JINZUN HARBOUR, TAITUNG / TPE (Monday, November 25, 2019) – Competitors have battled blustery conditions on Day 3 of the 2019 Taiwan Open of Surfing World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 3000 event to set up what is bound to be an epic finals day tomorrow. The windy bumpy conditions offered huge righthand ramps and long left-hand walls for competitors to surf through Rounds 5 and 6 to decide the Quarterfinalists.
Reigning Taiwan Open of Surfing QS event winner Mitch Parkinson (AUS) stole the show on Day 3 of competition, posting the highest two-wave combination of the entire event, an 18.00-point total to book himself a spot in the Quarterfinals. Parkinson revelled in the windy cross-shore conditions, boosting huge airs and slicing trademark Parkinson turns as he moves one step closer to going back-to-back at Jinzun Harbour. A win here would be his second QS3,000 victory of the season as he is fresh off a win at the So Sri Lanka Pro earlier this year.
“When the conditions are like this, I get really excited,” Parkinson said. “I know it suits my style, so I was looking forward to getting out there. I’m so happy to be back in Taiwan I love it here and have a good crew of friends to hang with so it’s cool. I’d love to win this event again and I’m confident I can get the job done if conditions stay like this.”
Frenchman Justin Becret (FRA) guaranteed his best ever result in a Qualifying Series event, progressing into the Quarterfinals at Jinzun Harbour. Becret was solid on the long winding lefts, belting turn after turn to post a respectable heat total of 13.80 to eliminate event standouts Rio Waida (IDN) and Kade Matson (USA).
“To be honest I didn’t really focus too much on who was in my heat,” Becret said. I know those guys are really good out here though, but I just focussed on my on heat. I was here last year for the World Junior Championships and it’s good to be back – the waves here are so fun. This is definitely going to be my best result in a QS event so I’m already really happy with how things have gone here.”
Pictured: Marc Lacomare (FRA) progressing into the Quarterfinals of the Taiwan Open of Surfing QS3,000.
Credit: © WSL / Matt Dunbar
Becret’s compatriot Marc Lacomare (FRA) continued his epic run through the field, taking out his sixth heat win in three days. Lacomare went to task on the long-left walls, throwing buckets of spray with his powerful approach. The CT hopeful will be looking for the win tomorrow as he hopes to move back into the top 100 on the QS rankings in 2020.
“This has been a really long day of surfing,” Lacomare said. “It’s fine though because the waves are so fun. There are a lot of good surfers here so finals day will be tough but I’m looking forward to it and I’m hoping for a big result. It’s been a great event so far and I’ve been so surprised with all of the setups in Taiwan and the amount of swell we’ve been getting – it’s non-stop.”
Other quarterfinalists include Andy Criere (ESP), Paul Cesar Distinguin (FRA), Mikey McDonagh (AUS), Thomas Cervi (AUS) and Marco Giorgi (URY). Be sure to tune in tomorrow as we look to crown our Taiwan Open of Surfing QS3,000 event winner for 2019.
There is also a strong chance of the 2019 WSL World Junior Championship running straight after the QS3,000 final so be sure to tune in.
The Taiwan Open QS3,000 will run from November 23 – 26. For more information and to watch all of the action from the Taiwan Open of Surfing, head to www.worldsurfleauge.com or download the free WSL App.
*CLICK HERE FOR ALL TOOS QS3,000 DAY 3 RESULTS*
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.