Australia’s Nicholas Squiers and Peru’s Miluska Tello win Gold Medals In China

Hainan Wanning Riyue Bay International Surfing Festival
November 23-28
Riyue Bay, Wanning, Hainan Hainan Island, China

Wanning, Hainan Island, China, November 24, 2014- The International Surfing Association (ISA) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2014 ISA China Cup.

With strong performances on both the Men and Women’s side, Peru won the Team Gold Medal and the ISA China Cup Team Trophy. Australia placed a close second, earning the Silver Medal, Brazil won the Bronze Medal, and South Africa took the Copper Medal.

In an action-packed heat, Australia’s Nicholas Squiers won the Men’s Gold Medal with a heat total score of 13.93, defeating Silver Medalist, Peru’s Juninho Urcia (11.57), Bronze Medalist, Peru’s Miguel Tudela (11.03) and Copper Medalist, Argentina’s Mariano Arreyes (10.50).

In a dramatic end to the Women’s Final, Australia’s Jessica Grimwood was in the lead with just a few minutes until the final horn, when Peru’s Miluska Tello earned a 6.17 to move up to first place, allowing Tello to take the win, with a total score of 11.83. In second, earning the Silver Medal, came South Africa’s Tanika Hoffman (9.57), in third, earning the Bronze Medal, Australia’s Jessica Grimwood (9.30) and in fourth, earning the Copper Medal, Costa Rica’s Leilani McGonagle (8.50).

“I’m very happy and satisfied with the success of hosting the third annual ISA China Cup. Despite the waves not being the best, the surfers showed amazing surfing skill and provided a great show,” remarked ISA President Fernando Aguerre.

Aguerre continued, “I’m very excited to see the National Chinese Team competing again soon at an ISA World Championship. The opportunities for surfing’s development in China are endless. Congratulations to each member of the participating National Surfing Teams for coming to China and to all medalists. Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to our welcoming hosts, the people and government of China, to our great partners at Beijing Womei Media, and all of the sponsors for joining us in this great competition.”

Men’s Gold Medalist, Nicholas Squiers was thrilled to win and commented:

“It’s one thing to surf for yourself, but to have your country’s emblem in your chest is another thing. You got all your teammates to support you for the heat, and that just gives you more drive. It’s such a beautiful spot here, the water is warm and although the waves are small, it’s a lot of fun. I’ve never been here so it has opened my eyes to another place in the world, it’s fantastic. I’m glad to be here and take the win.

Women’s Gold Medalist, Miluska Tello was ecstatic about her win and commented:

“I’m very happy because last year I made it to the Repechage Final and finished in fifth place. This has happened several times that I get eliminated in the Repechage Finals. This time I got the opportunity to reach the Final and win, just like Anali (Gomez) did. We got rid of our bad streak of always losing in the Repechage Finals, Anali is the World Champion and I won this important event.

The conclusion of the ISA China Cup marks the start of the Hainan Classic, Men’s 4-Star ASP Qualifying Series event. On Tuesday, November 25, competition will resume with he start of the second part of the Hainan Wanning Riyue Bay International Surfing Festival. With a prize purse of $95,000 US, the competition will feature an international field of surfers, including 12 Chinese, by far the most ever in the history of any international surfing competition. This is a testimony to the success the ISA is already having in the short term to fulfilling its mission to develop global surfing, and to developing surfing in China.

Official Forecaster, Surfline, has predicted Small, fading ENE windswell with the surf mainly 2-3ft, knee-waist high with inconsistent sets to around stomach high around favorable tides.

Final ISA China Cup Team Rankings:

1. 1- Peru- 13,378
2. 2- Australia- 13,232
3. 3- Brazil- 9,766
4. 4- South Africa- 9,760
5. 5- Argentina- 9,270
6. 6- Costa Rica- 8,910
7. 7- Panama 7,640
8. 8- China 7,140

http://youtu.be/NReWMyMVuKc

The First Ever Chinese National Team Competed At An ISA Competition

Hainan Wanning Riyue Bay International Surfing Festival
November 23-28, 2014
Riyue Bay, Wanning, Hainan Island, China

Wanning, Hainan Island, China, November 23, 2014- The opening day of the ISA China Cup was a historic moment for the global development of Surfing as China competed for the first time in ISA history.

