2 November 2024, Jialeshuei – Taiwan:  It was a massive day of action today for the start of the 2024 Pingtung Manzhou Jialeshuei International Surfing Competition, with 37 heats run the primary bank and 35 heats on the secondary before the lights dimmed and sunset behind the hills.  

It was a challenging day for the competitors and the event organizers alike with winds and waves presenting significant changes from the start to the finish.  But overall, the waves conditions provided plenty of scoring opportunities for the competitors.  

When the horn blew the start of the competition at about 6:30 am, the Men’s Longboard divisions competitors had calm and glassy 1-2 foot waves, but an hour and a half later as the Women’s Longboard division paddled out, the wind started up and for the remainder of the day there were blasting gusts of side, cross, and offshore wind that did it’s best to rip apart the tents and cause havoc, but neither the officials nor the surfers let it phase them, as they both were up to the challenge and put on their best performances.

ASC Men’s and Women’s Longboard and Under 18, and Open Men’s and Women’s Shortboard, as well as Men’s and Women’s Bodyboard and Masters divisions all saw action today at the primary rivermouth location, while the amateur divisions and SUP took on the secondary left point.

Semifinalists have been decided in the ASC Women’s Longboard division and the ASC Under 18’s, as well as the Men’s Open Shortboard, Men’s SUP, and Under 12’s.  

ASC Men’s Longboard finalists were decided in the last two heats of the day, with Taiwan’s Pan Haixin, Zhang Fuzheng and Wang Haoen and Thailand’s Henry Sitipong Chapman getting the final four spots.

“It was definitely challenging today, with the conditions changing and the strong winds, even for a local like me” said Pan Haixin.  “This is my home break and I surf here all the time, but it was still tricky.  Hopefully conditions will get better tomorrw.  I’ve been commentating on the live webcast, and surfing both longboard and shortboard today, so it’s been quite a lot to do, but I’m really stoked to make it into the longboard final, and hopefully tomorrow I can make it into the shortboard finals as well,” added Haixin.

Posting the highest scores in the Women’s Shortboard division was Japan’s Maiko Miyasaka, who earned a heat high two wave total of 11.94 points (out of a possible 20) in semifinal 1, opening up with a 6.17 score for several powerful backhand turns, then adding another 5.77 points for her final wave, to come into the beach smiling and happy.

“It was pretty good waves out there, and so good to be out there with 3 other women, sharing the waves with them,” said Miyasaka.  “This is my second time here, and I love this place, the people and everything.  Thanks to everybody here, I’m so happy to be here, and that I made it into the finals tomorrow.”

Tomorrow will see the exciting conclusion to the Pingtung Manzhou Jialeshuei International Surfing Competition, with the action scheduled to commence at 7:00 am with the ASC Women’s Longboard Semifinals and concluding at approximately 2 pm with the Open Men’s Longboard Finals.  

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The event will conclude with an awarding ceremony and celebration.

Click here  https://liveheats.com/events/284408/schedule for the event schedule, heat draws and matchups, and for more general event information https://www.facebook.com/surftaiwan?mibextid=LQQJ4d

The Pingtung Manzhou Jialeshuei International Surfing Competition will be broadcast live, so follow this link starting tomorrow to view all the action if you cannot attend the event in person: at  https://youtube.com/@taiwantorsa?si=MvZGca8224lUoXpL

Please follow TORSA @torsataiwan and ASC @asiansurfco on Instagram to keep up with all the latest, and visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/surftaiwan

 

The 2024 Pingtung Manzhou Jialeshuei International Surfing Competition is brought to you by the Taiwan Ministry of Education and the Pingtung County Government, organized by the Taiwan Ocean Recreation Sports Association (TORSA), sanctioned by the Asian Surf Cooperative (ASC) with sponsorship contributions by Bolong Café, ROXY, QUIKSILVER , Taiwan Share House, Global Sense, Britney Spears Entertainment, Muii Swim, Red Bull, Havaianas, SurfAce Apparel, VAST, The Palm Roof, Betelnut Co., Collet, Viva Mexico, usass.co, and Outside Paradise