A flair for organizing
Li, 32, a Shenzhen-based office worker, initially tried the sport during a one-week trip to Riyue Bay in 2013. She was bitten by the bug and attracted by the simple, freewheeling lifestyle led by surfers.
She quit her job and started doing marketing and communications for the Jalenboo Surf Club.
"I helped Sheridan with the Surfing Open for two years and discovered that I was good at organizing and running promotional activities," recalls Li. "I have been organizing the annual event ever since his departure."
Li knows that as the oldest surfing competition in China, the event should be a fine example for other nongovernmental competition organizers to learn from.
She has traveled to Indonesia and several other countries to learn more about how to run events.
"We continuously try to meet the needs of the embryonic and developing surfing industry," she says.
In 2015, a contest for novices was added to the event, engaging a larger group of surf lovers.
The next year, national and provincial surf teams were set up after the sport was included in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Subsequently, various surf competitions sprang up in other coastal cities. And every sport needs officials, judges and referees to make the difficult decisions.
Li and her colleagues decided to initiate training sessions for referees and offer internship opportunities for referee candidates at the open in 2016.
"It is worth mentioning that all the referees and photographers are volunteers," says Li.
Various beachside activities, such as exhibitions and concerts, were also held to keep spectators entertained.
Yang Ruijia, 30, a former member of China's national surfing team, volunteered to work as a judge.
She says she noticed that the event is growing into a more diversified festival of surf where visitors can enjoy music, food and the arts.
A more open platform
Yang, a former professional surfer, points out that the event maintains a relaxed atmosphere because most of its participants are amateurs.
"Every year, they come to compete for fun and meet up with old friends," says Yang.
Xu Jingsen, another participant at the event, agrees and adds that these informal surf contests offer an open platform for amateur surfers to strut their skills and get to know people who share the same passion.
Xu, a graduate from the Ocean University of China in Shandong province's Qingdao city, became obsessed with the water sport in 2011.
He practiced the skills needed to conquer the waves at surfing spots in the coastal city. Mastering how to spot a wave and paddle to the right spot quickly, honing the best body stance and learning how to guide the board with the minimum of energy took hard work and dedication.
It was also a good way to escape the everyday concerns of life and rejuvenate his mind and body, says the 30-year-old.
To connect with more surf lovers, he opened surf clubs and ran competitions in Qingdao.
"I hope I can contribute to enlarging the surf community and spread surfer culture in Qingdao," he says, adding that he plans to launch his own surfboard brand.
Flora Christin, 28, a top Indonesian female longboard surfer, made her debut at the Riyue Bay event this year.
She lives in the right spot－Canggu, on the island of Bali－a perfect setting for surfers. Compared to Riyue Bay, she says, Canggu has a long-established surfing culture, attracting people from all over the world.
"Hainan could be very big if you promote it worldwide through social media, hold more surf events and festivals, and invite surfers from outside of China," she says.
It's also important, she adds, for Chinese surfers to compete in international events.
Contact the writer at xingwen@chinadaily.com.cn
Overview
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