Taylor Jensen (CA/USA) the American that lives in Yamba, NSW and West Australian Georgia Young (WA/AUS) are the 2012 ASP Australasia LQS Champions.
Coolangatta, QLD/Australia (Friday, 10 August, 2012) - Reigning ASP World Longboard Champion Taylor Jensen (CA/USA) and West Australian Georgia Young (WA/AUS) have claimed top honours on the 2012 ASP Australasia Longboard Qualifying Series. The Australasian LQS consists of two events for the women and three for the men and features competitors from Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, USA, France, Italy, Germany and Canada.
Jensen had a perfect year on the ASP Australasia LQS winning all three of the men’s events including the Hyundai Tour at Sandy Bay NZ, Australian Longboard Surfing Open at Kingscliff NSW and the ‘Be Kind Be Calm Keep Smiling’ Whalebone Classic in WA.
“This year I was just out there having fun and really enjoying my time travelling and competing,” Jensen said. “With a bit of the ocean’s help it all went my way. My favourite moment has to be the end of the Final at the Whalebone Classic. Just having such a tight battle with Harley (Ingleby) again after having the same battles at the Australian Open of Longboarding a month or so earlier, and coming out on top to make it a flawless season was really surreal. It was a goal I set after winning the first two events to be the only person to ever go undefeated on the LQS, so when the last horn of the season blew and my goal was realised it was something special that may not happen again for me.”
Although Jensen is an American, he lives in Australia and talks about how special this country is and why he has chosen to live here.
“Australia is just a magical place,” Jensen said. “The people are incredible, the waves are amazing, the foods great, there’s just so many things that make this country one of the best in the world. With the amount of travel we do as surfers it’s really hard to call anywhere home. I’m always going to spend a huge amount of my time in America with all my family and my sponsors, but Australia is without a doubt home base for me and where I plan on settling down.”
Young finished equal 13th at the Australian Longboard Surfing Open, but went on to win the ‘Be Kind Be Calm Keep Smiling’ Whalebone Classic for the second year in a row to see her earn enough points to take the top spot on the ASP Australasia LQS.
“It’s been a great year for me,” Young said. “To top off the circuit with a win at my home break is awesome! I’m pretty stoked. The Final of the Whalebone Classic was nerve racking, I knew the other girls only needed small scores to overtake me. The last five minutes was crazy, I was so nervous, but also excited. It was at my home break that I surf everyday and all of my family and friends were on the beach, it was really special. I’d missed out on that event for a few years because I was competing in France and now to win it two years back-to-back is unbelievable.”
Young’s Quarterfinal finish at the Australian Longboard Surfing Open left the field wide open for the final event of the year at her home break.
“I was disappointed with a Quarterfinal finish in the first event,” Young said. “I knew I’d have to win the Whalebone Classic to put myself up there on the ratings and redeem myself. Having won it last year gave me a bit of confidence, but there was also pressure. It all worked out and I’m already looking forward to next year’s ASP Australasia LQS.”
Young was also full of praise for fellow ASP Australasia LQS champion Taylor Jensen.
“Taylor (Jensen) is hands down my favourite longboarder in the world,” Young said. “He’s such a big guy and surfs with so much power and style. It’s inspiring to watch him. I love having events with the guys, I watch them and it helps push my surfing.”
