Surfers suspend competition, perform ceremony for contestant who died in traffic accident
Surfers competing in the Taiwan Open of Surfing in Taitung County today suspended the morning’s events, and held a paddle-out ceremony for an Indonesian contestant who died in a traffic accident yesterday.
More than 100 surfers carried flowers and paddled out of the surf zone to form a circle before holding a minute’s silence in remembrance of 24-year-old pro surfer Febriansyah.
The Taitung County Government liaised with Indonesia’s representative office in Taiwan to contact and provide assistance to Febriansyah’s family. Discussions were then held with the World Surfing League organizers of the competition where they decided to suspend the competition and hold a traditional Hawaiian memorial ceremony in the form of a paddle out.
The surfing open resumed in the afternoon with a longboard competition. The event, which began November 6, will continue until November 12.
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