Fishing village kids shine in surfing, charging all the way into the World Championships
Text / Upstream and Downstream reporters Luo Jianhong, Lai Yuwei
Taiwan's top athletes are shining at the Universiade, and now young surfers are also preparing to travel to Japan to take part in the ISA World Junior Surfing Championship. This amateur competition, second only to the Olympics in standing, is the must-win path in the surfing world. This time, children from fishing villages who were born by the sea will ride the wind and waves for Taiwan and step onto the world stage. Surfing is not just for competition. For fishing-village youths for whom "the sea is the first thing they see when they open their eyes every day," the ocean is their home turf.
Lin Zicheng, first place in the boys' U16 division, representing Taiwan on the world stage
"I've been surfing for seven years. I just turned 16. I started in third grade of elementary school." Dark-skinned Lin Zicheng had just finished training on his own. Standing on his surfboard, he quickly traced a light line along the wall of the wave, his eyes focused and full of confidence.
Starting at the end of July, Lin Zicheng was training hard as a member of Taiwan's representative team for the ISA World Junior Surfing Championship. When we met, he said, "I have to get in the water every day, I have to practice, train hard," without a trace of doubt in his eyes. He had been preparing for competition since childhood, advancing from recreation to professional athletic events with high fighting spirit, and indeed he produced a strong result at the competition in Donghe, Taitung, taking first place in the boys' U16 shortboard division.
Beginner surfing tips:
For beginners who want to learn surfing, besides finding a suitable coach to teach them, Xiaogu Surf Shop suggests that beginners should also do their basic homework. First, get enough sleep. The sun is strong during the day, and if you are not well rested your attention will wander and the results will not be good. Next, pay attention to the weather forecast from the Central Weather Bureau and avoid dangerous weather such as thunderstorms and typhoons. Prepare sunscreen, flip-flops and rash guards (some shops rent them) to reduce injuries from jellyfish or friction from the surfboard. Mentally, respect nature and do not push yourself too hard. Also protect the coast and take your own trash with you.
How do foreign surfers see Taiwan? "The waves are awesome, but Taiwanese say there are ghosts by the sea...."
(This article is sponsored by the Jianzhen Environmental Education Foundation for personnel expenses, but it does not interfere at all with news topics or interview writing, ensuring news independence.)