Surf's up at second Hainan Open

International sponsors and celebrity riders are jumping on their boards for this year's event

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China’s leading surf event kicks off on Riyuewan Beach in Sanya, Hainan next month.

Hainan Open organizers expect more than 40 competitors, including star longboarder Robert 'Wingnut' Weaver, who starred in the cult classic “Endless Summer” films. Clothing and lifestyle sponsors Source, Quiksilver and Icon X, will maintain their own heavy-going presence.

[Hainan] is really set up to become the Hawaii of China. The potential is staggering.

— Wingnut, pro surfer

Accoring to event organizer Brendan Sheridan, a Chinese-speaking surfer from California who now lives on the island running his surf company Surfing Hainan, anyone, male or female, is welcome to participate in the Hainan Open.

“We hope the handful of Chinese competitors we have this year will help draw more and more Chinese nationals to the sport," he says.

The competition

Competitions fall into longboard, shortboard and bodyboard categories. Currently favored in the longboard heat is the 44-year-old man known as 'Wingnut.'

The shortboard category should be a close competition between Nathan Mettler -- a 35-year-old surfer raised in Hawaii now living in China -- and Craig Colbran, an Australian pilot who lives in Hong Kong. Colbran finished second in last year's Hainan Open. He holds the China Coast Quiksilver Surf Contest title. That competition is held in Taiwan.

"The Hainan Open is the best surf event I have actually attended,” says Mettler. “It has new waves, new friends and new stories. Good vibes all around. I never knew this many surfers actually live in China.”

"We are super excited to see how much interest in the competition has grown in only our second year,” agrees Sheridan. “The best thing about surfing in China is knowing that you are at the beginning of something really big."

Though surfing remains relatively unknown in China, Hainan has ideal surfing conditions and has the potential to be a major global surfing destination.

“It is really set up to become the Hawaii of China,” says Wingnut. “The potential is staggering.”

getting there

Hainan Open
November 6-8; Hainan, China
Surfer entry fee: RMB 500, spectator fee RMB 400 (including budget accommodation)
www.surfinghainanopen.com

good deal

Le Meridien Shimei Bay Bay luxury surf package
RMB 2,260 includes two nights stay with breakfast for two, plus a tension relief massage for two, a free shuttle bus to the surf event daily and a late check out of 4pm
+86 86 898 6252 8888, reservation.shimeibay@lemeridien.com