missed multiple events early in the QS season and now faces an uphill battle to regain her qualification, though she is climbing the rankings fast.
Opening her campaign in Baler with the highest heat total of the event so far, 15.75 (out of a possible 20), Tsuzuki immediately made her presence known. Absolutely decimating the best wave of the day, the 22-year-old attacked the outside section with a strong, vertical, backhand two-turn combo, before connecting it to a strong finish on the inside, earning an 8.75 (out of a possible 10) for her efforts. The former WSL World Junior Champion, CT Replacement Surfer and Olympic Bronze Medalist makes the heat wins seem easy, but her previous success does add pressure to continue performing.
"I was just trying to keep busy." Tsuzuki said, "It was really tricky out there, but I'm so happy to get good waves and get an 8. It was a really great experience for me (to be on the CT), but now sometimes I feel a kind of pressure that makes me really nervous, but I'm trying to keep smiling and be happy. It's very hard work, but I like this feeling. I'm trying to just enjoy the surfing and not worry about the points."
Sara Wakita - WSL / Abdel Elecho
In the Round of 16 heat prior to Tsuzuki's, Sara Wakita (JPN) found significant speed and smooth flow to deliver the first excellent score for the women's division, an 8.00. Both Wakita and Anon Matsuoka (JPN) maintain a strong rankings lead, holding the No. 1 and No. 2 places, respectively. Although Matsuoka is not present in Baler, Wakita has advanced to the Semifinals. Meanwhile, Tsuzuki, along with fellow semifinalists Minami Nonaka (JPN) and Nanaho Tsuzuki (JPN), has a significant opportunity to move up the rankings, especially after Nanaho defeated the current No. 3, Kana Nakashio (JPN), in the Quarterfinals.
Hiroto Ohhara - WSL / Abdel Elecho
Having won the first event he entered this season, the Bonsoy Chiba Ichinomiya Open QS 3000, and backed it up with two other Finals Day results, Hiroto Ohhara (JPN) is primed to make a jump in the Asia Region QS rankings from his current position in No. 11. A shock early exit at the La Union International Pro was washed off today as the Olympian drew from his deep experience to take two convincing heat wins and land himself in the Semifinals. Coming up against his younger countryman Shohei Kato (JPN) in the Quarterfinals, Ohhara changed his plan mid-heat to find two rides in the 7-point range, 7.55 (out of a possible 10) and 7.25, for a 14.80 heat total, the highest of the day for the men.
"I've been in that situation so many times before," Ohhara said. "I'm just looking for my wave and you know, he got the 6.90 beginning of the heat and I knew I needed maybe two 7's or a 7 and a 6 or whatever, like high scores. My plan was to go to the left, but as soon as he got the score I was thinking, oh maybe just go an air to get the score, and then that's what I did, and that's what got the score."
Ketut Agus - WSL / Abdel Elecho
Thanks to the sole Filipino to make the Quarterfinals, Philmar Alipayo (PHL), who knocked out current rankings No.1 and No. 3, Keijiro Nishi (JPN) and Kian Martin (SWE), Ohhara has the opportunity to jump well up into the top 5, though he will face stiff competition from current No. 2 Rinta Oooto (JPN), No. 4 Joh Azuchi (JPN) and No. 8 Ketut Agus (INA), who round out the Semifinal draw, and each have the potential to take the lead.
Agus, who remains the sole non-Japanese competitor in either division, proved his small wave skills today, most notably on a speedy left. The regular-footer connected multiple backhand turns together with a zest that earned him a 7.75, one of the highest single wave scores of the day.
"I was just watching before my heat," Agus said. "I watched a couple heats, and I saw some of the Japanese get a good score going on their backhand, so I prepared for that. I was looking for those waves and got that wave and just performed there."
Competitors in each division have been asked to be on standby tomorrow morning at 7:00 a.m. for a possible 7:30 a.m. start.
The inaugural Baler International Pro will run at Sabang Beach from February 1 - 7.
Semifinalists Determined at Inaugural Baler International Pro QS 3000
WSL
SABANG BEACH, Baler, Philippines (Friday, February 2, 2024) - Qualifying Series (QS) action came thick and fast on day two of the inaugural Baler International Pro, with semifinalists in both men's and women's divisions decided by day's end. Competitors were able to find long waves, going both right and left, in the slightly onshore two-to-three foot surf hitting the beach-break at Sabang Beach. The Round of 16 and Quarterfinals were held in the World Surf League (WSL) QS 3000 event, while the Longboard Qualifying Series (LQS) was once again called off for the day.
