An Olympian with World Championship aspirations and a team stacked with decades of international experience, Japan’s Rabedabe Boardriders club means business.
It’s fair to say the Japanese aren’t coming to the Gold Coast to make up the numbers with a number of elite and experienced surf stars within their ranks.
21-year-old Amuro Tsuzuki leads the Rabedabe charge, the natural footer becoming the first Japanese surfer in 20 years to win a CT heat at 2021 Margaret River event. 2021 proved to be an outstanding year for the pocket-sized natural footer with her performance at the ISA World Surfing Games securing her a place on the Japanese Olympic team.
With dreams of becoming world champion, Amuro will certainly be one to watch when the Usher Cup surf contest is held on the Gold Coast from the 19th to the 22nd of January 2023.
Thirty-two-year-old Koki Nakumura is the elder statesman of the Japanese team, with the five-time Qualifying Series competitor set to lead the exciting Rabedabe men’s team into battle for World Club Challenge honours.
Goofy footer Momoto Tsuzuki is another with plenty of international experience under his belt. A winner on the men’s junior tour, Momoto also has a string of top ten finishes on the QS tour and is looking forward to pulling on a contest rashie on the Gold Coast.
Yuta Iwabuchi rounds out the Rabedabe team making their way to the Gold Coast, competing on the international stage since 2013, Yuta is no stranger to the Gold Coast having contested a team’s event at Kirra.
Male and female surfers nominated to represent their clubs at the Usher Cup will compete for equal prize money on one of the world’s most iconic surf breaks.
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Usher Cup 2023 is proudly supported by Tourism and Events Queensland & the City Of Gold Coast.