Best wishes from the surfers in China : the Cathay Seas newsletter.

1 view

Skip to first unread message

Cathay Seas information service

unread,

Dec 29, 2009, 8:03:09 AM12/29/09

to Cathay Seas information service, 110east

This is ‘110 East’, the periodical yet erratic newsletter of the
sophisticated, rugged and facetious surfers in China and South East Asia.
You are the few, the proud [216] regular readers, feel free to
redistribute.

December 2009 (previous newsletters on the website)
*****************************************************
CONTENTS :
1- the traditional New Year best wishes
2- the China Surf Club project : public safety in Chinese waves
3- Hainan Open 2009
4- Annie in France
5- Website news
******************************************************

1- the traditional New Year best wishes
Ho, Ho, Ho ! Please find enclosed our best wishes' card for 2010.
The photo is of an undisclosed location, somewhere between Taiwan and
Fujian regions.
Among all the coastlines between eastern Russia and southern Indonesia,
China still is the secret spot of choice.
A secret spot of about 18.000 kilometers long.
Indeed after all these years the local Chinese surf scene is still almost
non existent. It will become how we decide to build it, and the beginners
will follow the examples of the experienced.
So yes, we need you ! Come on, explore, surf and make friends !
If you don’t know where to go just ask : we have the maps...

But it seems that ‘’surfing’’ is slowly entering the local
vocabulary, especially from the businessman point of view.
Unfortunately, we must say loudly that surfing is NOT good for people who
can’t swim… for more details, please read below.

2- the China Surf Club project : public safety in Chinese waves
Last september, Cathay Seas opened the China Surf Club on Facebook. This
was a world first !
After an intensive exchange of messages with members of the 110 East Google
Group, we convened that it would be irresponsible and life-threatening to
just deliver surf equipment in self service without first working on public
safety issues.
The drownings are too numerous in China not to be noticed and taken into
account.
In the same way, the emerging efforts of the surf industry to enter China
and ‘sell the lifestyle’ should not be done without caution.
Like Critiano wrote : ''Marketing can be dangerous and deceiving. Surfing
is not ping pong and requires real swimming abilities and ocean
knowledge.''

As a matter of fact, there will be no possibility of beach-level surf
development in China without preliminary steps :
1) developing BETTER LIFEGUARD SKILLS in surf conditions (specific advanced
training),
2) developing PUBLIC INFORMATION about beach-level dangers (postsigns,
leaflets, knowledgeable people).
And from these two points we will be able to focus on :
3) developing effective SURF INSTRUCTORS PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS.

We need help in translating documents in Chinese. We need help also in the
linking with Chinese authorities.
*** If any of you want to involve in this task, please let us know : info
[AT] CathaySeas.com ***

3- Hainan Open 2009
On 6 november, the Hainan Open took place in the region of Sanya city,
Hainan island.
This event has become the classic rendez-vous of the surf community in
China, while several international visitors come along from time to time.
This year there was Wingnut, the world class longboarder who won the
longboard division… of course.
For more justice, he should have competed with his feet attached !
About 150 people gathered to share a good time, warm waters and nice South
China Sea waves.
Thanks Brendan-mister-surfing-Hainan. We’ll be there next year !
> www.SurfingHainan.com

4- Annie in France
Since her travel story about surfing Hainan, Annie has been a long way
into, along and inside Europe this summer.
Ah, the delicious looong holidays of teachers !
Read Annie's last adventures in France, you will learn how to cope with 11
hours train trip, ripcurrents in Hossegor and camping on someone else
balcony !
Great job Annie, you’re a role model.

Public message to Cathay Seas’ readers : we WANT to read you too.
Daily life, street adventures, epic surftrip, wedding announcement… let
us know what’s going on.

5- Website news
As you have noticed when reading our articles online, we have added some
‘’Share this’’ buttons below each page.
Facebook, Baidu, Twitter, LinkedIn and more… they’re all just one click
away.
The cause is worth it, so share it now !