Surf Racing in Pingtan, China - Battle of the kite?
The PKRA event in China had somewhat of a dilemma this week when the slalom racing was faced with some pretty intense swell off the beach of Pingtan. With several racers lined on up raceboards including the likes of Bryan Lake, organisers went full steam ahead on the proviso that if these guys wanted to ride raceboards in 2m swell, then let them!
While a raceboard did in fact win the event, Bryan Lake went above and beyond to keep his fins in the water as they literally jumped over 2m whitewater sections as they raced in through the surf, around a bouy, back out through the surf, around another bouy and then ran onto the beach for a finish. Several of the top freestyle competitors also entered and gave the racers something to chase! Ariel Corniel was a real surprise coming second on a freestyle twintip and kite, with Paula Novotna winning most of the girls races, also on a freestyle twintip and what looks to be a North Vegas.
Toby Bromwich, the official PKRA photographer snapped some incredible shots of the racers completely obscured by the swell, you can see all of these on both the PKRA Facebook and the PKRA website. Look out for the one of Bryan Lake boosting off a wave with his course racing board.
Will this kind of surf racing become mainstream? It has in the stand up paddling world with Battle of the Paddle events becoming the most common fixture in racing. We could even see dedicated surf slalom boards being made by manufacturers! What on earth would they look like?
Elliott Heads, QLD
