Darci Liu (CHN), reigning ASP Women’s World Longboard Champion Kelia Moniz (HAW) and Kassia Meador (USA). Pic ASP/Will H-S
WANNING, Hainan Island, China (Tuesday, November 19, 2013) – The 2013 Swatch Girls Pro China hosted by Wanning opened with a bang at the Sheraton in Shenzhou Peninsula, Hainan Island China with a press conference and opening ceremony that featured pyrotechnics, traditional dancing and singing. This is the event that will decide the 2013 ASP Women’s World Longboard Champion, and with a promising forecast on the horizon it’s highly likely that the event will get underway first thing tomorrow morning.
Kelia Moniz (HAW), reigning ASP Women’s World Longboard Champion has returned to defend her title and today was reflecting on her historic win and the memories made at last year’s event, before shifting focus to this year’s event. Moniz will take on Nava Young (AUS) and Rachael Tilly (USA) in Heat 6 of Round 1.
“China isn’t your typical surfing destination and I think that makes winning my first ASP World Longboard Title here even more special,” Moniz said. “Coming in to every event you’re always hopeful of getting a good result, especially when there’s an ASP World Longboard Title on the line, but I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself, I’ll be taking it heat by heat, wave by wave. I’m just excited that we’ll have some really good waves this year.”
Kassia Meador (USA), one of the world’s most stylish longboarders and poster girl for the 2013 Swatch Girls Pro China, is excited to get the event underway after some free surfing sessions in great conditions at Riyue Bay over the past few days. Meador will surf against Tory Gilkerson (USA) and Fernanda Daichtman (BRA) in Heat 11 tomorrow.
“Us longboarders are suckers for long waves and Riyue Bay is a long left pointbreak, it’s perfect for an ASP World Longboard Championship event,” Meador said. “Today we were in the water surfing a wave that I don’t think many people have ever surfed, the sun was shining and the waves were perfect, it was an unreal experience. Also, the other day we went to a school and showed the kids about surfing and told them that it’s for everyone and it’s free and the kids got so excited, it was great.”
Darci Liu (CHN), 2013 Swatch Girls Pro wildcard and hero in the local surfing community is very proud to host the world’s best female longboarders in her home country and to also represent China in an event that will decide the 2013 ASP Women’s World Longboard Champion. Liu will face Chelsea Williams (AUS) and Simone Robb (ZAF) in Round 1 tomorrow.
“I’m really proud to be a part of this competition and thankful to everyone who works to make this happen for us,” Liu said. “When I started surfing four or five years ago I would only see one or two other surfers in the water, but now you can sometimes see 20 or 30. Surfing is growing in China and I’m proud to see that because it is making people’s lives better.”
Mr Chen, Minister of the Publicity Department of the Wanning People’s Government of China has been a huge supporter of the Swatch Girls Pro China and is looking forward to seeing how this year’s event unfolds.
“On behalf of the people’s government of Wanning city I’m excited once again to welcome the Swatch Girls Pro China to Wanning,” Mr Chen said. “Riyue Bay, Wanning, Hainan Island is a world surfing paradise and I invite you all to come here and enjoy surfing and our hospitality.”
