Timothee Creignou (FRA) hangs ten today at the Riyue Bay ASP World Longboard Championships in China. Photo: ASP/Robertson
WANNING, Hainan Island, China (Thursday, November 27, 2013): Hawaii’s Kai Sallas and Australia’s Harley Ingleby lead the charge with convincing Round 2 heat wins in fun clean 3 feet (1meter) waves at the Riyue Bay ASP World Longboard Championships hosted by Wanning in China today.
Both Sallas and Ingleby are high performing surfers on the world longboarding scene with multiple wins over the past five years and they were in unfamiliar territory losing their opening round heats and being forced into today’s repechage Round 2. Both redeemed themselves with excellent wave scores and comprehensive wins to well and truly be back in contention.
“It’s a relief to get through round two” said Sallas.
“Surfing against a Chinese competitor was new for me, we don’t see many Chinese surfers so that was cool. I feel good here, the climate and water and surrounds are a lot like Hawaii and the final days should be good for all of us.”
Ingleby is a past ASP World Longboard Champion (2009) and is always a high contender at these events and the tall Australian looked determined during his winning heat today.
“It’s taken me a little while to really work out how to get the best scores at this venue but I’m starting to feel it” said Ingleby.
“You choose the right waves and there’s a lot of scoring potential and if the projected increase in size occurs we should be in for a great finish to the event.”
Timothee Creignou (FRA) fought back in his close heat against Nic Jones (AUS) to take a come-from-behind late heat win. Creignou found an excellent 8.25 ride late in the heat utilising the long nose-riding sections of the wave to take the win.
Phil Rajzman (BRA) was another high seed to impress today utilising his powerful on-face moves along with stylish hang-five and hang-ten nose rides to easily advance over Chen Tong Ming from Taiwan.
“They were fun waves today for my heat but I definitely hope it’s bigger from here on as I feel more comfortable in larger and more powerful surf – I think it will be bigger tomorrow so it’s good” said Rajzman.
With the swell expected to increase slightly over the final two days this event is set for an epic finish with all surfers chasing the win and a place in history as an ASP World Longboard Champion.
When Round 3 commences tomorrow Nelson III Ahina (HAW) will take on Steven Newton (USA) in the opening heat of the day.
Riyue Bay ASP World Longboard Championships Round 2 Heat Results:
Heat 1: 1st Kai Sallas (HAW), 2nd Zack Mo (CHN)
Heat 2: 1st Harley Ingleby (AUS), 2nd Emillen Fleury (FRA)
Heat 3: 1st Eduard Delpero (FRA) 2nd Jeferson Silva (BRA)
Heat 4: 1st Cole Robbins (USA), 2nd Kota Sakuroka (JPN)
Heat 5: 1st Antoine Delpero (FRA), 2nd Aurellen Maynieuz (REU)
Heat 6: 1st Jared Neal (AUS), 2nd Steve McLean (USA)
Heat 7: 1st Thomas King (ZAF), 2nd Amaro Matos (BRA)
Heat 8: 1st Timothee Creignou (FRA), 2nd Nic Jones (AUS)
Heat 9: 1st Remi Arauzo (FRA), 2nd Andre Derizans (HAW)
Heat 10: 1st Phil Rajzman (BRA), 2nd Chen Tong Ming ((TPE)
Heat 11: 1st Keegan Edwards (HAW), 2nd Tie Zhuang (CHN)
Heat 12: 1st Steven Newton (USA), 2nd Yuji Hata (JPN)
Live scores, photos, daily web highlights will be available via the event website at www.china.prosurfinglive.com
