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Wakeboard Championship
The region's first international wakeboarding championship hits Dongguan, leaving other events in its wake, writes Tina Leung
Get ready to hang 10 in Dongguan, China, at the first ever SF Express Cup Hau Jie Wakeboard Championships! It may not be the first wakeboarding competition in the region, but it’s definitely the first to attract world-class international riders from around Asia, from as far and wide as Japan, Singapore, and Thailand. Ones to watch include our very own Vincent Law, who represented Hong Kong in the 2009 IWSF Wakeboard World Championships, and Thai riders Lota and Tatsanai Aye, who are known for their high intensity technical tricks. The stakes are high, with more than a total of RMB100,000 in prize money up for grabs, so get ready for some fierce, eye-popping action on the water.
Terry Tang, one of the main organisers and a rider himself, has been counting his lucky stars since they found their venue at Hau Jie, around 40 minutes by train from the Lo Wu border. “It’s a better environment, the water is cleaner, and there’s more space,” explains Tang. That space has allowed them to install ramps and sliders (think skateboarding) for more advanced riders to showcase their gravity-defying aerial tricks. Competitors will also be able to ride head-to-head against each other, a format not usually adopted in local wakeboarding events due to time constraints. Much like tennis, competitors at this championship are seeded, which guarantees the cream of the crop will only clash at the finals. Audience members will also have the chance to predict the winner for a chance of winning cash coupons and t-shirts sponsored by Quiksilver and Roxy.
To ensure an unforgettable weekend, the organisers have gone all out with a line up of live music, dancers, and fresh tunes courtesy of Skullcandy DJs. For the hardcore wakeboarders, there is also talk of pro demonstrations for new boarding gear. As for everyone else, well, there are always the bikini girls…
Early bird prices (before Apr 28) are $120, and then it will cost you RMB150 on the door. Despite what it says on the official Facebook page, we have been reassured by the organisers that the ticket price not only includes two lunches and a dinner over both days but free-flowing beer as well over the entire weekend (yes, you heard right). With so much epic-ness happening over one weekend then, this event looks set to definitely propel wakeboarding to new heights in this part of the world. “We really hope to push [this event], because at the end of the day, wakeboarding is still not a mainstream sport,” says Tang. “We’d love to repeat this event every year hereafter, attract more participants, and increase awareness for the sport.” It looks like they could be well on their way.
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