The 2019 Taiwan Open World Longboard Championships has continued today with a short day of competition seeing the final four heats of Men's Round 2 completed. Increasing swell and blustery winds forced WSL Event Directors to call competition off due to deteriorating conditions.
Dark Days at Jinzun Harbour - WSL / Matt Dunbar
Peruvian competitor Lucas Garrido Lecca is in the hunt for his best finish at the Taiwan Open as he booked himself a spot into Round 3 after taking down Aussie hopeful Jack Entwistle. Both surfers struggled to find a decent wave in the solid and bumpy conditions, but it was Garrido Lecca who managed to pull together a heat total of 9.06 to claim the win. Garrido Lecca will now shift his focus to Round 3 where he will take on reigning World Longboard Champion Steven Sawyer.
"That was so tough out there," Garrido Lecca said. "I feel bad for Jack because those were not the waves we were hoping for, but there is nothing you can do about the conditions, that's just surfing. I'm stoked to make it into Round 3 and have the opportunity to get my best result here in Taiwan. It looks like we will continue to get solid conditions so I will try to be ready for anything."
Lucas Garrido Leccan snuck into Round 3 in tough conditions at Jinzun Harbour. - WSL / Matt Dunbar
Former World Longboard Champion Josh Constable found himself in the unexpected position of trying to avoid a last-place finish in Round 2 when he came up against fellow Aussie Clinton Guest in Heat 7. On a board he shaped himself, Constable made light work of the windy right-handers, riding the nose through the chop and slicing turns back into the pocket to take the win, much to the excitement of his family who watched on from the beach.
"Obviously you get beautiful perfect days with light wind here in Taiwan, but you also expect a few windy solid days like this," Constable said. "You have to be ready for everything here so I shaped a few boards that can handle this, and they definitely worked for me which is good. I came last year and saw all of the different conditions this place can throw at you so was definitely prepared this year. I brought my family with me this year which has been awesome. This is such a beautiful place and I knew they'd love it here plus it's a nice end of year holiday for the kids after they've done so well at school this year so we're having a great time."
Josh Constable nose riding into the third round. - WSL / Tim Hain
Kevin Skvarna and Taka Inoue were the other two competitors to progress through Round 2 with Jack Entwistle, Clinton Guest, Wenderson Biludo, and Kaimana Takayama were all unfortunately eliminated.
With conditions continuing to deteriorate at Jinzun Harbour, WSL Event Directors decided to put the event on standby after the final heat of Round 2. With conditions expected to stay below average for the next 24 hours, the event has been called off tomorrow, December 3 and WSL Event Directors will reconvene at Jinzun Harbour on Thursday, December 4 at 6:15 a.m. to make a call on competition recommencing.
The Taiwan Open World Longboard Championship runs from December 1 - 7.
Deteriorating Conditions Force a Short Day in Taiwan
WSL
The 2019 Taiwan Open World Longboard Championships has continued today with a short day of competition seeing the final four heats of Men's Round 2 completed. Increasing swell and blustery winds forced WSL Event Directors to call competition off due to deteriorating conditions.
Peruvian competitor Lucas Garrido Lecca is in the hunt for his best finish at the Taiwan Open as he booked himself a spot into Round 3 after taking down Aussie hopeful Jack Entwistle. Both surfers struggled to find a decent wave in the solid and bumpy conditions, but it was Garrido Lecca who managed to pull together a heat total of 9.06 to claim the win. Garrido Lecca will now shift his focus to Round 3 where he will take on reigning World Longboard Champion Steven Sawyer.
"That was so tough out there," Garrido Lecca said. "I feel bad for Jack because those were not the waves we were hoping for, but there is nothing you can do about the conditions, that's just surfing. I'm stoked to make it into Round 3 and have the opportunity to get my best result here in Taiwan. It looks like we will continue to get solid conditions so I will try to be ready for anything."
Former World Longboard Champion Josh Constable found himself in the unexpected position of trying to avoid a last-place finish in Round 2 when he came up against fellow Aussie Clinton Guest in Heat 7. On a board he shaped himself, Constable made light work of the windy right-handers, riding the nose through the chop and slicing turns back into the pocket to take the win, much to the excitement of his family who watched on from the beach.
"Obviously you get beautiful perfect days with light wind here in Taiwan, but you also expect a few windy solid days like this," Constable said. "You have to be ready for everything here so I shaped a few boards that can handle this, and they definitely worked for me which is good. I came last year and saw all of the different conditions this place can throw at you so was definitely prepared this year. I brought my family with me this year which has been awesome. This is such a beautiful place and I knew they'd love it here plus it's a nice end of year holiday for the kids after they've done so well at school this year so we're having a great time."
Kevin Skvarna and Taka Inoue were the other two competitors to progress through Round 2 with Jack Entwistle, Clinton Guest, Wenderson Biludo, and Kaimana Takayama were all unfortunately eliminated.
With conditions continuing to deteriorate at Jinzun Harbour, WSL Event Directors decided to put the event on standby after the final heat of Round 2. With conditions expected to stay below average for the next 24 hours, the event has been called off tomorrow, December 3 and WSL Event Directors will reconvene at Jinzun Harbour on Thursday, December 4 at 6:15 a.m. to make a call on competition recommencing.
The Taiwan Open World Longboard Championship runs from December 1 - 7.
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