23 May 2023, Kuta-Bali, Indonesia: The Asian Surf Cooperative, the World Surf League, and title sponsor PADROL are proud to announce Indonesia’s very first WSL Longboard Men’s and Women’s Qualifying event, a major milestone for longboard surfing in the region, which will take place at Halfway on Kuta Beach from 3-4 June.
This Asian Region Longboard Qualifying Series (LQS) event will be the second and final event in the Asian Region to determine the male and female Asian surfer who will join the 2023 World Longboard Championship Series, which starts on the 29th of July in Huntington Beach, California and consists of four events to decide the 2023 world champions. The 2023 World Champions will be decided at the Malibu Longboard Championships in California in October.
After the first Asian Region LQS was held in La Union, Philippines in January, the current rankings leader in the Women’s is Japan’s Natsumi Taoka, and in the Men’s is the Philippines Jay R Esquivel, both of whom will come into this final event with the hopes of a good result in order to progress onto the World Championship Longboard Tour.
“I’m so happy to be coming to Bali for this Padrol LQS event,” said Taoka. “I come to Bali every year to practice because I love Bali and love surfing there. This time I’m coming to compete, and it’s really an important event for me as I must do well so I can compete again on the World Longboard Championship tour. I’ll do my best!”
Just returning from the ISA World Longboard Championships in El Salvador is Jay-R Esquivel, who came home with a Copper medal. Asked what he’s looking forward to next, he replied, “I’m super excited to compete in Bali, as I’m on top of the rankings after winning at my home break in the Philippines. That is a big advantage, but it’s also a lot of pressure, so I need to focus and give it my best, as winning will mean I qualify for the World Longboarding Tour and that is my dream.”
The PADROL Longboard Classic would not be possible without the support of sponsor PADROL, who has been an avid supporter of longboard surfing during the last several years in Indonesia.
“PADROL is very happy to sponsor the first ever WSL longboard event in Indonesia, and having it at Kuta Beach is very exciting for us. This is the perfect opportunity to show our support for the longboarding community here in Asia, and we are looking forward to welcoming Asia’s best longboarders and having a great time here in Bali together,” said PADROL Bali Director Kei Arimoto.
PADROL has been running local longboarding competitions in Bali during the last two years, and now has stepped up into the international scene with the WSL PADROL Longboard Classic.
The PADROL Longboard Classic is also supported by Bintang, Indonesia’s most famous beer brand, Mamaka by Ovolo as the official hotel partner, BGS for all your coffee and surf needs, and organized by the Asian Surf Cooperative and the Halfway Kuta Boardriders
As the official hotel provider for the PADROL Longboard Classic, Mamaka by Ovolo is offering discounted rooms; To book your room now, go to www.mamakabyovolo.com and use the promo code PADROLCLASSIC or click here.
Natsumi Taoka, LQS La Union International Pro 2023
Rogelio Esquievel JR, LQS La Union International Pro 2023