WAKEBOARD IN SPOTLIGHT AGAIN AT BEIJING’S OLYMPIC ROWING LAKE

FOR ITS HISTORIC FIRST MAJOR COMPETITION

Thomas Lin, IWWF VP, Yang Fenghui, GM Beijing Shunyi Aquatic Park, Des Burke-Kennedy, Marketing & Media IWWF

 

The worldwide growth of Wakeboard Cable Parks is gathering further international momentum. All eyes will be on this sport which is scheduled to make a final presentation to the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee this week in St Petersburg, Russia, for inclusion in the 2020 Games.

 

Beijing’s magnificent Shunyi Olympic Rowing, Canoeing and Swimming Lake, was constructed for the 2008 Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games. It has now acquired a spectacular new and well-timed additional feature. With Wakeboard on the shortlist of the International Olympic Committee, the Shunyi facility has now introduced a full size Wakeboard Cable Park for the public. By any standards, this is an impressive sports venue with an estimated 6.35 million square meters of water surface area, all man-made, and perfect for Wakeboard !

 

In association with the International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation (IWWF) and organized by the Chinese Water Ski Association, this first major international Wakeboard event at Shunyi is scheduled for June 7/10. The impressive international entry list of male and female Riders includes Australia, Austria, Canada, China, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Mexico, Netherlands, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Chinese Taipei and USA.

 

This inaugural event is a highly significant step forward for both Beijing’s magnificent Shunyi Olympic Rowing Lake facility and the sport of Wakeboard. Last week, Barcelona’s Castelldefels Olympic Rowing Lake also launched its first Wakeboard facility which will open to the public shortly. President of the IWWF, Kuno Ritschard, stated that this low cost youth focused environment friendly sport adds a totally new dimension to health and fitness options at a time when exercise for all age groups is such an important global challenge.

 

Organised by the Chinese Water Ski Association and sanctioned by the IWWF Asian Confederation, the official timetable for the Shunyi Olympic Park Opening Competition is as follows :

 

FRIDAY June 7

09.00 – Riders Registration & Briefing

11.00 – Pro Women Practice

13.30 – Pro men Practice

20.30 – Riders Briefing

 

SATURDAY June 8^th

09.00 – Official Opening Ceremony at Shunyi

09.30 – Pro Women Semi-Finals

12.00 – Pro Men Quarter Finals

16.15 Pro Men Last Chance Qualifiers

 

SUNDAY June 9th

09.00 – Pro Women Last Chance Qualifiers

10.30 – Pro Men Semi Finals

13.45 – Pro Women Final

14.45 – Pro Men Final

16.30 – Award Ceremony

 

END