Japan´s Hiroto Arai powered through his heat with turns like this and attaining one of the most impressive heat scores of the day. Photo: ISA/Tweddle
Day One of the Contest Takes Place at the Picturesque Left Point Break at Riyue Bay
After two days of the ISA China Cup held in small beach break waves, the swell finally arrived as predicted by Official Forecaster, Surfline, with waist to chest high waves that peeled down the left point break at Wanning’s Riyue Bay. Day 1 of the Hainan Classic, 4-Star Men’s ASP, the second event of the ISA’s Hainan Wanning Riyue Bay International Surfing Festival, saw pumping waves that greeted the world’s best surfers for the opening day of competition.
The improving surf conditions allowed for the Opening Day of the Hainan Classic to be held at the left point break made famous in 2012 during the first edition of this event.
Today, Riyue Bay showed signs of its true potential. Even though the wind and weather conditions were not ideal, the wave offered multiple turn sections with steep walls for airs and other critical maneuvers.
9 year old Chinese surfer, Zhuo Qui, surfed his first ever heat at an ASP event and became the youngest surfer ever in an ASP competition. Photo: ISA/Tweddle
“I’m very happy the swell has picked up and we are able to run the competition on the point at Riyue Bay,” remarked ISA President Fernando Aguerre. “While the surf today is not as perfect as a year ago, the waves and the rides are long, the performance level is high, and the competition has been strong. I’m amazed at how good the young Chinese surfers have become in just one year since the ISA first came to China. Good luck to all of the competitors in the final days of the Hainan Classic.”
The standouts of the day were Carlos Zapata (PER), who had the highest combined heat score of the day totaling 17.50, Hiroto Arai (JPN) with the second highest heat score, 16.77, and Maxime Huscenot (FRA) with the third highest heat score of the day, and also the highest single wave score of the day, 9.47.
Day 1 saw the completion of Round 1 and the first 4 heats of Round 2. When competition resumes on Tuesday at 7:40am starting with the ISA Morning Show, the remaining 12 heats of Round 2 plus 8 heats of Round 3, featuring the likes of former ASP World Champion Sunny Garcia and current ASP World Tour Surfer Glenn Hall, will be surfed.
For a full list of today’s results, click here- http://hainaninternationalsurfingfestival.com/hainan-classic/results/
Watch the live webcast of Day 2 of the Hainan Classic tomorrow on- http://hainaninternationalsurfingfestival.com/hainan-classic/live/
Here is the schedule:
Tuesday, 7:40am China
Monday, 3:40pm West Coast USA
Tuesday, 12:40am Western Europe
Tuesday, 10:40am Sydney Australia
The International Surfing Association (ISA) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the World Governing Authority for Surfing. It was originally founded as the International Surfing Federation in 1964 and has been running the Open Division World Championship since 1964, the World Junior Surfing Championship since 1980, the World Masters Surfing Championship since 2007, the World Bodyboard Championship since 2011, the Hainan Wanning Riyue Bay International Surfing Festival in China, and the World Standup Paddle (SUP) and Paddleboard Championship beginning in 2012. The ISA also sanctions the World Kneeboard Titles and the World Tandem Surfing Championship, and will launch the World Longboard Championship in 2013. ISA membership includes the surfing National Governing Bodies of 72 countries on five continents. Its headquarters are located in La Jolla, California. It is presided over by Fernando Aguerre (Argentina), first elected President in 1994 in Rio de Janeiro and re-elected seven times since. The ISA’s four Vice-Presidents are Alan Atkins (AUS), Karín Sierralta (PER), Debbie Beacham (USA) and Layne Beachley (AUS).
More on www.isasurf.org
