Taitung International Surfing Open Domestic Shortboard Competition Wild Card Qualification Released 11/14 Facing the World’s Top Players

The domestic competition of the 2026 Taiwan International Surfing Open ended yesterday in Jinzun, Taitung. The wild card qualifications for the three most anticipated World Surf League (WSL) International 6000 international competitions were announced. In the men's group, Tainan's "Li Zechen" and Pingtung's "Chen Shengyang" stood out. In the women's group, Nantou's "Chen Huaiben" defeated the female group. The three will advance to next week's WSL INTL as wild cards. 6,000 international events, competing with the world's top professional players. The county government invites people across the country to gather in Jinzun again from November 14th to 22nd to cheer for Taiwanese athletes.

In yesterday's wild card qualifying match, Li Zechen showed his strong offensive ambition and stunned the audience with difficult moves. He took the lead with two waves of 7.67 points and 6.50 points, with a total score of 14.17 points. He won the championship and the "Best Exciting Move Award" in one fell swoop; South Taiwan rising star Chen Shengyang won the runner-up with a steady performance of 13.50 points; Chen Huaiben performed calmly on the waves with a total score of 10.93 She obtained the only wild card qualification for women, showing the strong strength of Taiwanese locals.

In addition to the exciting competition on the sea, the "Pacific Physical Fitness Challenge" that was completed and awarded at the same venue was a major highlight of this event's extension to land sports. The event combines multiple high-intensity all-round tests such as beach sprinting, weight handling and core endurance, attracting many physical athletes to compete on the same field. The participating lineup is of a high standard, and many award-winning athletes are regular winners of large-scale international comprehensive physical fitness events such as HYROX and HARCO. The contestants sprinted with all their strength on the track and challenged themselves to the limit, attracting a large number of spectators to cheer enthusiastically; the winning contestants won the honor surrounded by the mountains and seas of Jinzun, fully embodying the fearless sportsmanship of the East Coast.

In addition, the street "skateboarding competition" held for the first time this year in combination with a surfing event also showed the extreme spirit of not admitting defeat. The skateboarders were not afraid of wind and rain and were full of firepower. Chen Junan, Taiwan's first professional skateboarder to compete in the TAMPA AM international competition, won the championship with solid skills and difficult moves; Taitung local skater Chen Yongjun did not give up and won the best route award. The best style award was taken home by 2023 Red Bull Mind The Gap champion Cao Shixun.