Surf's up, dude!
At Nan'ao Island's Qing'ao Bay, winter waves, rising young athletes and an international cast of coaches converge as the spotlight shines on the fast-growing sport, Xing Wen discovers in Shantou, Guangdong.
He began surfing at the age of seven and has been traveling across the globe in search of new surf spots. "I thought, 'Okay, let's check out China'," Casano recalls.
"I was amazed to find not only great waves here but also many talented surfers. It's been a wonderful experience exploring a new place."
On his first visit to Nan'ao Island, he expressed surprise at the local surf scene: "I didn't expect such waves here. The island offers beautiful beaches, nice people and plenty of good food. That's my favorite part."
For Casano, surfing offers a unique sensation that's hard to describe. He emphasizes that proficiency demands persistent practice, intense concentration, mental clarity, and constant readiness to embrace the waves.
Perry Hatchett, former head judge for the Association of Surfing Professionals (now the World Surf League) and the current Australian coach for the Shandong team, has been on the island for three weeks.
"The last two to three weeks have brought pretty good waves. Even when it's small, it's still fun," he remarks.
He adds that the island shows great potential for developing a vibrant surf culture and community: "Many popular surf spots in Australia rely on beach breaks like those found here. This makes it an ideal environment for young surfers to learn and for the sport to grow."
Luo Zhaopeng, a surf instructor on Nan'ao Island, found that the island offers waves suitable for surfers of all skill levels.
