Taylor Jensen (USA), reigning ASP World Longboard Champion.
COOLANGATTA, QLD/Australia (Monday, October 22, 2012) – The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is thrilled to announce that the 2012 Men’s ASP World Longboard Champion will be crowned in China at the 2012 CITIC PACIFIC Shenzhou Peninsula Pro hosted by Wanning. Hainan Island, China burst onto the surfing scene in 2011 with the ASP’s first ever event in the Far East, and since then it has become known as a fantastic surfing destination and will be the ideal location for the world’s best longboarders to compete for the ASP World Longboard Title. The 2012 CITIC PACIFIC Shenzhou Peninsula Pro will run from 27 Nov – 1 Dec at Riyuewan, Wanning, Hainan Island.
Taylor Jensen (USA), reigning ASP World Longboard Champion is excited by the prospect of defending his title on the sands of Riyuewan Bay, China. Jensen has had a stellar year in the lead up to this event winning all three ASP Australasian Longboard Qualifying Series events.
“Having the ASP Men’s World Longboard Title in China this year is going to be a great experience,” Jensen said. “From what I have heard and seen the wave and the location are good for longboarding and having it alongside the Women’s WLT will make it all the more exciting! I’ve had the best competitive year of my life since I won the ASP World Longboard Title in Italy last November, so I am feeling really confident and ready to compete.”
Dane Jordan, ASP Australasia’s General Manager has worked closely with the Hainan local surfers and government to get this event up and running and is excited to once again show the world what Hainan has to offer.
“I’ve been to China, in particular the Wanning region of Hainan Island, multiple times over the last couple of years and have to say that the waves and the set-up are world-class,” Jordan said. “The men’s longboarders didn’t have an event for 2012 and the local government and business in Wanning rallied to make this event happen and take advantage of this great opportunity to host the world’s best longboarders and I’d like to thank them for the support.”
Harley Ingleby (AUS) 2009 ASP World Longboard Champion has a slight edge over his fellow campaigners as he spent a week surfing at Riyuewan Bay last year. Ingleby will put that experience to work as he heads to compete in China next month.
“I’m so stoked to hear we have a WLT at Hainan China this year!” Ingleby said. “It will be a great event. I got to free surf the event site last year during the ladies WLT and it’s a great setup for an event. There’s pointbreaks, beachies, warm water and what seems to be pretty consistent swell that time of year.”
Mayor Wu from the People’s Government of Wanning is excited to welcome the world’s best longboard surfers to Wanning and to showcase the regions incredible natural environment.
“It is a great honour for us to welcome the world’s best surfers to Wanning and we look forward to showing them our best waves and natural attractions. Wanning is located in the southeast coast of Hainan Island and boasts 109 km’s of coastline, more than 10 beautiful scenic bays, 5 islands, 2 peninsula and 2 great lakes so we are sure everyone will have a great time.”
Naming rights sponsor CITIC Pacific see surfing as a natural fit to their Shenzhou Peninsula Tourism Projects including the Sheraton Shenzhou Peninsula Resort and the Four Points by Sheraton Shenzhou Peninsula Resort which are both located near the world class waves of Riyuewan.
“The CITIC Pacific Shenzhou Peninsula is elegantly located at Latitude 18 degrees North and is situated at the foot of the mountains while facing to the seas. It is blessed with four bays and two seas, an elegant coastline with a length of 12 kilometers, and a great lake of 5 square kilometers. It is equipped with a world-class 41-hole coastal golf course, 10 international brand hotels, 3 compound yacht wharfs and 1 offshore island, exhibiting its temperament as an international sea island habitat. Surfing is a natural fit to this great natural environment and we look forward to having the world’s best surfers here in Wanning,” said the CITIC Pacific representative.
