Zhejiang Province's yearly surfing contest attracts surfing enthusiasts from all over the world with one exception: China's own surfers. This year's contest, however, saw a break in this trend when the first Chinese surfer was selected on Tuesday afternoon to surf the Qiantang River.

"When you're surfing in the sea, you forget all your troubles," said Tie Zhuang, an Inner Mongolian surfer.

Tie Zhuang, a young man from Inner Mongolia, was the first Chinese wild card entrant of the World Men's Longboard Championship.

"I've been surfing for 21 years. Now I'm addicted to it,"said a Taiwan surfer named Chen Dongming.

Chen Dongming, a 39-year-old surfer from Taiwan, owns a surfing outfit store, and is also a professional surfing coach.

The two surfers would compete against each other, with the winner taking part in this year's contest and surf with the 2012 Qiantang River surfing champion, Phillip Macdonald. Tie Zhuang took to the water first.

Despite low tides, Tie Zhuang made it anyway. This was the first successful surfing attempt by a Chinese surfer on the Qiantang River .

"I was very excited. And I felt pretty good on the tides," said Tie.

Chen Dongming took his turn the next day. The tides were growing higher and higher. Chen skillfully cleaved the waves, although this was his first time surfing in a river.

"The waves kept pushing forward. They felt like tsunamis," said Chen.

There's only one winner this year, and it's Dongming.

"I hope we can become the champion," said Chen.

Good luck to Chen Dongming, the first Chinese surfer to challenge the Qiantang River.

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