The 8 participating National Surfing Teams: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Panama, Peru and South Africa, along with their 48 surfers, traveled from every corner of the globe to compete for Gold. All the surfers have gathered in tropical Wanning, on Hainan Island in the South China Sea, for the third annual event.

The surfers faced challenging conditions on the opening day of the ISA China Cup at the left point break Riyue Bay. As predicted by Surfline, the official forecaster of the event, the surf was in the 2-3ft range. Despite the scattered showers throughout the day, the conditions remained glassy and contestable all day long.

“Today was a historic day for surfing, as the first ever Chinese National Team to compete at an ISA competition faced the top seven surfing countries in the world. This moment truly shows how Surfing is developing globally and especially in China,” remarked ISA President Fernando Aguerre. “The world’s best surfers showed today they can perform at a very high level even in challenging surfing conditions. Tomorrow is the Final Day of the ISA China Cup, and I am certain it will be an exciting race to the Gold Medal and the ISA China Cup Trophy.”

The day kicked off with a memorable Welcoming Ceremony featuring the eight participating countries. A member from each country went up on stage carrying their National Flag as the Mayor of the City of Wanning Mr. Zhang and ISA Director General Liam Ferguson welcomed all of the surfers to China.

On Day 1 of the ISA China Cup, Australia’s Kai Hing delivered the highest scoring performance in the Men’s division. Hing, in his Round 2 heat managed to overcome the challenging conditions and earned a 9.00 and 8.17 for an impressive total heat score of 17.17. The Australian defeated Peru’s Lucca Messinas (11.34), and South Africa’s Casey Grant (9.50) and Davey Brand (7.33).

On the Women’s side the best surfer of the day was Codie Klein, also from Australia, who is leading the way towards tomorrow’s Women Grand Final. During her Round 1 heat, Klein earned the two highest single waves scores in the Women’s draw of 8.17 and 7.00. The Australian dominated her heat and defeated the defending ISA 50th Anniversary World Surfing Games Women’s Gold Medalist, Anali Gomez (8.90) from Peru, Costa Rica’s Lisbeth Vindas (6.60) and Argentina’s Lucia Indurain (5.90).

Monday is the final day of the 2-day ISA China Cup. Individual Men and Women’s Gold Medals will be determined. South Africa, Australia, Peru, Brazil, and Costa Rica still have all of their athletes in contention and are still in the hunt for the Team Gold Medal and the 2014 ISA China Cup.

Argentina is sitting in 6th place, Panama in 7th, and unfortunately for the local Chinese team, despite a solid effort they have lost all of their athletes and will finish in 8th place.

Official Forecaster, Surfline, has predicted for Monday, small to fun-size ENE windswell with a slight reinforcements early, then eases throughout the day. Inconsistent surf going 2-3’+, mainly knee-waist high with occasional stomach high sets around favorable tides. NE winds are light to moderate (5-13kt) in the morning, trending ENE through the afternoon.

The Hainan Wanning Riyue Bay International Surfing Festival resumes tomorrow at 7:40am with The Morning Show hosted by Mike Latronic, who will be joined by Team China.

For a full list of today’s results, click here- http://hainaninternationalsurfingfestival.com/china-cup/results/

Watch the Final Day of the ISA China Cup on the live webcast tomorrow- http://hainaninternationalsurfingfestival.com/china-cup/live/

Here is the schedule for the Final Day of the ISA China Cup live webcast:
Sunday, 7:40am China
Sunday, 10:40am Sydney, Australia
Sunday, 1:40am South Africa
Sunday 12:40am, Western Europe
Saturday, 3:40pm West Coast USA
Saturday, 5:40pm Costa Rica
Saturday, 6:40pm Panama/Peru
Saturday, 8:40pm Argentina
Saturday, 9:40pm Brazil

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