The first ever ASP Women’s World Longboard Title event in China, the Swatch Girls Pro, was won by Chelsea Williams who beat Kelia Moniz in the final, Kelia had knocked out Kassia Meador in the semis and former ASP Women’s World Longboard Champ and former cover star Jen Smith in round 2. Kassia called fellow Roxy rider Kelia “the future of women’s longboarding.”
The final day of the comp saw shoulder to head high waves at the super-picturesque Riyuewan Beach in Wanning, Hainan Island. A healthy crowd watched on as Chelsea won. “I can’t believe how amazing this event has been,” she said on the podium, “being part of history in the first international pro contest here has been so cool, and to come out with a win against such a strong group of girls, wow, I’m so stoked right now.”
And the tour numbers added up to make Lindsay Steinriede the overall ASP Women’s World Longboard Champ 2011 for the first time.
Meanwhile Kassia Meador was mega-into the vibe of the local surf community at Hainan. She said, “Being a traveling surfer isn’t just about contests. It’s also about meeting people, sharing their culture and of course sharing waves. The local surfers here have been so stoked, it’s infectious. They’re getting really into surfing, it’s not gonna be long before there’s all kinds of local rippers out here, and that’s really exciting. If kids get inspired by seeing us here, and then get into being out in the ocean and surfing, then that’s all the reward I’ll ever need.”
Head to swatchgirlspro.com for more info and for video highlights from the Swatch Girls Pro China click here.
Oh and here’s a little reminder on why last year’s ASP Women’s World Champion Cori Schumacher skipped the event.