The surfing event of China's 15th National Games began on November 13 at Qing'ao Bay in Nan'ao County, Shantou, with 56 athletes from 15 teams competing over an eight-day schedule. The contest features men's and women's shortboard divisions, with medals to be awarded on November 16.
Among the participants is the Guangdong team, which includes local surfers such as Wu Zihao, who won his opening heat against a competitor from Xinjiang. The event uses a head-to-head elimination format, where athletes compete in pairs and the winner advances.
Qing'ao Bay has gained recognition as a competition venue due to its consistent waves and broad, shallow bay. Since hosting the Asian Surfing Championships in 2019, the area has staged nine international or national events, solidifying its status as a key watersports destination in southern China.
Coaches noted the favorable conditions. Liu Weijun, a Guangdong team coach, said the stable waves in November provided a reliable environment for athletes to perform. The Hebei team manager, Gao Shuai, expressed confidence in his squad's form, noting they had prepared for varying swell conditions.
As a judged sport, surfing requires athletes to read wave conditions and perform a series of maneuvers, such as takeoffs, turns, and carves, with evaluators scoring based on difficulty, innovation, speed, and flow. There are no prescribed routines; each surfer's score depends on how they utilize the waves they catch.
Introduced as an Olympic sport in the 2020 Tokyo Games, surfing was added to China's National Games program in the previous edition. Its continued inclusion aims to boost participation and competitive development across the country.
The event is free to the public, attracting tourists and locals to the beach. The competition continues through November 20.
Author | Feng Huiting
Photo | Shantou Media Group, Nanfang Plus
Editor | Liu Lingzhi, James Campion, Shen He
