Competition is underway at the WSL Taiwan Open of Surfing QS6000, where Asia, Australia and Oceania’s best are battling it out for a spot on the 2026 Challenger Series. West Aussie Maverick Wilson got off to a strong start, powering through his opening heat at Jinzun Harbor, while Willow and Olive Hardy are set to surf when the women’s draw gets underway. Fellow WA surfer Macklin Flynn also represented in the early rounds.
Read the full WSL media statement below.
JINZUN HARBOR, Taitung, Taiwan (Wednesday, November 5, 2025) – Competition has kicked off at the 2025 Taiwan Open of Surfing World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 6000 event. Asia, Australia, and Oceania’s best surfers are all looking to qualify for the 2026 Challenger Series and hit the water today in wind-affected three-to-four foot waves at Jinzun Harbor for a massive day of competition that saw the completion of the men’s Round of 120, Round of 112 and 10 heats of the men’s Round of 96.
Ty Richardson (AUS) was one of the more experienced surfers in the Opening Round of competition, and it showed as he posted the highest two-wave score of the event so far with a 13.10 (out of a possible 20). He then went on to win two more heats, posting the fourth and the second-highest totals of the event in his respective wins. Richardson hopes to continue this momentum when competition resumes at Jinzun Harbor.
“I’ve surfed three heats today and am feeling pretty gassed,” Richardson said. “I can’t complain though, the waves are really fun and rippable, so I’m stoked to be here and get a good rhythm going here. It’s a big playing field out there, so you can easily get lost or get a bunch of waves. It’s a super fun wave and a great place. It’s really cool here in Taiwan; I’m loving it. It was a bit like D-Bah out there today with all the peaky wedges everywhere, so I felt right at home.”
Richardson’s compatriots Harry O’Brien (AUS), Thomas Carvalho (AUS) and Zeb Stokes (AUS) all looked solid as well, each posting mid-range scores to progress into the Round of 64 as they look to bank big results here at the Taiwan Open of Surfing QS 6000.
Filipino dynamo John Mark Tokong (PHL) was a standout on Day 1, progressing into the Round of 64 and showing everyone just how deep his bag of tricks is. Known for his incredible poise inside a Cloud 9 tube, today Tokong got the job done with a frontside full rotation air-reverse, and backed it up with three massive backside snaps to post a decent mid-range score of 11.83.
“It’s hard work out there, but there is a lot of opportunity,” Tokong said. “I think it would be nice if there were a little bit less wind, but it’s all good, no complaints here. Once I got that air at the start, I was happy to mix it up a bit and went left, finding a really nice, clean face over there. I got three turns and it felt nice, so I’m feeling confident. I’m just stoked to make it to the next round and to be back here in Taiwan. I love this place and am travelling with a good crew, so all is good.”
Japanese trio Takumi Nakamura (JPN), Yuji Nishi (JPN) and Yuya Iwase (JPN) all looked on point as they progressed into the Round of 64 along with Indonesian hopeful Varun Tandjung (INA).
The 2025 Taiwan Open of Surfing QS 6000 will take place at Jinzun Harbor, Taitung County, from November 5 to 11, 2025.
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