GoPro ASP World Longboard Championships Heads to China
The world’s best longboarders will once again hit the sands of China to compete at the prestigious ASP World Longboard Championships (WLC). This year’s GoPro World Longboard Championship in Wanning, Hainan Island, will see a combined waiting period for both men’s and women’s events that will run from December 5 - 12 at the lefthand poinbreak Riyue Bay, a popular site of numerous surfing events.
The ASP World Longboard Championship is hands down one of the most important professional longboarding event of the year. Kelia Moniz of Hawai, reigning two-time ASP World Longboard Champion will be the toughest draw at this year’s event, having made the final at Riyue Bay for the past three years, coming away with a runner-up finish the first year and wins the past two. Interestingly, all three finals have been against Australia’s Chelsea Williams with the two surfers building a healthy rivalry on China’s long lefts. Moniz’s classic style mixed with Hawaiian power has seen her claim the sport’s ultimate prize the last two years and she’s still coming to grips with the her back-to-back wins.
“It was a very accomplishing feeling to bring a second title home last year,” Moniz said. “I really can’t believe I did this two times. It just makes the first one feel more legit, if that makes sense. Good results can make such a foreign place almost feel like home. The waves have always been fun for us at Riyue Bay, I mean it's a left hand point break so I really can't complain being a goofyfooter. There's just something so pure and rich about the culture and people in Hainan that I just love.”
The legendary freestyle windsurfing event on lake Neusiedl is back! Since 1998 the best Freestyle Windsurfers in the world travel down to the Austrian water sports capital to compete in the European Freestyle Pro Tour. This edition, taking place
between the 27th of April and the 1st of May, will be…
ASP World Longboard Champion Kelia Moniz PIC ASP/Poullenot
Piccolo Clemente of Peru, reigning ASP World Longboard Champion fought through the tough field of powerful, traditional and progressive surfers to claim his maiden World Title at last year’s event. Clemente defeated event standout Rodrigo Sphaier (BRA) in the exciting Final, claiming the required score on his last wave to etch his name in the history books.
“Winning the World Title changed many things in my life!” Clemente said. “It’s made a huge difference for my sponsors and my private life. I'm really looking forward to returning to China, it will bring back all the memories of winning this beautiful championship. I really hope to be on the podium again this year but it will be difficult because of the high level of talent that we have in the event.”
Piccolo Clemente (PER) on his way to a maiden ASP World Longboard Title. PIC ASP/Will H-S.
Running since 1986, the event has seen many Longboard Champions crowned but for the past three years, the event seems to establish well on the sand of China. No wonder, due to the People’s Government of Wanning and local surfers who always supported the event, everybody is excited to be going back next month to watch surfers hitting the fantastic long lefthanders at Riyue Bay. Stay tuned for more!
The international top event this year is all about the new Olympic windsurfing class, foil windsurfing and wingfoiling. More than 300 world’s best windsurfers from 42 nations will compete in various foil classes on Lake Silvaplana.
The first of 16 GKA Kite World Tour events begins in Cape Verde this month.
Ten islands make up the archipelago of Cabo Verde which lies two hours south of the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean, due to their geographical location the islands are frequented with pumping swell and trade winds.
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Piccolo Clemente (PER) on his way to a maiden ASP World Longboard Title. PIC ASP/Will H-S. 
