WHEN the World Longboard Championships (WLC) returns to China's city of Wanning in December, a 17-year-old will be at the forefront to clinch the title.
Rachael Tilly, from the US, is the 2015 women’s longboard champion and a favourite amongst the competitors to retain her title.
Riyue Bay will host the world’s best longboarders, 36 men and 18 women, who will compete for the 2016 World Longboard Championship. The long walls and consistency of Riyue Bay make it an ideal location for the WLC.
Rachael said: “All my surf sessions and contests throughout the year have the same end goal: to prepare for the WLC in China.”
The feeling of winning the world title has only made Rachael hungrier in the lead-up to this year's event, which was obvious at some of the WSL Longboard Qualifying Series events and the Pro A Coruna in Spain earlier this year.
“I’m feeling confident about China this year. My goal was always to win a world title. Now I’ve done that and I can approach this contest with more confidence knowing I can do it again and be more relaxed.
"Another world title would be an awesome bonus. However, winning a world title is such a satisfying feeling that it has only made me hungrier to work hard and get that again,” she said.
Riyue Bay is a world-class, left-hand point-break that offers long waves and consistent swells. WSL Australasia Tour manager Will Hayden-Smith is confident that this year will be no different.
“People don’t generally think of China as being a place that offers up consistent surf,” Hayden-Smith said.
“But we have rarely seen flat spells, and have even had some awesome typhoon swells which offer competitors well overhead waves. We are hoping our good fortune continues this year as there is nothing better than seeing the world’s best being able to show their full repertoire.”
The Jeep Asia Cup speciality event will run during the first weekend of the event, with Asia’s fast-developing surfing region invited to send elite teams to decide who will walk away with not only bragging rights but also the major share of the $15 000 (R206 000) prize.