Mountains behind, waves ahead

Family follows waves

Xu's journey from the mountains to the sea would not have been possible without her family, who reorganized their lives around her dream.

Her parents run a beverage business in Anning and had no previous connection to surfing or other water sports. Once Xu decided to pursue surfing seriously, her mother stepped away from work to travel with her, first to Hainan and later to Bali.

Both parents began learning more about surfing. Her mother also started teaching herself English so she could accompany Xu to surf spots farther from home.

"They've both become amateur surfing enthusiasts," Xu said with a laugh. "Now we always have something to talk about when it comes to surfing."

Xu said she understood how much her parents had sacrificed for her.

"I know that some of my peers' parents worry that surfing is too dangerous and want them to quit," she said. "That's why I'm especially grateful that my mother has placed so much trust in me."

While her family's support allowed her to stay close to the sea, entering competitive surfing required professional training.

In September 2024, Xu began training independently and competing as an amateur. At a competition in Hainan in April 2025, a coach from a provincial surfing team noticed her performance and selected her for the province's reserve team, where she began training and competing with the squad.

Xu's journey also reflects the gradual growth of surfing in China. As competitive programs have expanded, children from inland provinces have gained more opportunities to take part in a sport once largely confined to coastal communities.

Professional training not only helped Xu progress more quickly but also gave her a better understanding of how judges evaluate a ride and which techniques earn higher scores. She is now focusing on the "snap", a sharp turn performed near the top of a wave and an important scoring maneuver.

She eventually aims to master aerial moves and barrel riding, in which a surfer rides inside the hollow section of a breaking wave.

Xu also wants to compete at higher levels, both at home and internationally, and hopes her experience will encourage other children growing up far inland.

"Distance may keep you from the sea," she said. "But it cannot keep you from your dream."

Contact the writers at guiqian@i21st.cn