Surf Ski World Championships are heading to Hong Kong in 2017, but organisers need HK$5 million government support
The city has won the hosting rights for International Canoe Federation race following the success of the annual Dragon Run, which will take place between Clearwater Bay and Stanley this weekend
Organisers will seek around HK$5 million from the governments M mark major sports event fund to pay for next year’s surf skiing International Canoe Federation Ocean Racing World Championships, which will be held in Hong Kong for the first time in November 2017.
This weekend’s Dragon Run, which takes places over around 22-23km of water between Clearwater Bay and Stanley, has long been a fixture on the World Surfski Series since it began in 2007.
And with an increased prize fund this year attracting the world’s leading competitors including brothers Dawid and Jasper Mocke from South Africa and current World Surfski Series leader and reigning world champion Cory Hill from Australia, the majority will return next year after Hong Kong was awarded the hosting rights for the third edition of the biennial World Championships.
But with half of the HK$300,000 donated by Hong Kong-based fund manager and ski surfer Patrick Maloney being used for this year’s Dragon Run, and the remainder as a starting point for next year’s event, the Hong Kong Canoe Union will soon submit an application for government funding.
Watch: Surf Ski action in Hong Kong
The 2017 World Championships will take place over the weekend of November 25-26 alongside the Asian Championships, with both events including men’s and women’s races.