Two-hundred competitors arrived in Zhuhai on Nov 23 to match skills next week in 13 categories of the Asian Windsurfing & Kiteboarding championships.

They will take part in an opening ceremony at Zhuhai Holiday Resort Hotel on Saturday, Nov 24 and the warm-up competition this Sunday. By showing their ID cards or passports, Chinese and expats can view close-up actions from Haibin Beach (City Parlor) in Jida between Nov 25 and 29. The closing ceremony is scheduled on Nov 30.

The Asian Windsurfing Championship 2018 is the most prestigious of its kind in the Asian-Pacific region and ranks just behind the RS: X World Championship in terms of size. This year's event features Men's and Women's T293 and Gaastra Fun, Men's Gaastra Pro, and Men's and Women's RS: X categories.

Casting fate to the winds

Meanwhile, kiteboarders anchored to hydrofoil boards will be propelled across the water by wind-powered kites, to which they are attached by cords, like a harness. Even if the wind lifts them high out of the water, they can remain aboard.  

The events are sponsored by the Asian Sailing Federation (ASAF), International Kite Boarding Association, and Chinese Yachting Association. They are locally managed by the Zhuhai Culture, Sports & Tourism Bureau and Zhuhai Jiuzhou Holdings Group.

In recent years, Zhuhai has been a favorite venue for large windsurfing events due to its proximity to Hong Kong and Macao, pleasant weather in autumn and winter, and winding coastlines.

Muscle power

Windswept [Photos courtesy Zhuhai Jiuzhou Holdings Group]