Windsurfing set to get bigger in S'pore

Windsurfing set to get bigger in S'pore

Two new windsurfing events were organised back-to-back in the past few days in Singapore, with one staged in the heart of the city at Marina Bay.

Two new race classes -- the RS:One and the RS:X Evolution -- were introduced, and sailors said the Bay posed its own challenge.

Masters Men's Finals (RS: One Class) champion Oka Sulaksana said while there were no big waves or swells here, he had to use different techniques, while sailing at the Bay.

"The winds were very shifty," he said.

But Mr Sulasana added that it was a new experience, sailing with the Singapore skyline as a backdrop.

Despite the challenging conditions, Singapore's Audrey Yong, a bronze medallist at the recent Youth Olympic Games, won the under-17 Girls category for the RS:One class.

Some of the windsurfers also competed in the Asian Windsurfing Championship which ended last Sunday.

The four-day event was held at National Service Resort and Country Club at Tanah Merah and saw top-class windsurfers taking part.

Some 150 participants from eight countries including host Singapore contested in three classes, the RS: X, Techno and Mistral.

The RS:X men's category was clinched by Cheng Kwok Fai (Sail No HKG 18), the 2006 world champ in the Mistral category.

Second was Lee Tae Hoon of Korea ( Sail No KOR 71) while in third spot, Thailand's Ek Boonsawad ( Sail No THA 8).)

Singapore will be hosting the event for the next three years till 2014 and looks set to host more world-class competitions, what with more Asians making a mark in the sport.

RS:X manufacturer Neil Pryde said: "We probably recognise the potential that lies here in Asia.

"We have great conditions for our sport. Let's face it, that in most of Asia, you can sail all year round -- we don't have the severe winters of Europe or North America; we have great water, wind in most cases and we have a rising standard of living that people can now afford these boards.

One way to popularise the sport to the masses includes providing cheaper equipment, like the RS:One board.

-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-