16 | Wednesday, January 8, 2020 HONG KONG EDITION | CHINA DAILY YOUTH

Riding a wave of success

Surf enthusiasts in Hainan are seeing a rising tide of popularity for both their sport and lifestyle, Xing Wen reports.

lanked by swaying coconut ing a one­week trip to Riyue Bay in at the event, agrees and adds that trees, the secluded beach at 2013. She was bitten by the bug and these informal surf contests offer Riyue Bay in Hainan prov­ attracted by the simple, freewheel­ an open platform for amateur sur­ Beach events ince is an idyllic and usually ing lifestyle led by surfers. fers to strut their skills and get to prove a Ftranquil setting. But all that She quit her job and started doing know people who share the same global draw changed when the beach in Wan­ marketing and communications for passion. ning city hosted the Hainan Surfing the Jalenboo Surf Club. Xu, a graduate from the Ocean Open in early December amid, quite “I helped Sheridan with the Surf­ University of China in Shandong The surfing industry in China literally, waves of excitement. ing Open for two years and discov­ province’s Qingdao city, became has witnessed a boom in popu­ Spectators gathered, watched and ered that I was good at organizing obsessed with the water sport in 2011. larity in the last few years. cheered as surfers paddled out to and running promotional activities,” He practiced the skills needed to The first Hainan Wanning the sea, waited for the right recalls Li. “I have been organizing the conquer the waves at surfing spots Riyue Bay International Surfing moment, harnessed their adrena­ annual event ever since his depar­ in the coastal city. Mastering how Festival kicked off on Nov 6, line and rode a fast­moving and ture.” to spot a wave and paddle to the 2010. This was the first real unpredictable wall of water. Li knows that as the oldest surfing right spot quickly, honing the best step toward making the then Rows of stalls selling surfing gear, competition in China, the event body stance and learning how to relatively unknown surfing des­ snacks and handmade crafts sat should be a fine example for other guide the board with the minimum tination grow into what has now alongside tattoo booths, adding to nongovernmental competition of energy took hard work and dedi­ become the surfing capital of the atmosphere as visitors got to organizers to learn from. cation. China. sample a little beach life. She has traveled to Indonesia and It was also a good way to escape The SWATCH Girls Pro China, Now in its 11th year, the event several other countries to learn the everyday concerns of life and part of the Association of Surf­ epitomizes surf culture in China. more about how to run events. rejuvenate his mind and body, says ing Professionals (now known as It all started with someone’s “We continuously try to meet the the 30­year­old. the World Surf League) Wom­ dream. His name was Brendan needs of the embryonic and devel­ To connect with more surf lovers, en’s World Longboard Tour, Sheridan, a California­born surf oping surfing industry,” she says. he opened surf clubs and ran com­ brought the world’s best female enthusiast who was attracted by In 2015, a contest for novices was petitions in Qingdao. longboard surfers to Riyue Bay the unspoiled coves and powerful added to the event, engaging a larg­ “I hope I can contribute to enlarg­ in October 2011, placing the waves of the island province of er group of surf lovers. ing the surf community and spread venue in the international spot­ Hainan. He actually moved to the The next year, national and pro­ surfer culture in Qingdao,” he says, light. tropical island in 2006 and vincial surf teams were set up after adding that he plans to launch his The International Surfing launched the surfing contest two the sport was included in the 2020 own surfboard brand. Association hosted the 2014 ISA years later. Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Subse­ Flora Christin, 28, a top Indone­ China Cup in Riyue Bay, attract­ Back then, just two surfers out of quently, various surf competitions sian female longboard surfer, made ing surfers from Australia, the 40 participants were Chinese. sprang up in other coastal cities. her debut at the Riyue Bay event this Argentina, Brazil and many oth­ However, this year, supported by And every sport needs officials, year. er countries to showcase their eight surf clubs from across the judges and referees to make the dif­ She lives in the right spot — Cang­ skills on the waves. This was country and various corporate spon­ ficult decisions. gu, on the island of Bali — a perfect also the first time that China sors, 81 contestants, mostly Chinese, Li and her colleagues decided to setting for surfers. Compared to entered a surf team in an inter­ took part. initiate training sessions for refer­ Top: Surfers ride high to catch the perfect wave during the Hainan Riyue Bay, she says, Canggu has a national competition. “So much has changed since the ees and offer internship opportuni­ Surfing Open in December in Wanning, Hainan province. Center: long­established surfing culture, Surfing competitions have first competition,” says Sheridan. ties for referee candidates at the The event features a variety of activities and is drawing an increas­ attracting people from all over the boomed ever since, hitting “I’m proud to have this competition open in 2016. ing number of participants. Above: The Riyue Bay in Wanning has world. beaches in Guangdong prov­ as a way of measuring how much “It is worth mentioning that all grown into a popular destination for surfers from both home and “Hainan could be very big if you ince’s Shenzhen and Shandong surfing in China has progressed.” the referees and photographers are abroad. PHOTOS PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY promote it worldwide through province’s Qingdao. Since the creator of the event volunteers,” says Li. social media, hold more surf events On Nov 19, the first “China planned to return to his home coun­ Various beachside activities, such and festivals, and invite surfers from Sports Lottery” Asian Surfing try, he passed on the baton, or more as exhibitions and concerts, were event is growing into a more diversi­ tains a relaxed atmosphere because outside of China,” she says. Championship kicked off in appropriately the surfboard, to the also held to keep spectators enter­ fied festival of surf where visitors most of its participants are ama­ It’s also important, she adds, for Guangdong’s Shantou city. This future organizer, Li Jing, in 2015. tained. can enjoy music, food and the arts. teurs. Chinese surfers to compete in attracted more than 400 surfers Yang Ruijia, 30, a former member “Every year, they come to compete international events. from Singapore, Sri Lanka, A flair for organizing of China’s national surfing team, A more open platform for fun and meet up with old Japan, Iran, Afghanistan, China Li, 32, a Shenzhen­based office volunteered to work as a judge. Yang, a former professional surf­ friends,” says Yang. Contact the writer at and other Asian countries. worker, initially tried the sport dur­ She says she noticed that the er, points out that the event main­ Xu Jingsen, another participant [email protected]