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Hong Kong surfing coach slammed after claiming he’s riding waves during Typhoon Wipha

Hongkonger claims he’s out in water at Pui O, while company’s lesson offer comes with ‘the bigger the wave, the better it gets’ tagline

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A man carrying a surfboard weighs up his options at Big Wave Bay as Typhoon Wipha approaches the city. He ultimately decided not to enter the water. Photo: Antony Dickson
Lars Hamer

A Hong Kong surfing coach claimed to be riding waves during Typhoon Wipha on Sunday, while the company he worked for advertised lessons with the tag line “the bigger the wave, the better it gets”.

The decision to go into the water was called “absolutely ridiculous” by local surfers, with water sports banned in bad weather and the sport prohibited at public beaches all year round.

Still, that did not stop Go Surf HK, a business that “provides professional ISA surfing lessons”, offering a 20 per cent discount for those who signed up for classes while the No 10 typhoon signal was in effect.

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In an Instagram post, the company said the discount could not be used for lessons on Sunday, saying they would not risk student’s safety and the offer was for future coaching.

“Apply for surfing classes before typhoon signal No 10 is cancelled and enjoy 20 per cent off,” the post said. “The bigger the wave, the better it gets.”

People take pictures on the waterfront at Tsim Sha Tsui after the T10 signal had been issued. Photo: Edmond So
People take pictures on the waterfront at Tsim Sha Tsui after the T10 signal had been issued. Photo: Edmond So

An earlier version of the Instagram post seen by the Post said: “If you play T10 you get a discount.”

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