2017 has been a mixed road for team rider Keanu Asing. Riding high off his big victory at 2016's Quiksilver Pro and leading into the finals for the WSL CT (Championship Tour) at the end of the year, he found himself falling just barely short on the top 34 rank, meaning he would have to work harder the following year to re-qualify get back on the CT tour.
But despite his shortcoming, 2017 gave him an opportunity to rediscover his underdog roots. In the WSL QS (Qualifying Series) tour, he made 3rd place in the Pull&Bear Pantin Classic Galicia Pro and later claimed 1st place in both the Vans Pro and Barbados Surf Pro! It also gave him the opportunity to get to spend more time with his fiance, UFC professional mixed martial artist Kailin Curran. The pair finally tied the knot and got married in August that year, something they had been planning for a while.
And his hard work and patience paid off - at the conclusion of the 2017 QS tour at Vans World Cup at Sunset Beach, Oahu, Keanu made it at #9 on the QS ranking, meaning he re-qualified for the 2018 CT tour! It was a great win for the Hawaiian surfer, and an even greater win for the Hawaiian surf community to see a Hawaiian surfer (including Ezekiel Lau, who also qualified) compete with the big pros and represent Hawaii.
2018 is looking to be an exciting year, and we're sure that Keanu is now more hardened and determined as ever. We're looking forward to see what he brings to the table this time, and we're proud of him every step of the way.
To follow Keanu on tour, check out his WSL profile. Or follow him on Instagram.