Beginning around the early 1960s surfing, in so
far as it’s done in the West, began to develop on Taiwan in the Jin Shan area of
Ilan county. The 1960s puts one squarely in the era of Martial Law. Among many
of the provisions of martial law was the requirement to tightly supervise all
coastline areas. Needless to say this inhibited the growth and popularity of a
decidedly costal sport, adding a doubtlessly unusual angle to the already
numerous challenges that face wave and dude, and so, during its nascency here,
surfing was limited largely to American soldiers in and around Jin Shan and
surrounding beaches.
During this opening era of Taiwan’s modern surf scene brothers Sun Yao Sheng-
Mao Guh - and Sun Yao Dong were among the earliest to embrace the sport as their
own. Mao Guh opened Taiwan’s first surfing shop, the still popular “Jeff’s Surf
Shop” near Honeymoon Bay in Da-Shi, I-Lan. But, the person who has become
synonymous with the sport in Taiwan is Jung Wen Chen, executive and founder of
R.O.C Surfing Association.
With the lifting of Martial Law different surfing clubs promptly organized
across the island, buoyed not just by the natural wondefulness of the sport and
ease of access - considering the island nature of this here island - but also by
media interest and the popularity of surfing within the local entertainment
community.
Today, the R.O.C Surfing Association’s Jung Wen-Chen estimates that there are
some 25,000 to 30,000 people plying the waves across Taiwan. Even the
politicians are getting in on the good times, with plans to play host to the
ISA’s 2009 World Games in Kaohsiung.
