Caption: Mahina Maeda (HAW) enjoying the spoils of victory at the Samsung Galaxy Hainan Pro.
Image: WSL/Will H-S
Mahina Maeda Reigns Supreme at Samsung Galaxy Hainan Pro
WANNING, Hainan/China (Monday, January 18, 2015) - Mahina Maeda (HAW) has taken out the first women’s Qualifying Series (QS) event of 2015, the Samsung Galaxy Hainan Pro presented by Wanning over Paige Hareb (NZL). The surf continued to pump out the goods as the event ran through the Quarterfinals, Semis and Final with competitors holding nothing back in the fight for all-important QS6000 ranking’s points.
Maeda is continuing her red-hot form fresh from winning the WSL World Junior Title in Portugal last November at a righthand point break and today winning the Samsung Galaxy Hainan Pro at a lefthand point break. Maeda was behind in the all goofy-footer final, but fought back with a solid 9.00 ride to steal the win. At only 16-years-old Maeda has sent a warning shot to the rest of the world’s best surfers.
“It feels incredible to win the first event of the season,” Maeda said. “I really didn’t have high expectations about the surf before I came here, but it turned out to be really good and even one of the best waves we have on the women’s QS. I finished 16th or 17th on the QS last year and only did half the events. This year I really want to qualify and be the youngest surfer on the WCT (World Championship Tour) next year.”
Hareb dropped off the WCT last year, but has bounced back with a solid showing at the Samsung Galaxy Hainan Pro finishing runner-up to Maeda in a tight Final that was only decided by just 0.40 of a point. Hareb ferociously attacked the long lefts on offer, posting excellent rides in every heat as she stormed to her podium finish.
“I never really thought I’d make the Final and here I am — I’ll take second for sure,” Hareb said. “Getting knocked off the WCT last year fired me up and I’ve been training hard and working with Wayne McKewen from Mt Woodgie on some really good boards. They’re going really well here and it’s given me confidence for the rest of the year.”
Bronte Macaulay (AUS) scored the event’s only 10-point-ride in her heat yesterday afternoon was unable to re-capture that form and was eliminated in her Quarterfinal by Maeda.
“It’s a funny feeling right now because you’re not really satisfied but it’s still a good result,” Macaulay said. “I feel good and bad I guess. These are the best waves I’ve ever had for a QS so I’m happy about that, the girls have all been surfing really well so it’s been a good event.”
Chelsea Tuach (BRB) surfed fantastically all event long and was only 10 minutes from booking a spot in the final as she led Maeda in the dying minutes of their Semifinal clash. Tuach however was unable to stop a rampaging Maeda and was forced to settle for an equal 3rd place.
About the World Surf League
The World Surf League (WSL) organizes the annual tour of professional surf competitions and broadcasts each event live at WorldSurfLeague.com where you can experience the athleticism, drama and adventure of competitive surfing -- anywhere and anytime it’s on. The WSL sanctions and operates the following tours: the Junior Tour, Longboard Tour, the Qualifying Series (QS), the Big Wave Tour and the crown jewel of the sport, the WSL Championship Tour (CT) which determines the sport's undisputed world champions. The organization is headquartered in Santa Monica, California with Commercial Offices in New York. The offices are supported by regional centers in Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America and South America.
Caption: Bronte Macaulay (AUS) scored the first 10-point-ride of the Samsung Galaxy Hainan Pro.
Image: WSL/Steve Robertson
Quarterfinalists Locked in at Samsung Galaxy Hainan Pro
WANNING, Hainan/China (Sunday, January 17, 2015) - The field that started with 72 of the world’s best surfers has been reduced to just eight Quarterfinalists at the first women’s Qualifying Series (QS) event of 2015, the Samsung Galaxy Hainan Pro presented by Wanning. The athletes revelled in the pumping long left handers on offer at Riyue Bay, with competitors battling for all-important QS6000 ranking’s points.
