The first-ever 2024 China Sup Orienteering Open Tournament was held at Baiyun Lake, Guangzhou, on Sept 7-8. This event attracted over 230 participants from across the country, showcasing the unique charm of this emerging water sport and the ecological beauty of Baiyun Lake.

Paddleboard Orienteering is a new water sport that combines paddleboarding with orienteering skills. Participants must navigate using maps to find checkpoints on the lake, testing their paddleboarding skills and ability to recognize directions and read maps. The competition featured four categories: open group, university group, U18, and U12, with events including short-distance races and points races.

A test race was conducted on the first day, followed by the competition on Sept 8. Participants started from the shore, paddling towards the lake to find designated checkpoints. The winner was determined by the shortest time to complete all checkpoints and reach the finish line.

The event concluded with awards for the top eight participants in each category. This marks Baiyun's second time hosting a national-level sports event, following last year's China Sup Polo Open Tournament.

Baiyun plans to leverage its natural water resources to promote water sports, aiming to establish itself as a premier destination for water sports enthusiasts and contribute to Guangzhou's goal of becoming a world-renowned sports city.

The 2024 China Sup Orienteering Open Tournament is held at Baiyun Lake. [Photo/WeChat account: gz_baiyunfabu]

Athletes participate in the paddleboarding competition. [Photo/WeChat account: gz_baiyunfabu]