Surf's up, dudes and dudettes. Party on

Surf bop at the International Surf Competition today on Toucheng Town's Wai Auo Beach (外澳), Yilan County.

Organized the Blue Ocean Surfer Club and Yilan County Government the fun starts at 9am and final judging should wrap up about 4pm.

Locals, foreigners and dudettes will be competing in the short board, long board and body board competitions.

Regrettably, surfers who have not already registered are out of luck as the 180 available competition places have all been taken up.

But that won't stop anybody taking their board for a ride if they keep out of the way of the competition, said organizer Sung Qi-hao (宋啟豪) of the Blue Ocean Surfer Club.

"I've heard the weather is going to be good so it should be a great day out. Everyone should come and enjoy the party after," Sung said yesterday by phone.

In the evening, starting at 6:30pm, music will be supplied by UR Music, followed by DJ Andrew Ford with some silky house sounds and DJ Lucky on a hip-hop vibe.

Contact Sung Qi-hao (宋啟豪) on (03) 978-9233 or 0933-104-133, or go to the Web site www.bosc.com.tw for further details.

Directions

Take train from Taipei Main Station to Toucheng Train Station, it takes about one-and-a-half hours, and get a bus or taxi (NT$200) to the beach. There is accommodation available in town, but first come first served.

To drive, take either National Highway 5 south from Taipei to Toucheng Township, then Road 109 onto the Northeast Coast Scenic Highway or National Highway 1 north from Taipei and the Northeast Coast Scenic Highway.

Address

The Blue Ocean Surfer Club (藍洋衝浪俱樂部) is at 385-1 Binhai Rd Sec 1, Toucheng Township, Yilan County (宜蘭縣頭城鎮濱海路一段385-1號)