Bronte Macaulay (AUS) sealed her spot in the Quarterfinals with style — posting the event’s first perfect 10-point-ride. Macaulay used her polished frontside attack to carve her way down the line and secure one of the final eight spots left in the event. Dave Macaulay, Bronte’s father is a former professional surfer who was ranked No. 2 in the world proudly remarked that he had never scored a 10 in his career and was proud of this achievement of this daughter.
“I can’t believe we’ve had waves this good for a contest!” Macaulay said. “I forgot about the competition and just went out there to catch waves and surf. It feels incredible to have scored a 10-point-ride — I’m so excited for finals day tomorrow.”
Ellie-Jean Coffey (AUS) made her intentions clear at this year’s Samsung Galaxy Hainan Pro, surfing fast and hard and posting near-perfect scores on her forehand. Coffey has competed at a number of QS events in the past, but has admitted that this year her focus is to qualify for the World Championship Tour (WCT).
“This is a great start to the year already!” Coffey said. “It’s so ideal for me to be surfing a left point break because that does not happen very often and this wave really suits me. My focus this year is the QS all the way, I want to qualify for the WCT and already this is a good start - I love it here in China and I’m so surprised at how good the waves are.”
Justine Dupont (FRA) has had a turbulent trip to China for this event, her bags didn’t arrive and she was forced borrow untried and untested equipment, but that didn’t stop her from battling through some tough competition to secure a spot in the Quarterfinals.
“I’m really happy right now — before today my travel has been a bit of a disaster as my boards and my luggage has still not arrived,” Dupont said. “But it’s quite strange, everyone has been very kind to me by lending boards and wetsuits and all of a sudden I’m in the Quarterfinals and I feel great.”
Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) is one of the most exciting up-and-coming surfers in the world right now, and is using this event to prepare for her rookie year on the women’s WCT.
“I’m looking forward to finals day, the waves have been great and to finish in good surftomorrow is exciting,” Weston-Webb said. “I feel I’ve been improving my performance each heat and I’ll be aiming to do that again tomorrow and hopefully win!”
Mahina Maeda (HAW), reigning World Junior Champion has been keeping her competitive red-hot form rolling all the way from her World Title win in Portugal last year to the shores on China at this event.
Upcoming Samsung Galaxy Hainan Pro Quarterfinal Match-Ups:
QF1: Paige Hareb (NZL) vs. Ellie-Jean Coffey (AUS)
QF2: Justine Dupont (FRA) vs. Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW)
QF3: Maude Le Car (FRA) vs. Chelsea Tuach (BRB)
QF4: Mahina Maeda (HAW) vs. Bronte Macaulay (AUS)
About the World Surf League
The World Surf League (WSL) organizes the annual tour of professional surf competitions and broadcasts each event live at WorldSurfLeague.com where you can experience the athleticism, drama and adventure of competitive surfing -- anywhere and anytime it’s on. The WSL sanctions and operates the following tours: the Junior Tour, Longboard Tour, the Qualifying Series (QS), the Big Wave Tour and the crown jewel of the sport, the WSL Championship Tour (CT) which determines the sport's undisputed world champions. The organization is headquartered in Santa Monica, California with Commercial Offices in New York. The offices are supported by regional centers in Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America and South America.
Caption: Ellie-Jean Coffey (AUS), on fire in Wanning, Hainan, China.
Image: WSL/Will H-S
Surf Turns On for Samsung Galaxy Hainan Pro
WANNING, Hainan/China (Saturday, January 16, 2015) - A crop of the world’s best female surfers lit up the surf in China at the first women’s Qualifying Series (QS) event of 2015, the Samsung Galaxy Hainan Pro presented by Wanning. The event ran through two and a half Rounds of competition in excellent surf Riyue Bay, with competitors battling for all-important QS6000 ranking’s points.
Pauline Ado (FRA) kicked off her 2015 in fine form, easily posting a heat win to advance to the Round of 24 with two 8 point plus rides. Ado didn’t re-qualify for the Women’s World Championship Tour last year and is fired up to re-claim her spot for next year’s Tour.
“The waves are really fun and to be scoring excellent eight point rides gives me a lot of confidence,” Ado said. “It’s the start of a new year but it doesn’t really feel like it to me - normally we have a big break before starting each season, but it’s January and we’re all competing already - no complaints though, this is a great place to be!”
