TW Blog :: Archives for August 2008

Sergio Surfs the China Qiantang Dragon Tidal Bore

Relates to Surf and Travel

Most excellent news! My good buddy and bore riding compatriot, Serginho Laus (aka Sergio), has realised his dream of surfing the mighty Qiantang Dragon tidal bore. Last week he and fellow Brazilian Pacelli spent the new moon syzygy scouting and surfing the Qiantang bore over an area agreed with the Chinese government. While no records were broken, some good clean sections and peaks reaching 10 feet were found - in between the occasional ferocious Asian squalls.

Check out some of the photos of Sergio and Jorge surfing the Dragon.

The trip was principally a relationship building exercise with the Chinese government, to strengthen a bond Serginho has been forging for several years. With the intent of returning for the equinox festival in September to deliver a display of tidal bore surfing to the hundreds of thousands of people that flock to Hangzhou every year to revere the tumultous power of the Dragon at full force.

I have considerable respect and admiration for Serginho. He is a great ambassador for the sport of tidal bore surfing and no one has pioneered this unique sport more than he over the last 10 years. Having spent many years learning every aspect of the Pororoca and showing a true passion for the spirit of the tidal bore Sergio has taken gradual and delicate steps towards realising his achievement in China. It is for this very reason tidal bore pioneering should stay the realm of the tidal bore specialist and not be absorbed into and saturated by the all-consuming materialism of the surfing industry's Search.

I hope that Team Gerlach showed the same respect AND the Chinese government doesn't get greedy!

Keep up to date with Sergio's adventures at the brazilian website Waves.

Posted on Monday, Aug 11, 2008 at 12:01:45.