Jinzun Harbor has delivered fun waves on Day 2 of competition at the 2024 Taiwan Open of Surfing World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 5000. The women’s Round of 48 was completed in super clean two-to-three foot surf as the stage was set for the top seeds to hit the water in the coming days.
Western Australian hopeful Olive Hardy (AUS) was the standout performer on Day 2, posting the highest heat total of the Round of 48. Hardy’s 10.84 (out of a possible 20) included a single wave score of 6.67 (out of a possible 10), which she earned for a series of critical backside snaps. Hardy overcame fellow Aussie Charli Hately (AUS), who progressed with the third-highest heat total of the day, with a 10.27.
Holly Williams (AUS) continued her good run of QS form, posting the second-highest heat total of the day to win her Round of 48 heat. Williams posted both of her scores in the opening 10 minutes of the heat and needed to play a patient game with priority to hold the lead. The powerful natural footer will be looking for a big result here in Taiwan as she hopes to secure a spot on the 2025 Challenger Series.
“It’s definitely a bit slower out there today, and it has some of that cross-shore wind as well, which is making it tough,” Williams said. “I didn’t really know where to sit or what board to ride, so there was a bit of head noise before the heat. I ended up riding a board that went really well, but it was hard to know which waves to look for that would offer me the chance to post more than a five. Once I had my scores, I knew I could just be patient and wait for the right wave.”
Japanese competitors Cocona Kawase (JPN), Rita Suzuki (JPN) and Kako Yoshida (JPN), along with Australian-based Brazilian representative Anne Dos Santos (BRA), were all able to secure spots in the Round of 32 when competition resumes at Jinzun Harbor.
The 2024 Taiwan Open of Surfing QS 5000 will run at Jinzun Harbor in Taitung County, Taiwan, from November 9 – 16, 2024. For more information or to watch the event LIVE, head to WorldSurfLeague.com or download the free WSL App.
