Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, 18th August, 2023: Mahabalipuram Beach has turned on pumping surf for Day 4 of the Tamil Nadu International Surf Open World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 3,000 event. Today saw the men’s and women’s Semifinalists decided in clean, reeling, three-foot surf with conditions expected to continue tomorrow as the event winners are crowned at this historical event.
Sweden’s Kian Martin (SWE) continues to enjoy his first trip to India, booking himself a spot in the Semifinals with an impressive performance at Mahabalipuram Beach. Martin found a good rhythm with the long reeling rights, posting a solid heat total of 15.25 to overcome event standout Joh Azuchi (JPN). Martin will look to continue this form when he takes on Raiha Onou (JPN) in the Semifinals tomorrow.
“This trip was so spontaneous and unplanned so it’s hard to fathom that I’m into the Semifinals,” Martin said. “I got here at 4:30 a.m. in the morning before my first heat which was luckily not called on the day before. It’s all been worth it as I keep making heats and the waves keep getting better and better. Joh (Azuchi) has been surfing so incredibly so I knew I’d need to be on the bigger waves. Fortunately, I got some sets and got the win. I’m so stoked to be here in India, good things are happening.”
Shino Matsuda (JPN) looks to be the woman to beat in India, once again posting the highest heat total of the round with a 13.35 two-wave total to win her Quarterfinal over Tru Starling (AUS).
Other standouts in the Quarterfinals included Tenshi Iwami (JPN) who earned a 14.50 two-wave total to win his matchup as well as Sara Wakita (JPN) and Kana Nakashio (JPN) who are both through to the Semifinals.
Event organisers will reconvene tomorrow to make a call at 6:30 a.m. local time for a possible 7:00 a.m. start.
The inaugural Tamil Nadu International Surf Open will run from August 14 – 20, 2023. For more information or to watch the event LIVE head to www.worldsurflague.com or download the Free WSL App.
The Tamil Nadu International Surf Open Qualifying Series (QS) 3000 event is sponsored by: TT Group, Jawa Yezdi Motorcycles, Vidiem Home Appliances,MRF Tyres, Chola Insurance, Martin Group, City Union Bank, Redbull, Chettinad Super Speciality Hospital, Marmoris Beach Lounge (Venue Partner), Chariot Beach Resort (Hospitality Partner), Coke (Beverage Partner)
About the WSL
The World Surf League (WSL) is the global home of competitive surfing, crowning the undisputed World Champions since 1976 and showcasing the world’s best surfers on the world’s best waves. WSL is comprised of the Tours and Competition division, which oversees and operates more than 180 global competitions each year; WSL WaveCo, home of the world’s largest high-performance, human-made wave; and WSL Studios, an independent producer of unscripted and scripted projects.
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.
