Australia’s Mark Matthews was this years O’Neill Hainan Island Surf Festival champion.
 
The exotic South China Island of Hainan in the Wanning district hosted this years three day surfing festival with surfers from over 12 nations gathering for a friendly and fun time and enjoying some superb high performance 1m (3 feet) surf.
Australia’s Mark Matthews is well known throughout the world for his amazing feats surfing massive waves but here in China he showed his skills extend to high performance small waves and he was announced surfer of the festival.
 
"It’s definitely been one of the most awesome weeks of surfing for me here in China – We’ve scored quality waves on the beachbreaks and the points, the people have been amazing and we’ve all just had such a great time – I’m looking forward to returning next year for certain." said Matthews.
 
Other surfers to standout on the final day of this festival included former world professional touring surfer Rob Bain (Australia) who dominated the Longboard and shortboard divisions along with Holly Beck (USA/LA), Robert "Wingnut" Weaver (USA) and Dane Jordan (Australia).
 
Regional Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP)?tour manager Dane Jordan visited this years event to assess the location with a view to running a high level ASP event here in 2011.
 
"Everyone here has enjoyed the hospitality of China and the Hainan Island people" said Jordan.
 
"We have surfed a variety of breaks and the consistency and quality has been been very good – The beaches, accomodation and all round facilities are top class and we will definitely endeavour to work with the government officials here in Hainan with the view to running an ASP event in 2011."
 
An agreement was signed with ASP aiming to run the first ever world sanctioned professional surfing event in China next year.
 
The local Surfing Hainan crew, particuarly Brendan Sheridan, have been managing this festival for a number of years and ASP will also work closely with them, recognising their committment to a healthy development of the sport in China, particuarly this Wanning region which has an abundance of consistent quality surf locations and what we believe are the best waves in China.
 
 
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