As the final event in the Asia region before two co-sanctioned events with the Australia/Oceania region take place in Australia to determine qualifiers for the Challenger Series, today's QS 3000 results held utmost importance for many of the surfers.
Amuro Tsuzuki (JPN) progressed through to her fourth straight Finals Day out of four events entered this season. Deciding to focus solely on the Challenger Series in 2023, Tsuzuki missed multiple events early in the QS season and now faces an uphill battle to regain her qualification, though she is climbing the rankings fast.
Opening her campaign in Baler with the highest heat total of the event so far, 15.75 (out of a possible 20), Tsuzuki immediately made her presence known. Absolutely decimating the best wave of the day, the 22-year-old attacked the outside section with a strong, vertical, backhand two-turn combo, before connecting it to a strong finish on the inside, earning an 8.75 (out of a possible 10) for her efforts. The former WSL World Junior Champion, CT Replacement Surfer and Olympic Bronze Medalist makes the heat wins seem easy, but her previous success does add pressure to continue performing.
"I was just trying to keep busy." Tsuzuki said, "It was really tricky out there, but I'm so happy to get good waves and get an 8. It was a really great experience for me (to be on the CT), but now sometimes I feel a kind of pressure that makes me really nervous, but I'm trying to keep smiling and be happy. It's very hard work, but I like this feeling. I'm trying to just enjoy the surfing and not worry about the points."
In the Round of 16 heat prior to Tsuzuki's, Sara Wakita (JPN) found significant speed and smooth flow to deliver the first excellent score for the women's division, an 8.00. Both Wakita and Anon Matsuoka (JPN) maintain a strong rankings lead, holding the No. 1 and No. 2 places, respectively. Although Matsuoka is not present in Baler, Wakita has advanced to the Semifinals. Meanwhile, Tsuzuki, along with fellow semifinalists Minami Nonaka (JPN) and Nanaho Tsuzuki (JPN), has a significant opportunity to move up the rankings, especially after Nanaho defeated the current No. 3, Kana Nakashio (JPN), in the Quarterfinals.
Having won the first event he entered this season, the Bonsoy Chiba Ichinomiya Open QS 3000, and backed it up with two other Finals Day results, Hiroto Ohhara (JPN) is primed to make a jump in the Asia Region QS rankings from his current position in No. 11. A shock early exit at the La Union International Pro was washed off today as the Olympian drew from his deep experience to take two convincing heat wins and land himself in the Semifinals. Coming up against his younger countryman Shohei Kato (JPN) in the Quarterfinals, Ohhara changed his plan mid-heat to find two rides in the 7-point range, 7.55 (out of a possible 10) and 7.25, for a 14.80 heat total, the highest of the day for the men.
"I've been in that situation so many times before," Ohhara said. "I'm just looking for my wave and you know, he got the 6.90 beginning of the heat and I knew I needed maybe two 7's or a 7 and a 6 or whatever, like high scores. My plan was to go to the left, but as soon as he got the score I was thinking, oh maybe just go an air to get the score, and then that's what I did, and that's what got the score."
Thanks to the sole Filipino to make the Quarterfinals, Philmar Alipayo (PHL), who knocked out current rankings No.1 and No. 3, Keijiro Nishi (JPN) and Kian Martin (SWE), Ohhara has the opportunity to jump well up into the top 5, though he will face stiff competition from current No. 2 Rinta Oooto (JPN), No. 4 Joh Azuchi (JPN) and No. 8 Ketut Agus (INA), who round out the Semifinal draw, and each have the potential to take the lead.
Agus, who remains the sole non-Japanese competitor in either division, proved his small wave skills today, most notably on a speedy left. The regular-footer connected multiple backhand turns together with a zest that earned him a 7.75, one of the highest single wave scores of the day.
"I was just watching before my heat," Agus said. "I watched a couple heats, and I saw some of the Japanese get a good score going on their backhand, so I prepared for that. I was looking for those waves and got that wave and just performed there."
Competitors in each division have been asked to be on standby tomorrow morning at 7:00 a.m. for a possible 7:30 a.m. start.
The inaugural Baler International Pro will run at Sabang Beach from February 1 - 7.
Hiroto Ohhara
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