Thursday, October 27, 2011

FIX University Surfing Girls Remember China



















features







































First-Ever ASP Event in China Kicks Off





First-hand Accounts from the Women's Longboard Tour Competitors














Kassia Meador. Everyone's bigger in Asia.




This week, the historic first-ever ASP World Tour event in China will begin on the island of Hainan. The Swatch Girls Pro China, which is the second and final stop in the Women’s Longboard World Tour, brings together the Top 32 female longboarders on the planet and will see the crowning of the 2011 World Champ by event’s end. The girls landed in China yesterday. Here’s a firsthand account through the eyes of competitors Kassia Meador (photos), Leah Dawson, and current Women’s Longboard No. 1 Lindsay Steinriede.




Lindsay Steinriede:

From the moment we stepped out of the Sanya Airport, we have been surrounded by nothing but happy, smiling faces. We were greeted at the airport and shuttled to a gorgeous resort we will call home for the next week. Out the back door of our room sits a private infinity pool surrounded by tropical trees as far as the eyes can see. Out the front door we find a pathway that leads out to beautiful beach with a lagoon running through to the ocean, surrounded by hills of trees. It’s a short walk up the beach to a little left pointbreak.




There hasn’t been much in terms of waves, but when you’re sitting out there with just your friends and fellow competitors, and finally realize you are actually surfing in China (Yes, China!), I can safely say, size doesn’t matter. Well, I shouldn’t get too far ahead of myself, as we are hoping to get some surf over the next few days of the event.




But speaking of size, everything the Chinese people have done for us so far has been on a very large scale. This morning we were all taken over to the contest area for the opening ceremony, which had a huge turn out. There was gigantic balloons flying in the sky all over the beach. There was a huge stage with hundreds of chairs set out and hundreds of people around as well.




We were greeted by more smiling faces as we made our way toward our seats. What took place next was nothing short of spectacular. The ceremony opened with the “Passionate Beach” dance where women in exotic costumes took to the stage dancing, only to be upstaged by shirtless men maneuvering around the stage dancing with shortboards in hand.




Next came welcoming and inspiring speeches from the Mayor of Wanning and Brodie Carr, CEO of ASP. This was of course followed by a bikini show, and then an introduction for us surfers.




All jokes aside, I must say it was quite an honor to be standing up there with my fellow surfers in front of such a large crowd, realizing how much effort and thought was put into our event. Then to close the ceremony there was a final performance involving explosions of color-powdered fireworks, confetti, and pigeons being let out of cages. Need I say more?






Fireworks and explosions of confetti and color. They don't get this kind of grand entrance at the men's events. Photo: Kassia Meador




Leah Dawson:

Forty-foot posters. One hundred and fifty volunteers. We are quickly realizing we are experiencing history in the making. When the World Longboard Tour competitors were told back in France in July that we were all getting a paid trip to China to compete in a second contest to determine our 2011 World Champion, I am sure none of us anticipated the five-star rockstar week we are now enjoying.




Thirty-two of the best female longboarders from all over the globe trekked for days to arrive in a Chinese paradise none of us knew existed four months ago. Now, thanks to the support of the Chinese government and the incredibly supportive representatives of Swatch, we, along with a big gang of media and the ASP, are now well aware of the South China Sea’s special island Hainan. For many of us, it is our first time to China, our first time in a communist country, and our first time staying in a hotel that has our own private pools for each room.




I flew over from Hawaii, with the four other competitors from the magical islands. As we were passing through Guangzhou Airport in South China, I said to the girls, “I have a feeling we are going to be treated like royalty.” Sure enough, the moment we walked out of baggage claim in Sanya, the largest city on Hainan, “royalty” undermines our welcome. We, along with every single athlete, judge, and media worker were welcomed by a group of cheering Chinese volunteers. During nearly every step we have taken, we have been smiled at by the local people, who portray the kind of excitement you see on the faces of surf fanatics when they see Kelly Slater in person for the first time.






There isn't much swell yet, but the water's warm and the girls have high hopes waves are on their way. Photo: Courtesy Swatch Pro



But these people have never seen surfing before. They have no idea what we do on waves. Yet their energy is vibrant and welcoming, showing their excitement to have professionals in this sport come to their home. Every single person here, foreign or local, has a smile on their face, because it is something fresh and new, for all of us. Quite a lesson of life perspective if you ask me…




Whether the projected swell arrives for the event or not, there is no shortage of gratitude among this group of people. For heavens sake, the government constructed the first surf clubhouse on Hainan just two weeks ago so that the infrastructure to allow surfing to grow into Chinese culture would be ready and waiting for the spectators of the Swatch Pro. It may take many years for surfing to infiltrate the daily lives of the Chinese, as free time hardly exists, for anyone at any age. I’ve heard the phrase many times, “if you can walk, then you work” in regards to the Chinese lifestyle. Situations are clearly different in the Chinese reality, but there is no doubt that after this week, “surfing” and “China” will now be words heard together.




For us competitors, good result or not, no one will go home without a smile. This is a trip of a lifetime, an experience all of us know we have to pinch ourselves to assure that it is real. For those who have never considered China as a surf haven with blue water and long left-hand pointbreaks, consider it now.








