Big Wave Bay, Hong Kong ( December 9, 2000)
Today saw the first day of the Rip Curl Hong Kong Surfing Cup 2000 get underway at Hong Kong's most famous surfing location 'Big Wave Bay'. A field of 65 surfers and bodyboarders, both male and female, from no less than 6 different countries including Australia, Korea, England, France, China, and Japan competed in what boasts to be China's only surfing competition.

With waves ranging from 1-3 feet and a prevailing five knott onshore wind, competitors put on an excellent display of surfing despite the difficult conditions. Hundreds of tourists and locals lined the beach front of Big Wave Bay to get a glimpse of this unique sport that took hold of Hong Kong a little more than 20 years ago.

Germinated here by expatriates, surfing now has more than 500 participants (mostly Chinese) despite the surf which is relatively inconsistent and lacks shape. "You need to be quick to surf these waves" said former dual world professional champion Damien Hardman. "I surfed in an expression session this morning and soon realised how fast these waves break. But the surfers here don't really care, they all love to get out there and have a go. Some of them surf quite well". Damien was at Big Wave Bay representing his major sponsor Rip Curl as the official media spokesperson for the event.

In 1979, almost 70 years after the sport took off in Australia and California, surfing hit Hong Kong Island rather auspiciously.

"I was physically thrown out of Big Wave Bay" says Hong Kong based Australian Rod Payne, who paddled out with four other expats that summer. "The cops removed us from the water and the beach".

One year later another Australian Grant Robinson paddled out on a big day, suprising onlookers and the beach patrol. "The lifeguards flipped out" explained the long haired 48 year old business man formerly of Western Australia. "They tried to get me out of the water but I just paddled away".

In the spring of 1997, relationships again soured when a swimmer was hit by an out-of-control surfboard. The Urban Council fined the surfer $2000 for breaching an old bylaw. Waveriders and their supporters banded together in protest and formed the Hong Kong Surfing Association(HKSA), which quickly swelled to 500 members. "It wasn't right" says HKSA vice-chairman Raymond Chan. "Surfing is not a crime. The government needs to give us some space to do our sport". And so they did, and the rest is history.

With waves predicted to be around 2-3 feet and a prevailing five knott onshore wind, Sunday will see the finish of the final rounds of the Rip Curl Hong Kong Surfing Cup, and the crowning of the 2000 event champions.

The Rip Curl Hong Kong Surfing Cup 2000 is a part of Rip Curl's Core-Grassroots program dedicated to the ongoing support of grassroots surfing throughout Australasia.

Ends.