First contest of its kind hailed as a great success and forerunner of a revolution
Anyone seeking proof that China is opening its doors to the world need look no further than a unique event held on the weekend. No, not the Miss World beauty pageant on Hainan Island, but a full-blown competition in a sport long and wrongly associated with the excesses of Western decadence.
The event culminated with Japan's Shinichi Yoshida carving his way with controlled aggression to become the first surfing champion of China.
The 37-year-old former professional's popular victory in the inaugural 720 China Surf Open in Hong Hoi Wan, Guangdong, was the result of over two years of planning and searching for the perfect spot to hold the historic event.
The event was the brainchild of Australian sunglasses and sports clothing company chief executive Spencer Barton, who said that after years of living and surfing in Hong Kong he had always wondered whether it was possible to find bigger and better surf in China.
'People don't give China's youth enough credit for their ability in individual sport,' the 43-year-old said. 'I wanted to open people's eyes to the fact that there are more options than just mainstream sports like golf and tennis.'