Global kitesurfers to make a splash in Pingtan

Top kitesurfers from across the world are set to descend on Pingtan, East China's Fujian province, for the Pingtan International Kitesurfing Festival, a global kitesurfing contest, to be held in the city from Sept 10 to 15.

The festival, which marks its seventh edition this year, is a world kitesurfing ranking event. Open both to pro riders and amateurs, the contest, comprising of men's and women events in course racing and freestyle, is offering a whopping $50,000 in prize money.

According to Liu Fan, a spokesman for the Pingtan Kitesurfing Association, budding participants can register at the Yucheng Haijing Hotel personally on Sept 10, after submission of their personal information to the event's organizing committee (info@chinakitesurf.com). The registration fees for course racing and freestyle is respectively 200 euros and 50 euros.

Pingtan has long been regarded as an ideal place for kitesurfing, thanks to its favorable water quality, high speed winds and beautiful beach.

The contest is jointly sponsored by the International Kiteboarding Association (IKA), the sport's world governing body, the Chinese Yachting Association, Fujian provincial bureau of sports and Pingtan Comprehensive Experimental Zone administrative committee.

One of the world's fastest growing water sports, kitesurfing has steadily increased in popularity in Fujian in recent years, especially in Pingtan and Xiamen.