A flipping good time
China's wakeboarders thrilled to raise sport's profile
One such talent is China's 14-year-old Xiong Yinyin, who participated in both the women's cable wakeboard and freestyle events, for her, the most important thing about the games is to showcase her skills.
Initially training as a platform and springboard diver, Xiong switched to wakeboard at the age of nine.
"When I stood on a board for the first time, I felt so thrilled — my adrenaline was pumping," she recalled.
The main reason why the fresh-faced teen fell in love with the water sport is very simple: "It's just so cool!"
Apart from Xiong and 21-year-old Xu Lu, who clinched gold in the women's wakeboard freestyle finals on Sunday, the other five Chinese water sports athletes at the games are all amateurs. Among them is 32-year-old Yue Han, who holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California.
Rather than pursuing a legal career upon returning to China, he chose instead to team up with his friend to teach at a water sports club in Zhejiang province's Qiandaohu, where he now works to grow the popularity of the still-niche sport.
He also serves as a PE teacher at an international school in Tianjin, where he has introduced wakeboarding programs, exposing over 100 students to the discipline.
