Japan’s Masatoshi Ohno (JPN) at last year’s Hainan Classic. Pic ASP/Robertson
COOLANGATTA, QLD/Australia (Friday, January 18, 2013) – Next week the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) and International Surfing Association (ISA) will continue their historic partnership at the second annual Hainan Wanning Riyue Bay International Surfing Festival. The festival consists of two events – the ISA China Cup, followed by the ASP 4-Star Hainan Classic that offers precious ASP World Tour ratings points and US$95,000 in prize money.
Sunny Garcia (HAW), the 2000 ASP World Champion will make his maiden journey to China to compete at the Hainan Classic. Garcia will be looking to put his powerful brand of surfing on display at Riyue Bay’s long left-handers and also soak up the Chinese culture.
“This is my first trip to China and I’m very excited,” Garcia said. “I’ve always wanted to come to China since both my great-grandfather Wing Wong and great-great-grandfather Ting-Sing Hoke are from China. I’m just looking to enjoy being in China and doing good in the contest.”
Wade Carmichael (AUS), last year’s ASP Australasia Pro Junior Series champion is also making his first trip to China. Carmichael is looking to start the 2013 competitive season with a bang and bag as many ASP World Tour ratings points as possible to help him chase his dream of qualifying for the ASP World Championship Tour.
“I’m pretty excited to be going to China next week,” Carmichael said. “Later in the year I’m going to go to Europe, there’s a lot of comps back-to-back which will be good. I’m hoping to have a good seed mid-year then maybe get into some ASP PRIME events in South Africa and Hawaii. I’ll be all over the place in 2013, so China seems like a good place to start.”
Dane Jordan, ASP Australasia General Manager is excited to get to China and kick off the highly anticipated Australasian leg of the ASP World Tour. Last year’s event experienced truly world-class conditions and Dane is hopeful Riyue Bay can pull off a repeat performance.
“A few years ago I never would have imagined kicking off the Australasian leg of the ASP World Tour in China!” said Jordan. “It’s a very exciting prospect for surf fans, the surfers and people in China. It’s also exciting to be working with the ISA again, last year’s Hainan Wanning Riyue Bay International Surfing Festival was the first time the ASP and ISA have collaborated on an event together and it’s fantastic for the sport. I can’t wait to get back there.”
ISA President Fernando Aguerre was instrumental in bringing this event to China and is proud to return for the second year for both the ISA China Cup and the ASP 4-Star Hainan Classic.
“I’m very excited about our second yearly ISA China Cup and Hainan Classic being held this January,” said Aguerre. “I’m sure the level of surfing for the ISA’s events in China will be amazing for the second consecutive year. We are stoked to be working again with the ASP, in making history for a better surfing future in China. Millions of people were exposed to surfing for the first time at our event in 2012. We expect to share our dream with even more people.”
