Press Release:
Teams named and dates set for 2nd annual $25,000 Red Bull Qiantang Shoot Out
Hangzhou, China / San Clemente, CA Aug. 16th 2013 — Wabsono and Red Bull China are pleased to announce the 4 teams competing in the September 18–21 2013 “RBQSO”.Ocean & Earth (2012 winners) Phil MacDonald, Trent MunroGo Pro (2012 runner ups) Jamie Sterling, Reno MakaniFuel TV Australia “The Crew” Mark Mathews, Richie VaculikRVCA Kalani David, Makua RothmanThe Red Bull Qiantang Shootout is the first of its kind surf contest that pits teams of surfers against each other on the most unusual wave in the world. The inaugural event in 2012 included world class athletes from Roxy, Ocean & Earth, GoPro and Wabsono Chao Jixian, with Ocean and Earth narrowly taking first place against the GoPro team in head to head finals.According to Glenn Brumage, Wabsono’s VP business development and RBQSO contest director “I’m sure this hasn’t been tried in the past because of the numerous challenges to holding a contest on a tidal bore. You have only one wave per day to work with, a limited number of days that it breaks and you have to keep the officials and crews ahead of the wave as it moves upriver at over 40k hr. As well, most of the world’s tidal bores are limited by size, “surfable” faces or accessibility. Luckily for us, the Qiantang wave is unusual in its size (recorded at 9m), its variety of workable faces and its path through the middle of the city of Hangzhou.”Bao Xuping, Wabsono President and Hangzhou local described why the silver dragon wave works. “The Qiantang is huge and the riverbed is constantly changing. Tons of sand moves down the river all year and the forces of the current and tides create different sand bars and channels constantly. Add to that the curving “dragon” shape of the river course and you get a constantly changing contest arena.”Glenn continued “All that said, it still leaves us with the challenge of how to give every competitor a fair shot at rides, keeping them from interferences and judging on a moving venue. With input from a number of previous “Silver Dragon” athletes, organizers and judges from international surf comps, we were able to craft a format that is not only functional, but according to the athletes, fun and fair.Lai En, Wabsono VP marketing summed it up by saying “We know that that the bore and Hangzhou can’t be a place to learn or surf every day in China, but it is a unique venue that brings with it Chinese mainstream media that wouldn’t normally cover surfing or for that matter any “Action Sports”. The “Red Bull Shoot Out” is another good reason for the mainstream Chinese media to jump on the bandwagon.”Contest Format4 Teams of 2 surfers, choice of equipment (long, short, paipo, hand plane, sup, mat).Teammates alternate drop off either by tow in or step off and move off the wave face to await the end of their mates ride, at which time they will switch positions and be dropped into the next opportunity.The contest venue presents a number of wave faces. Teams take turns down the river as faces present. 1st priority is given by coin toss. Obvious hopping, interference or wakes on the wave face result in a “no score” for that section and possible deduction for flagrant or dangerous behavior.Video of the 2012 event can be found at https://www.surfline.com/video/contests/red-bull-qiantang-surfing-shootout_95487Wabsono International “China’s Action Sports Solution”Wabsono International has become a leader in the development of Action Sports participation and lifestyle in China. Wabsono currently specializes in Licensing, Marketing, Manufacturing and Distribution of the lifestyle and related products of Skateboarding, Surfing and Wintersports. Having a strong position in the industry, Wabsono is capable of spending the necessary time and effort to build brands while building the lifestyle in China. Wabsono owns and operates the Red Bull Qiantang Shoot Out and the Vans Dragon Sk8 series. Wabsono is committed to increasing the popularity of the “Boardsports” lifestyle in China.
