The Nation's First Women's Surfing Competition '2023 Korea Wahini Classic' Successfully Concluded

Held at Goraebul Beach, Yeongdeok-gun, October 7-8

The Gyeongbuk Yeongdeok Culture and Tourism Foundation announced that the country's first women's surfing competition, the ‘2023 Korea Wahini Classic (2023 KOREA Whine Classic),’ hosted by Yeongdeok-gun and organized by the Yeongdeok Culture and Tourism Foundation and Shaka Surf, was held over two days from October 7 to 8 at Goraebul Beach in Byeonggok-myeon, Yeongdeok-gun.

The first-ever pure women's surfing competition held in Korea, the '2023 Korea Wahine Classic'.

The ‘2023 Korea Wahini Classic’ is a purely women’s surfing competition, the first of its kind in Korea, organized by domestic female surfers gathering in Yeongdeok. It was planned to promote Goraebul Beach in Yeongdeok as a new surfing hotspot on the East Coast.

The event featured not only the surfing competition but also various programs such as beach yoga experiences, surf art exhibitions, a flea market, beach clean-ups, and live performances by musicians. More than 10 surfing-related companies sponsored the event.

A total of 45 surfers participated in the competition, ranging in age from 10 to 48 years old, including 3 international competitors, which attracted attention.

After the competition, 20 winners were selected: 4 in the teens category, 4 in the twenties, 4 in the thirties, 4 in the forties, and 4 in the professional category, each receiving a trophy. The highlight of the competition, the professional finals, was won by Nique Miller from Hawaii. Other top finishers included Kim Jina from Jeju Island in second place, Park Sia from Yangyang in third place, and Kang Kyungmin from Busan in fourth place.

A representative from Shaka Surf, the organizer of the competition, commented, “Seeing Korean female surfers riding the waves in the beautiful sea of Yeongdeok moved many spectators. With perfect weather and waves, the first Korea Wahini Classic was flawless.”

The Yeongdeok Culture and Tourism Foundation official also stated, “Since this event is the first women’s surfing competition held nationwide, it held great significance in many ways,” and expressed gratitude to all the female surfers who showed interest and participated. They also shared their ambition to add more diverse and fun content next year to develop the ‘Korea Wahini Classic’ into a recognized brand.”