The competitors (left to right): Kaitlin Maguire, Kelly Nicely, Summer Romero, Lindsay Steinriede, and Kelia Moniz. Photo: Kassia Meador

















Related Posts:











Comments











mike


October 26, 2011 2:11 pm









whamo…or is it whacko…..you make a case i guess….is it too late to abort you?










mike


October 26, 2011 2:09 pm









whamo…..population bomb or not….killing female babies to get a more productive male is unacceptable in any culture…if you re so worried about overpopulation, do a favor a go die










Whamo


October 26, 2011 9:36 am









Mike, You need to read “The Population Bomb” so you can make a more rational observation.










mike


October 25, 2011 8:38 pm









good thing we dont have a one child law in US……or none of these women wouldbe alive to surf in china














Add a Comment










































By submitting a comment you grant SURFER Magazine a perpetual license to reproduce your
words, name and web site in attribution.


Comments may be removed at an administrators discretion. Your email is used for verification
purposes only and will never be shared.






























Carolina Sandbars





South Swell transforms the Outer Banks into flawless right-hand tubes. ...









First-Ever ASP Event in China Kicks Off





First-hand accounts from the Women's Longboard Tour competitors. ...









Coasting





Josh Kerr and Asher Pacey head south of the border in search of rippable rights. ...









Bali High





Nate Yeomans enjoys Balinese perfection. ...









SF Wildcard: Dillon Perillo





The 21-year-old Malibu surfer gets ready for the Search. ...









The Search Preview





Our guide to the first ever San Francisco World Tour event. ...









Padang Padang





Four days of perfection at Bali's emerald left. ...









Week in Review





Random happenings in surf for the Week of October 17. ...















Top Seeds Start Strong on Opening Day of ASP PRIME O’Neill Cold Water Classic





SANTA CRUZ, California/USA (Wednesday, October 26, 2011) – The opening day of the 2011 ASP PRIME O’Neill Cold Water Classic California saw the com ... More









Williams Wins SWATCH Girls Pro China Steinriede Claims ASP Women’s World Longboard Title





WANNING, Hainan Island/China (Thursday, 27 October, 2011) – Two Champions were crowned at the historic first ever ASP event in China today. Chel ... More









Red Bull Night Riders Will Light Up the Stary Sky and the Florida Surf Community at 12th Annual Tommy Tant Memorial Surf Classic





Six Pro Surfers Prepare to Compete at Night on November 16th in Tow-At Contest WHAT: Who says the swells only prime when the sun’s above the skyline ... More









SWATCH Girls Pro China Opens Professional Surfing in China with Style





WANNING, Hainan Island/China (Wednesday, 26 October, 2011) - The SWATCH Girls Pro China hosted by Wanning launched professional surfing in China today ... More









Dillon Perillo and Dean Brady Announced as Wildcards for Rip Curl Pro Search San Francisco





SAN FRANCISCO, California/USA (Tuesday, October 25, 2011) – After spending nearly every waking minute for 6 months Searching the Indonesia Archipela ... More









Arnette World Junior Completes Men’s Round 2 at Arpoador





ARPOADOR, Rio de Janeiro / Brazil (Tuesday, October 25, 2011) – The Inaugural Arnette World Junior presented by Quiksilver continued for the second ... More









USA Wins the Team Gold Medal at the El Salvador ISA World Masters Surfing Championship





Gold medals for individual athletes go to Master Mark Richardson (AUS), Grand Master Juan Ashton (PUR), Kahuna Tom Curren (USA), Grand Kahuna Craig Sc ... More









The Assessment In Full: A Look at the ASP World Tour’s Transition





COOLANGATTA, Queensland/Australia (Monday, October 24, 2011) – The past 24 months have bore witness to a radical transition within the ASP. Spawned ... More















Dillon Perillo and Dean Brady Announced as Wildcards for Rip Curl Pro Search San Francisco





SAN FRANCISCO, California/USA (Tuesday, October 25, 2011) – After spending nearly every waking minute for 6 months Searching the Indonesia Archipela ... More









Dan Ross Making a Difference with ‘One Bottle for Life’





LISBON, Portugal (Thursday, October 20, 2011) – ASP World Tour athlete and 1% For The Planet Ambassador Dan Ross (AUS), 28, has launched an environm ... More









Hawaii Winter Surf Season Launches Oct. 28 with HIC Pro





HONOLULU – (Oct. 18, 2011) — Winter waves are pulsing onto Oahu’s North Shore with regularity, signaling that the world renowned big ... More









Adriano de Souza Wins in Portugal





Adriano takes down Kelly Slater in epic Supertubos. ... More









Team Hawaii Readies for ISA Maters Event





(Sunset Beach, Hawaii) Monday, October 10 – Team Hawaii is pleased to announce that they will be fielding a masters squad for the 2011 ISA Masters S ... More









Hollywood and Surf Culture Comes Together for the 4th Annual Project Save Our Surf(PSOS) Surf-A-Thon.





SANTA MONICA October 15-16th, 2011 This weekend in Santa Monica Hollywood and surf culture will come together for charity for the 4th Annual Project S ... More













Ghost Wave/Cortes Bank – Appearance/Talk and Slide Show





Book Signing/Q&A · Oct 14 · 7-9PM at the Surfing Heritage Foundation in San Clemente, with Chris Dixon author of “Ghost Wave”, the ... More














































































































































































This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?

Subscribe to Posts [Atom]