2018 sees the largest prize purse ever with equal prize money for both men’s and women’s events.
HONG KONG – Now in its twelfth year, Hong Kong’s premier world surf ski event, the Steelcase Dragon Run is offering a US$28,800 purse among competitors in surf ski, OC1 and SUP events. See the full prize list. (29.8.18)
Event Director, Bruce Seymour, praised the event’s name and gold sponsors, Steelcase, China Silver Asset Management, for their continuing support.
“The Steelcase Dragon Run is an amazing event, and has attracted the best athletes in the world over the years. We are proud that we are leaders in offering equal prize money to these amazing male and female athletes, and we are also very excited that we are now also able to offer prize money to OC and SUP winners as well”.
In 2017, Hong Kong hosted the ICF Ocean Racing World Championships on the Dragon Run course, introducing hundreds of new racers from more than 30 countries to the secret that top paddlers already knew: The Steelcase Dragon Run is a blockbuster event.
“It’s a real surf ski race,” said Matt Bouman. “This is a great venue; it’s got a bit for everybody: there’s a flat-water bit, there’s a power bit; there’s a downwind bit and it’s hard. It’s a really honest race”.
2017 saw some amazing surf for the men’s championship races, with huge ground swell and long runs.
“It was really tricky,” said Men’s Champion Cory Hill, “It always is here in Hong Kong. You’ve got the best of the best paddlers lining up.”
Two-time ICF World Champion Hill was jubilant over his 2017 win: “Hong Kong is amazing; you’ve got a great paddling community; I can’t thank everyone enough for putting this race on year after year and getting all the best paddlers here, it can’t be easy! I’ll be back next year, this was my sixth time here; let’s come back for number seven next year!”
“This is a great venue; it’s got a bit for everybody: there’s a flat-water bit, there’s a power bit; there’s a downwind bit and it’s hard. It’s a really honest race”.
Ready for 2018
The Steelcase Dragon Run takes place in Hong Kong on Saturday November 10, 2018. This year’s event will run two races for surf skis and OCs: the “normal” long course race and the out-and-back short course race. In conjunction with these, a short and long course race for SUPs will take on a new focus with more than US$4,000 in cash prizes for the top three men’s and women’s spots.
Thirsty Horse Ltd., an event management company that has owned and operated the International Dragon Boat Festival, the Lamma 500 for the past 12 years, will also organize this year’s event.
“When we were approached to help with the management of the Steelcase Dragon Run last year, we were thrilled to get involved”, said Director Brad Tarr. “The Steelcase Dragon Run has attracted the greatest paddlers in the world: Olympians and long distance race champions. Just being among a crowd of athletes of this caliber is amazing and we are so happy to work to keep this event going”.
The Long Course
As in previous years, the long course race will start in Clearwater Bay, and will then proceed SE to the beautiful and rugged Ninepins Islands, then SW past the spectacular Cape D’Aguilar (home of the Hong Kong Marine Reserve) and then to the finish line at the world-renowned tourist destination of Stanley, the home of the famous Stanley Market. The course will cover approximately 24km and, if the seasonal NE monsoon winds are blowing, should see 10-20 knot winds and great downwind but very technical conditions for the majority of the race.
protecting our environment
This year, the Steelcase Dragon Run is sponsoring a new environmental charity, ECODRIVEHK. Their mission is “to promote the reduction and awareness of single use plastics in Hong Kong”.
In addition we are supporting the “Autism Partnership Foundation (AFT), a local Hong Kong charity who are committed to making a difference in the lives of individuals with autism.
The venue is – again – the Hong Kong Sea School, a boarding school for underprivileged boys in Stanley, Hong Kong.
The school raises funds to help the boys reach their potential in sea sports (sailing, windsurfing and canoeing) and the goal of the programs is to give them a future by having them reach HK representative levels in these sports.
boat rentals
Surf ski rentals are available from Nelo, Think, Epic and Fenn. Racers are responsible for organizing their own boat rentals, and should have them organized as soon as possible. Rental fees for Surf skis are US$300 for the Steelcase Dragon Run or US$400 for the Steelcase Dragon Run and the Asian Cup. The Asian Cup will be held on Sunday, 11 November, and is organized by the Hong Kong Canoe Union. Contact Kay Lam – hkcu.kaylam@gmail.com for details).
Surf ski contact details are as follows:
Epic – Andrew Watts, oceanpaddlinghk@gmail.com (cutoff date – 1 September);
Think – Jean Gorguet, thinkkayakhk@gmail.com, (cutoff date – 31 August);
Nelo – Raymond Lo, kayakhk@gmail.com, (cutoff date – 10 September); &
Fenn – Robert Stevenson, june1922@me.com, (cutoff date – TBA).
For paddlers looking to rent an OC1, please contact the organizers at racing@hongkongdragonrun.com.hk and they will help connect you with parties offering OC1 rentals in Hong Kong.
door prizes
This year, two door prizes are available to those who wish to buy tickets. The first is a Think Zen surf ski, valued at HK$22,000 and sponsored by Think Kayak (www.thinkkayak.com); the second is an NSP SUP Carbon DC flat-water Race Pro 14’ x 24.5”, valued at HK$25,000 and sponsored by local retailer, X-Game (www.xgamehk.com).
information and registration
Registration is NOW open and all racers are recommended take advantage of the early bird registration fees which close on August 31. To register for the Steelcase Dragon Run, visit our Race and Registration pages.
Competitors will also find details on travel and accommodations on our main Steelcase Dragon Run website here.
More information on the Steelcase Dragon Run will be coming in the next month.
questions? Contact race organizers at racing@hongkongdragonrun.com.hk and we will do our best to assist you.