Should I surf in Hong Kong (Shek-O)

[BatRunt]

Hello chaps.

am completely newbie to surfing, had a lesson, got hooked, bought 8ft epoxy board, been out and played. real newbie, but....

am off to China and Hing Kong in a few weeks. got a free weekend there, so, should i hire a board and have a go at Big Wave Bay, near Shek-O on Hong Kong Island?

I should get a few more outings in before i go, but has anyone been? is it ok for a beginner?

help?

p.s. cracking site, have learnt loads from just reading posts and the lessons!!

[billie_morini]

BatRunt,
why not surf in Hong Kong? One of my buddies likes to surf at all the places he goes. He likes to try as many breaks as he can. You can do this, too.

[Deepwaterdesigns]

hey Batrunt
im also looking into it as my GF just got a 6 month gig out in macau near hong kong and im going to visit her there for a month. from what i understand, having done a little research, BWB has plenty of board rentals and apparently the locals are quite freindly with both pro and absolute begginers, but it depends on the time of what time of the year you are going, during the summer months i have heard its FLAAAAAAT.
it also seems like some spots are a bit of a mission to get to, but if you have the time they are well worth it. im definately planning to do some surfing whilst im in HK. ill be there from april to may, if you are in the area at that time drop me a PM and maybe we can arange a meet, share a ride to a spot or whatever.
if i dig up any more info on surfing HK then ill share it with you.

[BatRunt]

deepwaters
designs... i'm too much of a newb on the site to be allowed to PM anyone yet!

i'll be in HK on weekend of 20/03, 26-27/03 and 2/04 then its fly home that night.

am thinking of taking my shorty wetsuit (£15 from decathlon, so if it gets ruined or i have to leave it behind, not gonna cry) and some 3mm boots as you never know whats under the sand in a foreign part!!

give me a shout if you about. i am am absolute rookie at this, but am very enthusiastic so any company will be greatly appreciated.

cheers.

[jaffa1949]

deepwaters
designs... i'm too much of a newb on the site to be allowed to PM anyone yet!

i'll be in HK on weekend of 20/03, 26-27/03 and 2/04 then its fly home that night.

give me a shout if you about. i am am absolute rookie at this, but am very enthusiastic so any company will be greatly appreciated.

cheers.

Mate you are too polite. Mr Deepwater Designs invites you to PM then it's OK, rookie with enthusiasm and manners is to be encouraged at all turns. BTW there is surf in HK seek and you shall find and it's one place where even rookies are welcomed And that is a rarity on the surfing parts of this planet

[BatRunt]

when i said i'm not allowed, i mean the site actually blocks that ability until you posted enough times to prove your not a spammer.... i guess!!

am off on friday (tomorrow) so if anyone is about, PM me and we can try and catch up.

[surf patrol]

/off topic
I'll have a look at that pm thing.

[BatRunt]

bit of a change of plan, now going to palm Beach watersport center on south side of lantau island for a surf lesson tomorrow morning.

can't wait. good to have something fun to do while out here on business!!

how do you hide a surf lesson in expenses?!?!?!?

[Deepwaterdesigns]

bit of a change of plan, now going to palm Beach watersport center on south side of lantau island for a surf lesson tomorrow morning.

can't wait. good to have something fun to do while out here on business!!

how do you hide a surf lesson in expenses?!?!?!?

if you work in tourism like i do, then you write it off as a "familiarisation trip" or "site inspection" last week i went SUPing for free!

sadly it looks like ill just miss you BatRunt, my flight is booked for the 11/04 returning 05/05 . let me know how the surf at Lantau is, would love to do some exploring around there. if you can find any info on board rentals there too i would greatly appreciate the heads up. hope you enjoy the lesson and i look forward to possibly meeting you on the waves someday.

Jaffa... you say theres plenty of surf around HK, any idea on board rentals tho? i only seem to find info about them at big wave bay and i dont want to pay hundreds to take my board with as im only going to have time for a few sessions. thanks!

[jaffa1949]

bit of a change of plan, now going to palm Beach watersport center on south side of lantau island for a surf lesson tomorrow morning.

can't wait. good to have something fun to do while out here on business!!

how do you hide a surf lesson in expenses?!?!?!?

Jaffa... you say theres plenty of surf around HK, any idea on board rentals tho? i only seem to find info about them at big wave bay and i dont want to pay hundreds to take my board with as I m only going to have time for a few sessions. thanks!

