TW Blog :: Archives for October 2009

Surfing China 2009 Silver Dragon Championship News

Relates to Surf and Travel

The Inaugural Surf China 2009 Silver Dragon Championship took place earlier this week as part of the Surf China Expo running from 5th to 7th October. The event gave Pororoca pioneer and distance surfing world record holder Serginho Laus a chance to exhibit the incredible skills he has honed surfing the majestic tidal bore of the Araguari river deep in the heart of the Amazon rainforest.

News of the event is yet to filter out but reports in from Serginho give the considerably windswept wave as reaching 7 feet in height with a couple of perfect offshore overhead sections. The event has been the culmination of a movement by the surf industry into China to capitalise on the potential of the Qiantang Tidal Bore - the largest recorded bore in history. But the lack of experience of the American team showed when they had to call on the expertise of Serginho and his fellow Brazilian compatriot, Marcos Sifu, to guide them in the treacherous waters. The Brazilians then went on to dominate an exhibition competitive event on the wave out-maneouvering and out-styling the American professionals (Jamie Sterling and Rusty Long) with their bag of tidal bore surfing tricks, much to the adulation of the throng of spectators.

Serginho has been an exemplary emissary for tidal bore devotees around the globe for the past decade promoting the majesty and beauty of these great natural river waves while respecting the spiritual importance each places on their local community. It is a relief to see the corporate surfing industry reigned in a little by the experience and knowledge of a professional tidal bore surfer.

Speaking to the largest local Sports magazine in Hangzhou after the event Serginho outlined his goal to establish a global gathering of tidal bore surfers in China from the international Bore Riders Club community spanning England, France, Alaska and Brazil. A seed we first planted back when we met at the inaugural Bore Riders expedition on the Mearim river in Brazil in 2005.

Check out a few photos of the Silver Dragon Surfing Championship here. Guess who are doing the big manouveres! Also some video footage from team America surfing the Qiantang dragon with some great clips of Sifu using up his bag of tricks towards the end.

Posted on Sunday, Oct 11, 2009 at 10:29:14.