Press Conference Announces the Start of the Inaugural Hainan
Wanning Riyue Bay International Festival of Surfing Presented by
Quiksilver
ISA President Fernando Aguerre shares his dream to develop surfing
in China with the gathered media at the Festival-launching press
conference. Photo: ISA/Billy Watts
Tonight’s Opening Ceremony Officially Begins the Groundbreaking
Surfing Festival on the Shores of Hainan Island, China
Hainan Wanning Riyue Bay International Surfing Festival Presented by
Quiksilver
January 7, 2012
Wanning, Hainan Island, China
Local government authorities, surfers and sponsors joined the ISA
President for the Hainan Wanning Riyue Bay International Surfing
Festival Presented by Quiksilver official press conference, today
at the 6-star Le Meridien Hotel. The main topic was the opening of the
Festival, which begins competition on Sunday, January 8. The
participants all agreed on the relevance to the country and the global
surfing community, of having this ISA groundbreaking surfing event in
the world’s most populated country.
Dignitaries present to speak with the more than 50 press on hand were:
ISA President Fernando Aguerre; Womei Media CEO, Mr. Yang Dunhao;
President of Quiksilver Asia-Pacific, Greg Healey; Deputy Director of
Hainan Sports Bureau, Mr. Chen Yajun; Ms. Liu Bei, a representative
from Headquarters of the Agriculture Bank of China; former ASP World
Tour surfer, Cory Lopez (USA); former ISA gold medalist, Pauline Ado
(FRA); and ISA junior gold medalist, Cristobal de Col (PER).
ISA gold-medalist Cristobal de Col of Team Peru was on hand to share
his thoughts on surfing and competing for the first time in China.
Photo: ISA/Billy Watts
“This is a 3-year process that has finally come together – it was a
dream, then a plan, and now a reality,“ said President Aguerre of the
eight-day Festival. “We are bringing surfing and the aloha spirit of
the sport to China.”
Turning Aguerre’s dream into a reality required partnering with a
major media presence in China, and Womei Media proved to be the best
organization for the job.
“Womei thinks surfing has a great future in China,” said Mr. Yang
Dunhao, CEO of Womei Media, “not just as a sport, but for the lifestyle
and the environmental awareness it can bring.”
The other valuable component in promoting a major event in China has
been the association with the world’s biggest surf brand, Quiksilver.
“We really want to promote the lifestyle of surfing and all the
positives that come with it,” said Greg Healey, the President of
Quiksilver Asia-Pacific. “One of the great benefits of working at
Quiksilver is that we get to promote a lifestyle we love and live
everyday.”
With competition in the ISA China Cup ready to begin, the Official
Forecaster, Surfline.com is predicting increasing swell and offshore
winds throughout the contest, which has the surfers, coaches and
everyone involved with the Festival anxious for the first heat horn.
The surfers are excited, while they also grasp the magnitude of being
involved in the biggest surfing event ever to come to China.
“This is a very exciting event for all of us. I love competing in
ISA event. Competing for your country is the best,” said World Tour
competitor Pauline Ado, who is surfing for Team France. “We never
thought we’d be competing in an event in China. We’re honored to be
part of such a historical happening.”
The Parade of the Nations and Sand of the World Ceremony will take
place at the Le Meridien Hotel, on January 7, at 5:30pm local time
(1:30am PST and 4:30am EST).
