Billabong women's surfer Na Eun surfs a large left-hander at the Busan Mayor's International Surfing Competition four years ago. / Courtesy of John Redmond

By John Redmond

Billed as one of the largest marine sporting events on the Korean calendar, the eighth annual Busan Mayor's International Surfing Competition (BISC) will be held at Haeundae Beach June 24-26.

Slated as a chance for international and local surfers to go head to head in heated competition, the event promises surfers of all ages and abilities the Korean surfing experience.

The sport of surfing is very new in Korea, to the point where surfers risk heavy fines venturing out to local breaks where waves reach higher than two meters, patrolled by the sea police ― something unheard of in South Africa, Australia, the U.S. and the north shore of Hawaii (though beaches are closed when waves exceed 15 meters in height).

For many years the surfers flocked to the accessible waves, and the Korea Surfing Association together with the local business community decided to put together an international event.

The Korea Times contacted Cheryl Kim from Kai Surf about how the event has grown to include skaters.

"What began as a grassroots festival eight years ago has grown to attract world-class surfers. To ramp up the stoke at this year's competition, Carver Skateboards Korea will be setting up a half-pipe ramp at the venue," said Kim.

"This is the first time that skateboarding will also be featured at the event, which most surfers use as a tool to keep up their skills in the offseason."

International competitors will include Carver USA team rider and pro surfer Kent Nishiya from California en route to the World Surf League event in Japan to promote the sport of surf-skate.

Dylan Kim of Kai Surf and distributor for Carver Skateboards said, "This event is a turning point for surfing in Korea. Carver allows surfers to skate their surf so what better venue to showcase this combination than the Busan Mayor's Competition with a pro rider the caliber of Kent Nishiya?"

Also competing is Phil "Macca" MacDonald from Australia. Macca is the Ocean and Earth team rider and two-time world-ranked number 2.

Kim of Kai Surf stated, "We are very excited to have Macca at the Busan event and while he's here he will be hosting surfing clinics during the week, as well as meet-and-greets and autograph signings at the competition venue."

Other pro riders slated to join the lineup include Hirakawa Yoshihiro from Japan (Ocean and Earth), Mel Vin from Canada (Pine Ocean Korea), Brendon Thomas Smith from New Zealand (Rip Curl Korea) and Kazunori Suzuki from Japan (CoCo Suncream).