Waiao Gula Festival concludes with international surfing competition

The 2026 Yilan Waiao Gula Festival concluded on September 6 in Waiao, Toucheng, featuring a high-level surfing competition that drew professional athletes from around the world, including Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, and Indonesia.

The surfing event consisted of eight categories. Notable winners included Wang Hao-en in the Men's Longboard A group and Tseng Si-chi in the Women's Longboard A group. Other champions included Chen Bang-wei (Men's Longboard B), Wang Jin-ying (Women's Longboard B), Chiu Chin-hao (Men's Shortboard), Zhong Yun-rong (Women's Shortboard), Huang Le-hai (U16 Men), and Tsai Pei-ni (U16 Women).

The Yilan County Government stated that the festival aims to build a dedicated marine activity brand for Yilan by connecting ocean sports, local culture, and the tourism industry. The event featured diverse activities such as traditional fishing culture demonstrations, music performances, and beach markets.