2 September 2026, Kuta, Bali: The Asian Surf Cooperative (ASC) is delighted to announce the return of the Pingtung Jialeshuei APSS Asia Tour for the second season of the Asian ProAm Surf Series (APSS). This year’s event will also feature Tipi Jabrik’s Grom Patrol, a junior surf series designed to support Taiwan’s growing youth surfing community.
The five-day event will take place from 30 September to 4 October at Jialeshuei Bay in Pingtung County, one of southern Taiwan’s most renowned coastal areas.
Last year’s event was a spectacular success, attracting 186 competitors from Japan, Australia, South Korea, South Africa, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, the USA, the Philippines, the UK, and Taiwan. The event featured local Longboard and Shortboard divisions, Bodyboard, SUP, and a Masters Division, with 59 competitors participating in the APSS Longboard and Shortboard divisions.
The APSS Longboard divisions were won by Indonesian siblings Dhea Novitasari and Dhany Widianto, while the Women’s Shortboard division was taken out by Japan’s Maiko Miyasaka.
Novitasari recently qualified for the WSL World Longboard Tour, becoming the first Indonesian to do so, while her brother Dhany Widianto also won the Shortboard division. Both concluded the inaugural APSS season as overall APSS series champions.
“The waves are really good here, because even when it’s windy there are walls and sections to work with, so I could always find a good wave and post a high score,” said Widianto following his dual victory. “I had such a great time here, surfing and meeting new people. It was so much fun, and I want to thank TORSA, the Pingtung Government, the ASC, and all the sponsors that made this event so great. I’ll definitely come back next year!”
Sponsored by the Pingtung County Government and organized by the Taiwan Ocean Recreation Sports Association (TORSA), the Pingtung Jialeshuei APSS Asia Tour is (under several different names) the longest-running surfing event in southern Taiwan and one of the region’s most anticipated and well-attended competitions. With the addition of Grom Patrol, organizers expect the 2026 event to far surpass previous attendance records.
The Pingtung Jialeshuei event will be the second stop on the 2026 APSS tour, following the Dongsha Open of Surfing, which takes place from 18–20 September in Zhoushan. APSS competitors can fly directly into Kaohsiung from Shanghai before traveling to Jialeshuei. The event will feature a live broadcast and judging by a team of ISA-certified professionals.
Grom Patrol Expands Across Asia
Tipi Jabrik’s Grom Patrol is a junior competition series designed to provide a national development pathway for young surfers across Asia, culminating in a Grand Final in Bali, Indonesia in August each year.
Taiwan now joins India and Thailand as countries outside Indonesia hosting Grom Patrol events. The 2026 Grom Patrol Grand Final will take place in Bali from 28–30 August, bringing together the top two Under-18 and Under-16 finalists from regional events alongside Indonesia’s best groms and selected wildcards at Kuta Beach.
The 2026–27 Grom Patrol season will begin in Khao Lak, Thailand, on 25–26 September, followed by Grom Patrol Taiwan as part of the Pingtung Jialeshuei APSS Asia Tour.
These national Grom Patrol events are designed primarily for local youth surfers. Winners earn their place in the year-end Grand Final in Bali by surfing in their own country, meaning young surfers do not have to travel to every event in the series to have a chance to join the Gran Final.
Beyond the competition, visitors to Pingtung can enjoy warm water, fun waves, local food, music, culture, crafts, and the opportunity to connect with the local community. Pingtung’s coastline, stretching from Jialeshuei to Kenting National Park, offers a variety of surf spots as well as opportunities for diving, SUP, cycling, hiking, and other outdoor activities.
The region is also home to indigenous communities, including the Paiwan and Rukai peoples, whose traditions, crafts, music, and cuisine add to Pingtung’s unique cultural appeal.
For more information about the event, download the Travel Guide at : https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1kARrR8bOWJEtUz6i8i7cxlE6P2R9cPF0?usp=sharing
Registration:
- Pingtung Jialeshuei APSS Asia Tour: https://liveheats.com/events/548475
- Dongsha Open of Surfing: https://liveheats.com/events/536000
- Tipi Jabrik’s Grom Patrol Taiwan: https://liveheats.com/events/548474
Follow TORSA @torsataiwan and ASC @asiansurfco for the latest event updates.
About the Asian ProAm Surf Series (APSS)
The Asian ProAm Surf Series is an Asian-wide competition initiative designed to support and elevate surfing development by bridging the gap between grassroots events and global platforms. APSS assists talented surfers in developing toward professional careers while giving traveling and adventure surfers opportunities to surf new places, meet new people, and compete in fun, professionally organized events officially sanctioned by the Asian Surf Cooperative.
About the Asian Surf Cooperative (ASC)
The Asian Surf Cooperative is Asia’s leading organization dedicated to the growth and development of surfing through high-quality events, coaching, and media services. With more than two decades of experience, ASC continues to support and pave the way for the current and next generation of professional surfers.
About Liveheats
Liveheats is a digital platform that powers competitive action-sports events, from local clubs to professional world tours. The platform provides competition features designed to empower sporting communities, event organizers, and athletes. Learn more at www.liveheats.com and on Instagram @live_heats.