DWD my information is based on guys I know coming back, I do know the surf is very typhoon and weather pattern dependent and there are some stretches of beach that are hideously polluted. As well as Big Wave Bay ( which doesn't have one) try Tai Long Wan, Sai Kung or Cheung Sha on Lantau.
I have never traveled to HK. If you have time head to Hainan or Taiwan( just a little trouble for foreigner to go easily between mainland China and Taiwan) both have some really good spots.
As to board rentals Hmmmmm no idea whatsoever.
I travel a lot and I have a Pope Bisect longboard that breaks into two 4'6" halve and go in a special padded bag, under the heading of sporting equipment 99% trouble free on airlines and usually free!

[BatRunt]

Palm beach watersports is the place for you. they rent custom boards from skimboards to SUP's, they even have accomodation in the way of teepees!!

www.palmbeach.co.hk based at cheung sha on lantau island. get to tung chung by MTR train, then the number 11, 23 or 35A bus. instructions are on the website. bus cost HK$19.2 and a taxi cost me HK$71. took taxi for first time so i could identify the bus stop next time.

unfortunately there was no surf as the weather changed, but the guys there were incredibly friendly and just sat and chatted with me, like a free theory lesson on surfing. KeiKei is the surf instructor and i also met Leo, who is the HK skimboard champion sponsored by victoria boards. got to watch him play about in the flat stuff.

its a steep beach break on sand, has shark nets and has a grade 1 water grading from the HK environment agnecy. it is typhoon dependant, and the real season is may-sept, so hopefully you will get some action.

gonna try again next weekend!!

[Deepwaterdesigns]

Shame you didnt get to actually surf BatRunt, hope you have better luck next week.

i really appreciate all the information, it is very helpful, and the info on getting there and prices for Taxis and buses is fantastic. was quite suprised about the shark nets though, i wasnt aware HK had many sharks... but live and learn hey.

the Teepees sound pretty cool too, might have a look into that and spend a night there.

thanks again for the info, most appreciated.

[jaffa1949]

Hi Batrunt, answered your other post, not good mate, Honk Konk and Bournemouth go out for a paddle around and build up those muscles for catching waves.
Hey Bournemouth area guys help Batty out. Tell him by PM where to go so he doesn't have to endure failing artificial reefs or trek to to Honkers to try to learn to surf, he seems genuine but need help to get out of the house, be very nice to his wife and she might let him out a little more. Base this on the fact we are all better human beings once we've had a surf.
Cheers Batty.

[wuhaa88]

hi,
i will go to china in august and intend to check out the ways at hainan island.
what spots, rentals and places to stay can you guys recommend?

hang low!

[BatRunt]

not sure if surfing has made it onto china mainland, as boards etc are quite expensive to the average person, and those that have money play golf as its more of a status thing.

i'm backl over to HK next weekend, so will try again. temp currently 30°C and 90% humidity... i'll be glad of falling in the water!!

[jaffa1949]

not sure if surfing has made it onto china mainland, as boards etc are quite expensive to the average person, and those that have money play golf as its more of a status thing.

i'm backl over to HK next weekend, so will try again. temp currently 30°C and 90% humidity... i'll be glad of falling in the water!!

Hi Batty the is surfing on Hainan island and the Chinese cgovernment is trying to encourage people to go.
Also the there are major chinese reproduction boards ( read popouts) beginning to appear everywhere they're about as good as the melamine additive milk that some fakers got caught making, but Hainan may be an option one of the latest Surfers Path magazine featured the Island.
Have google at Hainan surf.

[Thomas123]

Hi,

Hong Kong is in my opinion, a bad place for surfing,
This web site give good advices of the best place for surfing:
www.sunshine-surfing.com

[BatRunt]

Sorry, should have googled.

all looks good http://www.surfinghainan.com/ but is 400 miles away from HK as the crow flys.

don't think i'll be able to get my company to send me there while on business.

just want to get wet while i am away, to stop the boredom of wandering electronics shops every minute of my spare time!!

[Katsura]

Around HK, I am mostly worried about the water quality. You don't half see the dead (and living) things floating around O_o.

I have a bad habit of mouthing sea water (then spit), SoCal is bad enough, I hesitate to think about HK. However, can someone actually have been tell me if it's actually do-able?

[syeh98]

HI all, surfing in HK is more for beginner to novice as the waves are usually less the 10 ft at most. For a less crowded beach, try Pui O beach on Lantau Island. They rent boards for 90 hkd/hr they also have lessons and all the instuctors are super nice and friendly, they are all literally from new zealand. I did a surf camp there during the summer and I learned a lot!