On February 10, 2014, Beijing time, the final day of the Red Bull Freestyle Kayak Surfing Competition concluded on the river section in Luoshui County, Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan. In the end, contestant No. 26, Tu Junqing, nicknamed “Tuo Er,” clinched the top spot in the creek boat freestyle event with an impressive total score of 86 points, thanks to a stunning “mid-air bow stand” maneuver, beating all competitors, and thus became China’s first-ever champion in freestyle kayak competition. Li Xiaoqing and Liu Wenfeng secured second and third places with scores of 82 and 69 points, respectively. In the subsequent Downriver Sprint event held shortly after, Li Jinsong claimed first place.
Li Xiaoqing, who won the瀑布漂流赛 (Waterfall Kayaking Race) on the previous day, continued to shine today by successfully executing a front flip in the creek hole to earn the runner-up position in the creek boat freestyle competition.
After the competition, Li Jinsong shared the secret to his victory: “At the start of the Downriver Sprint, you must push off aggressively and gain the lead at the start. Once you have control of the bow, look for the best line — that is, find the main current of the river. You also need to be careful when approaching the middle buoy. Getting too close to the edge too late can allow competitors behind you to take your position, but getting there too early will affect your speed. And although the race is physically exhausting, it's crucial to stabilize the kayak when going through creek holes. Although the water flow in the holes gives you a boost, there’s also the risk of capsizing, which could cost you precious time and speed.” As Li Jinsong had said before the race, skill and experience turned out to be more critical in the competition.