LAGUNDRI BAY, NIAS / INDONESIA (Monday, June 27, 2022) – The sixth and final day of the 2022 Nias Pro, a World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 5,000 combined with Pro Junior Men’s and Women’s event concluded in 3ft plus perfect waves today with Pro Junior Divisions enjoying amazing conditions to round out a week of absolute perfection at the famous point break.
This event has again enhanced the reputation of Nias and Lagundri Bay which certainly has a case to being one of the best point breaks in the world which combined with incredible consistency throughout the entire year makes it a surf destination with unparalleled appeal.
The perfect waves have simply pumped all day/every day through this entire event.
Many of today’s Pro Junior Semifinalists and Finalists placed highly in the open events and the experience they gained from surfing such a quality event will only enhance the emergence of the super talented Asian region surfers, predominantly from Indonesia, Japan and The Philippines.
The Women’s Pro Junior highlighted the enormous talents of Japanese surfers who took placings, 1st, 2nd and 3rd with Anon Matsuoka complimenting her third place in the Open Womens by winning the Pro Junior final. All week Anon displayed her precision powered approach and she is already setting herself up for an exciting career in WSL professional surfing.
“I am so happy here in Nias, the waves and the competition has been incredible, “ said Matsuoka. “I think this is the best event I ever surfed in and I look forward to coming again for sure next year.”
Sai Manowa placed second with Nanaho Tsuzuki 3rd and Indonesia’s Kailani Johnson placed 4th.
Caption: Anon Matsuoka dynamic surfing at Nias. Credit: WSL / Federico Vanno / Liquid Barrel
The Pro Junior Men’s final was an international affair with Taro Watanabe (USA) taking the win thanks to some massive on face turns and an air reversal move that demonstrated the wave here goes well beyond just barrel riding.
“This has been an incredible week,” said Watanabe. “It’s the biggest win of my career and to have such amazing waves makes it even better.”
Leo Casal placed 2nd, capping off a huge two weeks for the Brazilian with Australia’s Oscar Berry 3rd and Sweden’s Kian Martin in 4th place.
Having showcased Nias to the surfing world next year’s Nias Pro promises to be bigger and better than ever.
Caption: Winner Taro Watanabe at the Nias Pro. Credit: WSL / Frederico Vanna
Caption: The Nias Pro men’s Pro Junior Finalists. Credit: WSL / Tim Hain