{"id":53955,"date":"2019-10-31T06:00:58","date_gmt":"2019-10-31T04:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/steven-sawyer-to-defend-world-title-in-taiwan-20191030-2\/"},"modified":"2019-10-31T06:00:58","modified_gmt":"2019-10-31T04:00:58","slug":"steven-sawyer-to-defend-world-title-in-taiwan-20191030-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/steven-sawyer-to-defend-world-title-in-taiwan-20191030-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Steven Sawyer to defend world title in Taiwan"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>JEFFREYS Bay top-surfer Steven Sawyer, reigning men\u2019s World Longboard Champion, is set to defend his title at the 2019 World Longboard Championships in Taiwan.<\/p>\n<p>The World Surf League (WSL) event will take to the waves from November 23 to December 7 \u2013 promising to be bigger than ever with the addition of a Men\u2019s Qualifying Series (QS) 3 000 event to this year\u2019s schedule.<\/p>\n<p>After three events on the new-look WSL World Longboard Tour, the rankings have been set and the top 24 men and top 24 women have been decided ahead of the final event at the Taiwan Open of Surfing. <\/p>\n<p>It will be the third year in a row that the WSL World Longboard Champions will be crowned in Taiwan, and WSL World Longboard Tour Director Devon Howard can\u2019t wait to see the action unfold at Jinzun Harbour.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere were a lot of new faces at the three events at some amazing locations this year, including Noosa in Australia, Galicia in Spain and then New York City,\u201d said Howard.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWith a range of surfers finding results throughout the year, there is an awesome spread on the leader board, which is going to make the grand finale in Taiwan super exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Currently sitting third on the rankings, reigning men\u2019s World Longboard Champion, Steven Sawyer from Jeffreys Bay, is thrilled to return to Taiwan \u2013 a place where he achieved his dreams in 2018.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am always excited to return to Taiwan as it\u2019s my favourite place on tour,\u201d Sawyer said. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe people, the food and the waves are all amazing. It it definitely a wave-rich place. I really feel at home there. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere is nothing like jumping in the car and cruising up and down the coast looking for waves. There are so many left point breaks there, it\u2019s like heaven for a goofy-footer. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere are always swells and plenty of opportunity for competitors, which will make for an epic showdown this December.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>JEFFREYS Bay top-surfer Steven Sawyer, reigning men\u2019s World Longboard Champion, is set to defend his title at the 2019 World Longboard Championships in 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