Whatshot
Perfect Conditions for Taiwan Open World Longboard Championships
Perfect Conditions for Taiwan Open World Longboard Championships
Date: 2017-12-01
While the final event of the 2017 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), the Maui Women's Pro, has been called off for the day with inconsistent three-to-four footsurf on offerat Honolua Bay, the 2017 Taiwan Open World Longboard Championships has continued with perfectly clean 3-to-4 foot waves continuing throughout the event.
On a beautiful sunny day at Jinzun Harbour the 2017 Taiwan Open World Longboard Championships has continued with the completion of Men's Round Three.
In his 6 years of competing at the Longboard Championship Tour (LCT), young Sunshine Coaster Nic Jones (AUS) has been unable to make it out of Round Three. On Day 3 of competition, Jones had a tough task ahead of him if he was to break his run of 13th place finishes when he came up against two times World Champion Piccolo Clemente (PER). Jones adapted to the conditions and criteria well, opting to surf on a traditional single fin and utilize time on the nose to find a 14.23 (out of a possible 20) heat total. Clemente failed to find a rhythm leaving Jones to progress to a guaranteed best finish on the LCT.
It was an all Californian affair in Heat 4 of Round Three with Kevin Skvarna (USA) coming up against Cole Robbins (AUS). It was an exciting heat as the more traditional Skvarna sat on the left peak while Robbins kept to the rights. Robbins posted a 7.33 (out of possible 10) late in the heat to take the lead. Skvarna had a chance to answer back but fell and lost his board, one of the perils of surfing heats without a leash. Robbins was able to hang on for the win with a heat total of 14.66.
The Maui Women's Pro event will decide the 2017 WSL Women's Title and going into the event five surfers are in mathematical contention to clinch the title: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Tyler Wright (AUS), Courtney Conlogue (USA), Carissa Moore (HAW) and Stephanie Gilmore (AUS).
Six-time WSL Champion Gilmore will be the first title contender to compete in the opening heat of Round 1 when competition gets underway.