Paige Hareb (NZL) and countrywoman Ella Williams (NZL) put on an epic show in the Round of 48 heat today, advancing in 1st and 2nd respectively. Hareb is another of last year’s WCT surfers who didn’t re-qualify and is here in China to fight for precious points and a big start to the year.
“It’s so good to score an opening Round win,” Hareb said. “I was disappointed with my 2014 season but this is a new year and I’m absolutely thrilled to be surfing quality waves at a left reef point break. The forecast is great and I’m excited to get back out there tomorrow.”
Isabella Nichols (AUS) posted an impressive Round of 48 heat win with Mikaela Greene (AUS) also advancing in 2nd position. The young Aussie pair eliminated WCT surfer and one of the event’s top seeds Laura Enever (AUS) in a tight tussle.
“I really enjoyed that heat,” Nichols said. “The waves were very good and to win against surfers like Laura Enever and Natsuki Suda who are great surfers gives me confidence to start this year. My goal this year is to make the top 20 on the QS. I finished last year at 43 so it’s a realistic goal - To qualify would be amazing but top 20 is the goal and anything better, well who knows.”
Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) revelled the long left-handers at Riyue Bay, unloading fast and powerful wraps and carves to easily secure a berth in the Round of 24.
“I’m loving opening my year in China!” Weston-Webb said. “It’s such a new and great place to surf, it reminds me a lot of home. I have an exciting year ahead in my first season on the WCT but right now I’m maintaining my good form from last year and preparing for the season ahead.”
Mainei Kinimaka (HAW), Ellie-Jean Coffey and Sarah Mason (NZL) were among the other standout performers, with all three surfers posting excellent scores with solid on-rail surfing.
12-year-old local surfer Keying Dong (CHN) was one of the event wildcards and created history by being the first female Chinese competitor to enter a QS event. The young surfer was eliminated in her first heat, but is a pioneer of surfing here in China and will be back bigger, better and more skilled next year.
About the World Surf League
The World Surf League (WSL) organizes the annual tour of professional surf competitions and broadcasts each event live at WorldSurfLeague.com where you can experience the athleticism, drama and adventure of competitive surfing -- anywhere and anytime it’s on. The WSL sanctions and operates the following tours: the Junior Tour, Longboard Tour, the Qualifying Series (QS), the Big Wave Tour and the crown jewel of the sport, the WSL Championship Tour (CT) which determines the sport's undisputed world champions. The organization is headquartered in Santa Monica, California with Commercial Offices in New York. The offices are supported by regional centers in Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America and South America.
Caption: Laura Enever (AUS), making the most of her time in Wanning, Hainan, China.
Image: WSL/Will H-S
Samsung Galaxy Hainan Pro On Standby
WANNING, Hainan/China (Friday, January 15, 2015) - Small surf sees the world’s best female surfers have the day off in China at the first women’s Qualifying Series (QS) event of 2015, the Samsung Galaxy Hainan Pro presented by Wanning. The event was put on Standby even though the swell was on the increase throughout the day as the forecast is calling for excellent conditions in the coming days.
“We’ve decided to put the event on standby,” said Contest Director Steve Robertson. “The surf is picking up, but this is a very important event being the first QS6000 of the year and we want to give the athletes the best conditions possible. We will returntomorrow morning at 7:30 for a possible 8am start.”
About the World Surf League
The World Surf League (WSL) organizes the annual tour of professional surf competitions and broadcasts each event live at WorldSurfLeague.com where you can experience the athleticism, drama and adventure of competitive surfing -- anywhere and anytime it’s on. The WSL sanctions and operates the following tours: the Junior Tour, Longboard Tour, the Qualifying Series (QS), the Big Wave Tour and the crown jewel of the sport, the WSL Championship Tour (CT) which determines the sport's undisputed world champions. The organization is headquartered in Santa Monica, California with Commercial Offices in New York. The offices are supported by regional centers in Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America and South America.
- All Sports
