More than 100 kite riders from 23 countries and regions are competing in the 8th freestyle stop of the PKRA season at the Kitesurfing World Cup 2013 which has opened in Pingtan, an island county off the east coast of Fujian, Pingtan Times reported. The event will continue until Sunday morning.

The event's China stop has attracted top kite riders and has also set a record in terms of the number of competitors for a single stop. The event is the largest and the highest-level marine sports game hosted by the Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone after holding two sessions of Kiteboard Tour Asia.

The event features four disciplines: freestyle, slalom, twin tip downwind race and a big air contest, and also involves $80,000 in prize money.

The weather forecast of northeast wind throughout the event provides ideal conditions for the kite riders, and Susan Kay, one of the competitors, said that the strong wind in Pingtan is "ideal" for the big air contest. And it is going to be a kite surfing gala for kietsurfing fans.

The Longfengtou Beach, the event's main location, boasts a natural wide water surface making it especially suitable for kitesurfing, and it has also hosted two Pingtan stops of the Kiteboard Tour Asia. Pingtan is becoming a popular spot with the world's kite riders as several world-class events have been held in the island county.

Gong Qinggai, director of the pilot zone's management committee, officially opened the event, and other officials, including Xu Zhengguo, chief of the Fujian Provincial Sports Bureau, also took part in the event's opening ceremony.

Edited by Niva Whyman