HAINAN ISLAND, China (Reuters) - A ballerina "danced opposite a sea" to deliver veteran surfing to China on Wednesday.
Darci Liu perceived a wildcard for a initial eventuality hold in her homeland by a Association of Surfing Professionals, and she was swarmed by spectators as she emerged from a H2O after an opening turn better by San Diego's Jennifer Smith.
"I feel really beholden and really unapproachable to have had a possibility to roller here and to contest opposite a champion like Jennifer," Liu told Reuters. "She is a best surfer in a universe and this is a biggest day of my life.
"I wish some-more people in China to know about surfing and this is a start. It is a seemly and pleasing sport, it is dancing opposite a sea.
"I have not been surfing really prolonged so we feel like a baby of a event, though a baby is really excited. It's because we have a grin on my face that will final a prolonged time."
Liu complicated ballet during a Hubei Provincial Art School before dancing professionally in Guangdong in 2006. It was usually a following year that Liu, from Hainan Island, was speedy by her Californian father to locate her initial wave.
She combined a cut of story here by apropos a initial Chinese surfer to contest in an ASP eventuality -- a Swatch Girls Pro China is doubling as a women's longboard universe championship.
"These surfers will be remembered as pioneers," pronounced Brodie Carr, a Association of Surfing Professionals arch executive. "We suspicion China was an unfit place for us to enter, though we've finished it. We're here and this is only a beginning.
"China is a absolute jaunty country, a immeasurable nation and marketplace with a intensity billion-strong assembly for us.
"We wish to pull boundaries, we wish to expand. We've entered a new frontier. This is a landmark day that we'll be looking behind on for years to come."
Most competitors, including two-times universe champion Smith, were totally unknowingly China had roller until a venue was announced this year. The opening rite was a intemperate event with dancing, singing and fireworks.
Carr pronounced some-more surfing events for Hainan Island, a lush, palm tree-lined area being promoted as a Hawaii of Asia, were in a pipeline.
The mayor of Wanning pronounced Liu's entrance had helped put Hainan Island on a map of universe surfing.
"China has open arms to surfing from this day," he said. "We wish new tourists to come to pleasing and energetic Wanning.
"We have a healthy, ardent and energetic coastal plcae and we wish to popularize surfing in China."
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