Amuro Tsuzuki and Lucas Vicente Win the 2019 WSL World Junior Championships in Taiwan

Courtesy of WSL Asia

• Japan’s Amuro Tsuzuki Makes History at Taiwan Open of Surfing
• Lucas Vicente Keeps Men’s Junior Title in Brasil
• Californian Duo Kade Matson and Alyssa Spencer finish runners-up
• For more information WorldSurfLeague.com

JINZUN HARBOUR, TAITUNG / TPE (Friday, November 29, 2019) –  Amuro Tsuzuki (JPN) and Lucas Vicente (BRA) have claimed the 2019 World Surf League Junior Championship at the Taiwan Open of Surfing. The final day of competition saw the best junior surfers in the world tested in solid and unruly six-to-eight foot surf at Jinzun Harbour as the cream rose to the top on a historic day of competition. The pair overcame tough opposition in Californian duo Alyssa Spencer (USA) and Kade Matson (USA) in their respective finals.
 
Amuro Tsuzuki (JPN) has made history today, becoming the first-ever Japanese WSL World Surfing Champion and did so emphatically, posting huge scores all event on her way to the final where she came up against Alyssa Spencer (USA). Unlike her earlier heats on Final’s Day, Tsuzuki controlled the final heat in its entirety, finding two rights early to post a two-wave combination 13.00 (out of a possible 20) which ended up being enough to gift her the World Title trophy.
 
“I’m so extremely happy right now,” Tsuzuki said. “It’s all very overwhelming for me. It’s been such an incredible event with so many different conditions I really enjoy surfing here in Taiwan. Today was really challenging with big waves and water moving everywhere, but I was so focused on not giving up and it worked for me in the end. I’m just so happy.”

Not only has Amuro Tsuzuki (JPN) made history at the Taiwan Open of Surfing but she is a few days away from learning if she will join the elite Women’s Championship Tour in 2020. Tsuzuki needs a few things to go her way at the Lululemon Maui Pro this week but her grit and determination shown on Finals Day was proof enough that she would fit in well amongst the world’s best. This was personified in her Semifinal heat where, after paddling against sets for nearly 15 minutes, she got out the back exhausted and needing a score, she then turned around, took off on a set and landed the turn of the event on a massive and critical closeout section to post a 9.27 and claim a spot in the final which she eventually won.
 
“I knew I needed to throw everything at that turn so I did and when I rode out of it I was so excited,” Tsuzuki continued. “I can’t do anything about my spot next year but wait and watch the results in Maui. Regardless of what happens, I’m so happy with my achievements this year.”

California’s Alyssa Spencer looked to be the surfer to beat on Final’s Day as she looked comfortable in the solid surf going both left and right at Jinzun Harbour. In the Final, Spencer posted a decent first score on a long left and then struggled to return to the line-up, having to exit the water and run up the beach to regain her position. Eventually, Spencer found her opportunity but failed to land her final turn after an exhaustive day of surfing and finished her campaign in Taiwan in second place.
 
“I am disappointed to come so close and finish runner-up, but I’m so happy to see Amuro win,” Spencer said. “She is a friend of mine and a great surfer so I’m really happy for her. Today was a lot of hard work in the big surf but it was a great challenge for us all. I have two more years in the juniors, so I hope to come back next year and hopefully take it out. I enjoy it a lot in Taiwan. This is my second time here and there is always waves to be had and I’m already looking forward to next year.”
 
Lucas Vicente (BRA) came to Taiwan hoping to find the same success his good friend and countryman Mateus Herdy had here last year, and that would mean leaving the event with the World Title trophy. In his 35-minute final against event standout Kade Matson (USA), it looked like his dreams were crushed as Matson had him needing a combination of 17.41 to take the lead. Similarly to Amuro Tsuzuki in her Semifinal, Vicente refused to give up, first posting an 8.63 to bring himself back into contention then finding one more opportunity in the dying seconds to launch a massive backside air-reverse then ride out and blast a turn and ride away to claim victory.
 
“This has been a dream of mine for so long and I can’t believe I have achieved it,” Vicente said. “I feel every heat was a battle for me including the Final. It shows to just never give up on yourself even if you need two massive scores in a final. It feels so amazing to be able to bring the Title back to Brasil the year after Mateus. The two of us have surfed together since we were kids and now, I can joke with him that I am now number one. I’m really proud to have achieved this in such a beautiful place – Taiwan is paradise.