The first Hainan international surfing competition
While surf would definitely not be the first thing you think of when someone says China, the island province of Hainan is preparing for its first ASP invitational surfing event from November 6-8 this year, with a view to a permanent event commencing in 2011.
A team from the ASP featuring pros such as Holly Beck, Sam Bleakley, Emiliano Catadili and Erwan Simon, recently scouted the location and were blown away by both the quality and consistency of the swells in Hanian’s Wanning region. Along with team photographer John Seaton Callahan the team discovered a series of breaks along the Wanning coastline that impressed not only the surfers but also the ASP itself.
The ASP’s Australasian tour manager Dane Jordan excitedly spoke about the prospects of the island as a surfing destination, “Hainan offers the perfect setting for the sport of Surfing”. With “crystal clear waters, white sandy beaches and a variety of tropical waves… (Hainan) is the ideal location to showcase China to the world”.
With an ASP invitational event scheduled for November 6-8 this year, local interest is set to spike, as ten professional surfers from around the world will participate in China’s first international surfing event.
The expansion of surfing throughout Hainan should see a permanent WSP world tour event held on the island on an annual basis. “We are working closely with government agencies, tourism authorities and sporting bodies”, explained Dane Jordan. “With a view to creating a stop on the ASP world tour for a significant short or long board event by 2011”.
The benefits of a permanent surfing event in China would be enormous for the relatively small Chinese surfing community and may also prove to be a big tourism boost for the Island province.
Hainan, dubbed the Hawaii of the Far East represents a new phase in tourism development in China. The Hainan Tourism Alliance and visithainan.com.au are proud to be the first official promoters of Hainan in Australia| < Prev | Next > |
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